How Our Socks Are Made

 

 

From Fleece to Foot

At the Cambridge Sock Company, we’ve worked tirelessly to source the best materials and methods to create a range of comfortable and practical socks that go the distance. Here's how we craft our socks, step by step:

Sourcing the Fleece

Fleece is sourced from Alpacas in Peru or Angora Goats in the UK.

Preparing the Yarn

The raw fleece is washed to remove impurities and spun into yarn.
The yarn is dyed before being used in the knitting process.

Knitting the Socks

The dyed fleece is fed into a knitting machine, which uses a cylindrical structure to knit the sock.
Socks are initially knitted with an open toe, resembling an open tube.

Closing the Toe

The open toe is closed using a method called hand linking.
A single thread from the same material as the sock is used to join the two parts.
This process is done manually by a skilled worker who aligns the points of the two parts precisely.
The resulting seam is so flat it cannot be felt when worn.

Washing and Drying

After knitting and seaming, the socks are washed and dried.
Washing removes knitting oils and yarn residues, stabilizes the socks, and prevents shrinkage.
Only water is used—no detergents.

Boarding and Pressing

The socks are pulled onto flat metal foot forms in a process called boarding.
This shapes the socks into the desired size and form.
The socks are steam-pressed to achieve their final shape.

Pairing the Socks

Socks are carefully paired to ensure consistency in size and shape.
Even socks made on the same machine with identical materials can vary slightly, so this step is critical to ensure quality during distribution.