I have pretty big feet, a size 12.5 and this can be a bit of an issue when looking for large socks. Sometimes I buy socks a size to small, and this has led me to have to figure out how to stretch socks in so many ways. I have stretched socks wider, in length, at the toes, ankle. In the process I have lost a lot of socks, but I feel like I have it down pretty good now. You would think I would just buy the right size socks, but you know how it goes. You see they are a size smaller and think, “they’ll” stretch out, only to get friction burns cause your socks are too tight.
Luckily, you can stretch your socks pretty easily with just a few simple steps. I have listed the best ways to stretch socks leaning on my own experiences. If you follow any of these methods, you will be able to stretch your socks so they fit comfortably and don’t end up in the drawer for the next 10 years. Or get used as dust cloths by your other half, “seeing as you don’t wear them”.
How to stretch socks – Best Methods
I can only tell you about all the ways I have used to stretch socks. They all work very well with a little trial and error. You will learn what method works best for which type of sock, and hopefully one day we all graduate to just buying the right size from the start. But we don’t have all the blame. I get socks for near every occasion, and they are small most the time, without a receipt, so stretch socks is going to be a part of my life for some time yet. So, let us take a look at some of the best ways to stretch socks.
Stretch Your Socks Using Water
One of the most common and simplest ways to stretch your socks is with water. Here’s what you need to do:
Fill a sink or bucket with warm water.
Submerge the socks in the water and let them soak for 10 – 15 minutes.
Take the socks out of the water and wring them out without exerting too much pressure.
Put on a thick pair of socks, and wear the ones you want so stretch over them until they dry.
- You can also gently pull on the sock from each end, or hang the socks with a weight attached and let gravity do the work for you.
The reason we use water is to soften the fabric so it does not tear or get damaged when you are stretching. If you pull on a sock too hard when its dry the fabrics will tear and you will damage the material.
Stretch Socks Out With Conditioner
Same as the water method, but with an added step. Put a little bit of fabric softener in the water before you soak the socks. This will soften the fabric even more, and make it a lot easier to stretch the socks. You are much less likely to tear any of the fibers due to the added elasticity the softener adds.
Stretch Your Socks With A Blow Dryer
Another way to stretch out socks is to use a blow dryer. Just like with water, you can stretch your socks using heat. The hot air will soften the fabric and make more pliable and easier to stretch. Here’s how:
You can put the opening of the sock over the hair dryer, but use a lower heat setting or they will burn.
Now the fabric is soft, wear another pair of socks under them.
Wiggle your toes and move your feet around while the socks are still warm, walk around for a bit.
You can also pull the socks in the areas that need stretching using your hands.
Stretch Socks In The Freezer
Sounds a bit odd right, but it’s not dissimilar to a popular method used to stretch shoes. Here’s what you do:
- Fill a plastic Ziploc bag with water and seal it.
- Put the plastic bag in the sock so it takes up all the space, or reduce the water amount and put only in the areas that need stretching.
- Put the socks in the freezer and let them freeze overnight.
- Take the socks out of the freezer and remove the plastic bag.
- Let the socks thaw and then try them on.
How this works is, when the water freezes it expands in volume. Water cannot be compressed, so it will push outwards and stretch your socks. Be careful though, as too much water will definitely cause the sock to tear.
Stretch Your Socks With an Iron
FAQ’s
How to stretch knee high socks?
This will be the same as stretching normal socks, and any of the above methods will do. But be careful if you are pulling from each end, as you will have a lot more leverage and can overstretch.
How to stretch out compression socks?
Compression socks are made of a mixture including elastic fabrics, so they may require a little more force. I would choose the freezer method to stretch compression socks.
How to stretch out cotton socks?
Stretching cotton socks is the easiest. The fabric is very soft and pliable when wet or hot, so the above methods will all work very well with cotton.
How to stretch out wool socks?
Again, any of the above methods will work to stretch wool socks, but you have to be very careful. Wool fibers are strong but very loose, so it is very easy to overstretch them. I would go with the heat method.
How to stretch sock tops?
The best method in my opinion will be the freezer method. Fill a little bag up with water and place it in the top part of the sock, place in the freezer and leave overnight. Repeat as needed.
How to stretch socks wider?
You can get creative here. The freezer method is great, but you can also wet the sock and slip it over a bog bottle, a bat or anything cylindrical that’s wider than the sock.
How to stretch tight socks?
If your socks are tight all over, experiment with all of the methods we have talked about to see which one works best for you.
How to stretch nylon socks longer?
The best way to stretch nylon socks will be using heat. The heat will soften the nylon and allow the fabric to stretch, but too much heat will melt them so be cautious.
Conclusion
So, if you are a little absent minded like me and keep buying socks that are too small for you, don’t throw them out just yet. Try stretching your socks with one of the methods discussed. You won’t be throwing away your hard earned money, and have amore comfortable fit. If you know of any other ways to stretch your socks, I would really appreciate if you dropped me a message. I can try it out myself and feature it in the article.