Superwash wool sock yarn that self-stripes as you knit
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Cast on a sock cuff and watch the colour change happen by itself. That's genuinely one of the small joys of self-striping yarn, and Bolivar Sock delivers it in a classic superwash wool and polyamide construction that's built for exactly this kind of project. The 25% polyamide content does real work at the heel and toe — if you've ever watched a single-ply sock disintegrate at the ball of the foot after a season of wear, you'll appreciate why that nylon percentage matters so much.
Bolivar Sock sits at a true SuperFine weight, knitting up at 17 stitches and 25 rows over 10 cm on 3 mm needles. The gauge is slightly more relaxed than some fingering yarns, so do knit a gauge swatch before you commit to a fitted sock pattern — a half-centimetre difference across 70 stitches adds up fast. The wool content gives you that familiar springy stitch definition that makes ribbing look crisp and cables (if you want to get adventurous) really pop without any blocking gymnastics.
Three balls come in each pack, giving you 1,200 metres total. That's comfortably enough for a pair of adult socks worked toe-up or top-down, and most knitters find they have 80–100 metres left over as a WIP-starter for a mini skein project. If you're building out your sock yarn stash and want to explore other fine wool options, Merino Gold is worth a look for a sport-weight merino blend, and Baby Merino carries a similar wool-polyamide construction in a fine weight that works brilliantly for baby booties and lightweight shawlettes.
Pop the finished socks in the machine wash on a gentle cycle and you're done. The superwash treatment in the wool means there's no hand-wash-only anxiety for your giftees either, which makes Bolivar Sock a genuinely practical choice for holiday knitting. Fingering-weight enthusiasts who also enjoy working with silk-content yarns might want to check out Silk for an ultra-fine alternative when you want a dressier, heirloom-weight fabric.
Ruby Red is the current colourway in stock, and the self-striping construction means every pair you knit from it will stripe slightly differently depending on your stitch count — so two socks from the same balls still have that handmade, one-of-a-kind character. At 100 grams and 400 metres per ball, the value per skein is hard to argue with.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fiber Composition | 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Polyamide The superwash treatment stops the wool from felting in the wash; the polyamide (nylon) adds the durability you need at heels and toes. |
| Weight / Type | Type 1 SuperFine: Sock, Fingering, Baby Classic sock weight — thin and precise, ideal for detailed stitch patterns, colourwork, and lightweight garments. |
| Yardage per Ball | 400 m / 437.44 yds Three balls in the pack totals 1,200 m / 1,312 yds — enough for a full adult sock pair with yarn left over. |
| Weight per Ball | 100 g / 3.53 oz Standard 100 g ball — easy to compare against most sock patterns that call out yardage by weight. |
| Package Contents | 3 balls per pack Sold as a set of three — no need to hunt for a matching dye lot separately. |
| Recommended Needle Size | 3 mm Works on DPNs, two circulars, or magic loop — your setup, your choice. |
| Recommended Hook Size | Not specified For crochet socks, a 2.5–3 mm hook is a typical starting point — swatch to confirm. |
| Gauge | 17 stitches x 25 rows per 10 cm x 10 cm (4" x 4") on 3 mm needles Slightly relaxed for a fingering yarn — always knit a gauge swatch before casting on a fitted sock. |
| Care Instructions | Machine washable The superwash wool process makes this safe for gentle machine cycles — no hand-wash-only stress. |
| Colorway / Dye Notes | Self-striping; Ruby Red colorway Stripes form automatically from a single ball — no carrying multiple colours or managing floats. |
| Country of Origin | Not specified |
| Brand | Ice Yarns Our own label — quality we stand behind because we use it ourselves. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many balls of Bolivar Sock do I need to knit a pair of adult socks?
Most adult sock patterns in a standard size (women's UK 4–7 / US 6–9) need somewhere between 350 and 420 metres per sock, so roughly 700–840 metres for the pair. Each ball of Bolivar Sock gives you 400 m, and the pack comes with three balls — 1,200 metres in total. That means you've got solid coverage for an average pair with a comfortable buffer left over. If you're knitting for larger feet, or you've chosen a pattern with a lot of textured stitch work (cables add length), lean on that third ball without worrying. Toe-up knitters have the added advantage of knitting until the yarn runs out, which takes the guesswork out of planning the foot length entirely.
Is Bolivar Sock yarn machine washable, and will it hold up after repeated washing?
Yes — the wool in Bolivar Sock has been superwash treated, which means the microscopic scales on the wool fibres that normally cause felting and shrinking have been processed down. You can run finished socks through a gentle machine cycle without the fabric seizing up or coming out two sizes smaller. The 25% polyamide content also helps the fabric hold its shape after washing, which is something a pure wool sock yarn doesn't always do as reliably. We'd still recommend a mesh laundry bag and cold water just to be kind to the self-striping dye, but this is genuinely a put-it-in-the-machine yarn, not a pretend-it-is one. Great for knitting gifts you won't have to hand-wash instructions cards to.
