I've been knitting my own long socks for about - Oh my - 40 years.

It's actually quite a pleasing thing to do - a small project - well OK most of us would need to make two small projects.

Woollen yarn can be got in a machine washable form which does not felt or shrink and it is usually well worth seeking out and paying extra for.

However, the untreated yarn feels nicer, and if washed by hand they can be kept in good condition. Mine usually meet their end through being included in a machine wash my accident, or the dreaded moth attack. With all the synthetic clothing around I must have moths stacked in aerial divisions just waiting to raise their young on unguarded bits of my woollen knitting.

Use the same temperature water for the washing and rinsing - it is the shock of sudden temperature change which helps the shrinking/felting process.

Ordinary hair conditioner is good for woolen garments.

To help with the drying I either put them in the spin dryer - I have a separate from the washer one from when I used to do a lot of yarn and cloth dyeing, or roll them in a towel and stamp on the roll. Don't even think about a tumble dryer within three feet of a woollen garment.

There are knitting machines which can make a good imitation of a hand made sock, but even simple ones can make a fairly good sock though it might have to have sewn seams. Then the quality of the sewing is important.