Soap Socks!

Soap Socks!

 

I was chatting with my Aunt Pauline recently via video (due to being in another lockdown here in Melbourne) and we were sharing updates about the family, as you do!  In between funny little anecdotes about my uncle, her crazy and much loved Japanese Spitz and updates on renovations, she was telling me about a recent visit with her son and son in law in regional Victoria (pre lockdown of course!).  My cousin loves natural products and fibres, uses next to no plastic and is Vegan.  I love how passionate he is about the environment and his focus on minimising his carbon footprint!  He loves hand made products and the sustainability of a slow making lifestyle. 

Pauline mentioned to me that she needed to source some new soap socks for my cousin and his husband as she had noticed that they had some terribly 'ratty' looking soap socks in their bathroom that had almost been used to death!!!  So of course I offered to make some for them!

As you might be aware from some of my other blogs I loooooove texture. 

Crocheting textured stitches is so much fun and increases the sensory benefits of the scrumptious yarn! I was thinking that a soap sock would be better if it were textured as it would exfoliate at the same time.  So textured soap socks were decided but first I needed to work out what size they would be.  I figured I probably needed the soap first before I started to work on a design! 

 

 

Luckily we were heading down to our 'Happy Place' at Portarlington over the next few days and made plans to head off to the Queenscliff Market to source some locally hand made soap.  While there I found some beautiful Olive Oil and Sapon Goat's Milk Soap from the Soap Shelf in Geelong.  I bought five cakes of soap in different scents including Lemon Myrtle & Lemongrass; Amber & Sandalwood; Tea Tree and Peppermint & Kaffir Lime.  These soaps are absolutely beautiful and I would recommend them highly! (Soap picture above is by the Soap Shelf and is not my picture).

Next was working out which yarn I would use to make my soap socks.  I quickly decided on Fiddlesticks Wren as it is a beautiful DK weight, 100% cotton that is not just super soft but hardy enough for this project.

 

 

Important info before you start....

You need to have your soap on hand before you start! 

Each one of my soap socks was created based on the size of the individual soap.  I measured around the width of each soap and used this measurement to work out how many starting chains I needed.

To work out the length of each soap sock I placed the soap inside the sock so I could determine where to stop (simple really!).  I used the tail from the starting chains to sew up the beginning end of each soap sock and finished the top by holding the Soap Sock closed and double crocheting through both sides of the top.  

If you don't want to close your sock soaps I would recommend placing a little button on one side of the top of your soap sock and attaching a loop made of chains on the other side. 

Each soap sock is made 'in the round' so do not join at the end of each row just keep on crocheting until you reach the desired height.

 

What you'll need:

 

  • Fiddlesticks Wren 100% Cotton.  1 ball of Wren made 2 Soap Socks however this will be determined on the dimensions of the soap you use.
  • Measuring tape
  • 4.0 mm Crochet Hook
  • Scissors
  • Wool needle for weaving in ends
  • Stitch markers

 

Stitches Used:

UK terms used throughout.

 

  • slip stitch
  • chain
  • skip stitch
  • stitch
  • double crochet
  • half treble crochet
  • treble crochet
  • double treble crochet
  • front post treble
  • back post treble
  • popcorn stitch
  • 5 treble bobbel

 

Half Double Crochet Over Two Stitches:

Yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull back through (3 stitches on the hook), yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through all stitches on the hook. 

Yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull back through (3 stitches on the hook), yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through all stitches on the hook.   

Four Treble Popcorn:

Yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull back through (3 stitches on the hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.  Repeat 3 more times in the same stitch.  You should have 4 completed trebles in the same stitch.  

Pull up the yarn slightly on your hook to make the loop larger and remove your hook.  Insert your hook into the first of the four trebles and then pick up the loop you just made larger (tighten it again once on your hook).  Pull the last loop through the first loop, chain one to close your popcorn stitch.

Bobble Stitch:

Yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull back through (3 stitches on the hook), yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through all stitches on the hook. 

Yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull back through (3 stitches on the hook), yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through all stitches on the hook.   

 

Now for the making... 

 

Soap Sock One - Half Treble Crochet over two stitches.

 

 

  • Leaving a long starting tail (which we will use to sew up the end of our sock soap), start with the number of chains that measure the same as the width around your soap.
  • One row of double crochet
  • Half treble crochet over two stitches until your soap sock reaches the desired length.
  • One row of double crochet and place a stitch marker/holder in the last stitch if you are planning to finish your soap sock with double crochet to close.  If you are planning to finish with a button closure end your row and weave in the tail.
  • Sew close the bottom of your Soap Sock using the starting tail.
  • Place your soap into your Soap Sock. 
  • Finish your Soap Sock using either of the techniques mentioned in the important info above.

 

 

     

    Soap Sock Two - Popcorn Stitches.

     

     

    • Leaving a long starting tail (which we will use to sew up the end of our sock soap), start with the number of chains that measure the same as the width around your soap.
    • Row 1 - 4:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Row 5:
      • 3 double crochet and one 4 treble popcorn, repeat until end of row.
    • Row 6-8:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Row 9:
      • 3 double crochet and one 4 treble popcorn, repeat until end of row
    • Repeat Rows 6-9 until your soap sock reaches just before the top edge of your soap.
    • Finish with four rows of double crochet and place a stitch marker/holder in the last stitch if you are planning to finish your soap sock with double crochet to close.  If you are planning to finish with a button closure end your row and weave in the tail.
    • Sew close the bottom of your Soap Sock using the starting tail.
    • Place your soap into your Soap Sock. 
    • Finish your Soap Sock using either of the techniques mentioned in the important info above.

     

     

     

    Soap Sock Three - Front Post and Back Post stitches.

     

     

    • Leaving a long starting tail (which we will use to sew up the end of our sock soap), start with the number of chains that measure the same as the width around your soap.
    • Row 1-2:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Row 3:
      • half treble crochet in every stitch
    • Row 4:
      • front post treble crochet in every stitch
    • Row 5:
      • back post treble crochet in every stitch
    • Repeat Rows 4-5 until your soap sock reaches just before the top edge of your soap.
    • Finish with 2 rows of double crochet and place a stitch marker/holder in the last stitch if you are planning to finish your soap sock with double crochet to close.  If you are planning to finish with a button closure end your row and weave in the tail.
    • Sew close the bottom of your Soap Sock using the starting tail.
    • Place your soap into your Soap Sock. 
    • Finish your Soap Sock using either of the techniques mentioned in the important info above.

     

     

     

    Soap Sock Four - Alternating stitches.

     

     

    • Leaving a long starting tail (which we will use to sew up the end of our sock soap), start with the number of chains that measure the same as the width around your soap.
    • One row of double crochet
    • Alternate one double crochet and one double treble crochet until your soap sock reaches the desired length.
    • One row of double crochet and place a stitch marker/holder in the last stitch if you are planning to finish your soap sock with double crochet to close.  If you are planning to finish with a button closure end your row and weave in the tail.
    • Sew close the bottom of your Soap Sock using the starting tail.
    • Place your soap into your Soap Sock. 
    • Finish your Soap Sock using either of the techniques mentioned in the important info above.

     

     

     

    Soap Sock Five - Bobble Stitches.

     

     

    • Leaving a long starting tail (which we will use to sew up the end of our sock soap), start with the number of chains that measure the same as the width around your soap.
    • Row 1-3:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Row 4:
      • 3 double crochet,  one bobble stitch, 3 double crochet, repeat until end of row 
    • Row 5-6:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Row 7:
      • 5 double crochet,  one bobble stitch, 3 double crochet, repeat until end of row (This will stagger your bobbles across your soap sock rather than having them directly above each other.  Continue so your bobbles will alternate where they are placed each bobble row).
    • Row 8-9:
      • double crochet in every stitch
    • Repeat Rows 4-9 until your soap sock reaches just before the top edge of your soap.
    • Finish with 3 rows of double crochet and place a stitch marker/holder in the last stitch if you are planning to finish your soap sock with double crochet to close.  If you are planning to finish with a button closure end your row and weave in the tail.
    • Sew close the bottom of your Soap Sock using the starting tail.
    • Place your soap into your Soap Sock. 
    • Finish your Soap Sock using either of the techniques mentioned in the important info above.

     

      

    You are welcome to share the patterns, however please acknowledge that the design belongs to Yarn Me Calm respecting my rights as a designer, thank you!

    I do my best to make sure that there aren't any errors but hey, I'm human!  If you do find any bugs in the patterns please don't hesitate to contact me via email so I can iron them out!

    I am not perfect so I definitely make mistakes!

    If you have questions about this pattern, please contact me at

    andrea@yarnmecalm.com.au

     

    I hope you enjoy the pattern!

    Andrea x

    Back to blog

    Leave a comment

    Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.