Oh gawd, help me!

Kaz2904

My sister has made me the most lovely pair of hand knitted socks. I love them. They are pink and 50% silk, 50% wool. She wanted me to take photos to send her to show how they fit but I opened the parcel when I'd just got out of bed and was getting ready for work.
Put on my snazzy new socks and off I popped. I got home yesterday morning and took my shoes off to find that my BLACK work shoes have stained all around the toes of my socks Now I can't even take nice photos to show her
I'm really upset because it will make her think that I don't care and I'm ungrateful but I swear, I've had these shoes for ever and they haven't died socks since they were brand new.
I can't scrub the socks with a nail brush because it'll ruin the yarn. I popped them in to soak in cool water and rubbed a bar of soap over them as I was on my way to bed but does anyone know what I can do to rescue my socks?

I'm so cross it's such expensive yarn and she has been knitting them for so long. I was so excited when I got them. It's just a really crummy thing to have happen to something you've made. I'd feel like that if I sewed her something and it got wrecked the first time she used it too.

veggieblob

I'm not that techie, but if you take a photo and open it in "paint" or whatever photo editing prog you have you can click on a clean area of sock and "paint" exactly the same colour and texture over the dirty bits. I know it's a bit sneaky but it would solve the problem temporarily? I think sod's law was definitely in play there!

FrugalWorker

I knit, and I wouldn't be upset if this happened to something I'd made. I get annoyed when people don't use the things I've made for them. Take the photo's with shoes on and talk about how warm and comfy they were!

meg72

FrugalWorker wrote: »

I knit, and I wouldn't be upset if this happened to something I'd made. I get annoyed when people don't use the things I've made for them. Take the photo's with shoes on and talk about how warm and comfy they were!

Excellent advice,I would be in clined to do this, after all your sister
really only wants to know if you like them and are pleased with her gift.

grunnie

I would take a photo of you wearing the socks and the shoes and say how great they are and you wore them to work the day you got them.

Gingerbiscuit_2

Take an arty shot where you chop off the toes... or take it across the room pulling a greatful pose, or take it from the toes end so you see how well they fit on the heel and legs!

Kaz2904

Thanks for all the hints and tips! Is there any way of getting the marks out though? The soap rub seems to have shifted a fair bit of it so perhaps will have to just keep trying that. Don't want to end up felting them though :eek:!

janb5

Whatever you do DONT use anything harsh or they`ll be ruined. I`d try dabbing with Oil of Eucalyptus- available chemists. It has the benefit of not making it worse and may get rid of the stain.

Then I`d wash in lukewarm water by hand. Let us know how you get on. Good luck!:j

shandyclover

Have you tried 'Sunlight' soap, it's in a bar form and quite old fashioned. I have seen it in some big supermarkets in UK but it's impossible to find here in Ireland. I once lived in India and went to school there. We had a very spiffy uniform with white and blue woolen knee socks for winter (it does get cold in the north). I managed to get bike grease all over mine. My neighbour told me to soap them up with sunlight and leave for a couple hours. When I rinsed them they came up like new - brilliant stuff wish I could find it here.

Kaz2904

I haven't heard of Sunlight but I have got a bar of fairy in the cupboard. I'll give that a try. I'll have to leave it to soak for a bit first though I think as it may be a bit rough around the edges

OrkneyStar

Also your sister may want to know that the wool and the shoe together had this effect- it might influence whether she uses the wool for anything else/anyone else!