The Alternate Stitch

At Darn Tough Vermont, we believe everyone deserves a gift for the holidays. Naughty or nice… everyone needs socks. But seriously, can’t we all just get along? Isn’t it just easier to be nice? It’s certainly more fulfilling. And fun. Being nice is fun, right? 

Let’s face it… we knit a flock ton of socks. And some of our “best” pairs don’t always make it as best sellers. For this round of Staff Picks, we asked our employees which pairs they think don’t get enough attention, and more importantly, why they think they should.

We’ve been knitting Darn Tough Merino Wool socks for 20 years, and some of those socks from that first batch we knit 20 years ago are still being worn today. Which got us thinking… of the socks we’re knitting right now, which ones have the best chance to outlive the next 20 years?

So, for this round of Staff Picks, we took to the knitting floor here in Waterbury to find out which new pairs (and colors) people are most excited about and why.

As a family-owned company, we appreciate the things that bring families together. For these staff picks, we asked our employees to pick their favorite tradition and share how they celebrate the holidays — they did not disappoint. These traditions will warm your heart like our socks warm your feet.

For this round of Staff Picks, we talked to Darn Tough fathers and their children about which socks are best for Father’s Day. So, without further do, in the words of Dads everywhere… let’s rock ‘n roll.

For this round of Staff Picks, we talked to Darn Tough moms and their children (who also work at Darn Tough). We asked the kids which sock they’d be most likely to give their mom for Mother’s Day...

If you know, you know. And if you don’t, that’s okay. Because for this round of Staff Picks, we talked to a few people who know best. We reached out to Darn Tough employees who have at least 10 years of service with the company and asked them to talk about their favorite socks. This is what we learned.

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another holiday has come and gone, and I didn’t get a single pair.” Your favorite Professor may be a fictional character from Harry Potter, but his words still resonate with us. Mainly because it’s true… one can never have enough socks.

Summer in Vermont is often considered a sock-less season. But at our Mill, we know better than to assume people are strictly shoes-off. And, like you, we’re curious which Darn Tough socks offer the best fit for summer, so we turned to our experts.

T’was the night of sock giving, a drink was secured,
With laptop full charge, and the armchair reserved;
There were names on a list, but no presents to match,
So off to Darn Tough with an itch they could scratch.

The idea here is pretty simple - when you have all the socks we knit within your grasp, and are looking for a gift, what you choose is likely founded in some clear, comfortable, fitting, local experience you'll guarantee offers a lifetime of joy.