Long Woollen Rag Socks - Recycled Lambswool - Skogen (Adults 38-41)

*New! Snuggly kneehigh or long chunky recycled wool socks for winter, knitted in patterns inspired by traditional Swedish motifs.

Truly gorgeous long kneehigh boot socks made from recycled lambswool in Sweden by Öjbro Vantfabrik, dyed in subtle natural colours. Knit with reinforced heel & toe for extra strength. Wonderfully cosy to wear at home, they also make perfect winter socks with boots. So soft and warm!

Öjbro Vantfabrik is dedicated to preserving and sharing Swedish knitting heritage. Each pair of beautiful jacquard knit socks features a design drawn from traditional patterns and personal stories.

The Skogen design celebrates Allemansrätten, the Swedish Right of Public Access commonly called Freedom to Roam.  This pattern is also available in Merino socks. See below to read the Skogen story.

*Buy a pair of adults' socks, get 20% off our Sock Darner's Kit. A wonderful gift for sock lovers, wool lovers and Zero Wasters everywhere!  Learn the age old art of darning your socks.

Colour: Skogen

One size: EU38/41

About other sizes: We decided to only get one size in the rag socks because in order to stock the smaller size we would have to double our order or halve the pattern selection. Because we sell relatively so few of the size 35-37 size socks, we decided to just get the most popular size but personally as a size 36.5-37 size foot, they actually fit me fine. In the fit advice below there are some patterns that are more firm fitting than others so they might be ones to focus on but generally it seems they all work for smaller feet too. 

About the fit:Öjbro socks are jacquard-knitted: this is stranded colourwork characterised by floats on the inside which carry the coloured yarns and create such intricate patterns. This means each pair gets its own little personality. It also changes the thickness of the sock, and affects the fit. Some socks fit a bit slimmer, others a bit more “hug-friendly.” Wondering about the fit? See below:

Fit advice:

• SLIM - fits like a gentle little foot hug. Patterns: Futhark, Lycksele
• MED - the sweet-spot fit for most feet. Patterns: Ekshärad, Fästfolk, Gotland, Kören, Yggdrasil
• GENEROUS - for those who like a bit of extra wiggle room for their toes. Patterns: Dalarna, Haga, Skaftö, Skogen.

How to put them on:
Because jacquard socks have floats on the inside, we recommend you put your socks on like your mum used to do for you when you were a child. Bunch them up to the toe, put your foot in place and then unravel the rest of the sock up your leg. Don’t try to just shove your whole foot in from the cuff as your toes might catch some of the floats!!

Brand: Öjbro Vantfabrik
Designed in: Sweden
Origin of Fibre: Recycled lambswool sourced in Sweden
Country of manufacture: Sweden
Fabric structure: Knitted from recycled lambswool with elastane, reinforced in toe and heel with polyamide (70% Wool, 5% Elastane, 25% Polyamide)
100% biodegradable: No
Machine Washable: Yes (see our guide to washing wool)

Care: Handwash using a gentle wool shampoo recommended for best results. To machine wash, choose a cold wool cycle, skipping the spin cycle. Dry flat on a towel, gently reshaping while wet. Do not tumble dry. Wool feels comfortable and dry, even when you sweat. It can absorb a lot of moisture (up to 33% of its dry weight). Air between uses, wash only when required. 

The story of the Skogen pattern: Designer Åse Öjbro, founder of Öjbro Vantfabrik, has created the Skogen design to honour the Swedish "everyman's right", Allemansrätten. This centuries old custom grants everyone the right to roam freely, hike, camp, and forage on both public and private land, and it has been a constitutional right in Sweden since 1994. Skogen translates as 'the forest', and in this design, Åse Öjbro represents Sweden's Freedom to Roam with a beautiful spruce forest.

Two-thirds of Sweden is covered by forest, and over the centuries, the forest and its people have lived in close harmony. For centuries, the forest has been one of our most important natural resources, used for firewood, construction timber, crafting materials, and fence timber. Birch bark was especially important for roofing and was also used to make a variety of household utensils and tools. Pine tar and charcoal also came from the forest, with charcoal becoming an important resource for Sweden's iron production and exports. In the 1880s, with the expansion of the logging industry, the forest gained industrial value as well.

According to ancient folklore, the forest is populated by many beings. Skogsrået (The Mistress of the Forest) lures wanderers astray and seduces them with her magic. Trolls, sometimes described as giants. Fairies can be seen dancing in meadows, open fields, and on moss-covered ground, at sunrise and dusk. They are all part of the mystery of the forest. 

Åse Öjbro writes, "I love our Freedom to Roam, this fantastic opportunity that allows us all to be in the forest, experiencing its smells and sounds. The feeling of entering the forest is magical; it creates balance and perspective in my life. To me, the forest is a kind of balm for the soul."