Labelling socks

[FallingIsLearning]

Apologies for barging into this board, but I figured you would be the people with the know how.

My daughter will be going away with a performing company for a short tour. We have been asked to label things with nametapes, not sharpie/stick on labels etc.

I don’t mind sewing nametapes - they take seconds using sewing machine. However, I am unsure how best to sew them onto her socks.

If it were normal cotton socks, I’d either sew them across the toe/embroider initials into the toe seam or fold them over and stitch both ends together at the top cuff of the sock

It’s ballet, so the socks are thin and more stretchy (like high denier tights). Also there’s less space in the ballet shoe, so I would be worried about any extra bulk in the toe are causing irritation, and the top of the socks are on show.

Any bright ideas of what to do?

many thanks

Use one of those stampers? I think you can get them and they don’t wash out.

fine point sharpie, initials only, on bottom of foot (hopefully they are not black socks)

Buy a gazillion pairs and expect them to get lost?
Buy mesh wash bags, 1 for clean, 1 for dirty and make sure they go away in the right bag, can then be washed as one.

Yes, this is my preferred option!

Buy a fabric name stamp, get neon spandex and cut into strips, stamp the spandex strips, cut to size, then sew to the inside top of the socks.
The neon spandex helps them stand out - and it’s soft and non itchy on sock/underware and it stretches with the stretch garment - sew with a zig-zag on stretchy items.
I tested our stamp by stamping the spandex and putting it in the was for a couple of months straight- it fades a little but still very readable.

This probably doesn’t help but I don’t name socks for boarding school. They use a mesh bag for laundry and I buy cheap ones and treat them as slightly disposable.

This might be too late but the doing dance forum on ballet.co is populated by people who may well have had to tackle this problem! I found the stampers tricky as it’s very easy to go through two layers of sock if too much ink since the socks are so thin. As a last resort, a strand of coloured thread in the toe so at least your daughter can recognise hers if they get lost?!

Thank you all.

The main impetus to label everything is that we were told to.

I decided to take the attitude that knickers and socks won’t be inspected (hopefully!), and can thus be considered as cannon-fodder. They won’t be doing laundry whilst away, so no headache of anyone in terms of getting the correct items back to the correct person. I have written her name on the sole of each sock, so I have at least made a nod towards making them identifiable.

Otherwise, where do you stop?

i have however been compliant and sewn nametapes into things she is more likely to take off and get mixed up with someone else’s… which also happen to be the expensive stuff like jackets!

Not long before they go now - exciting!

With my DS grey school socks. I put the sewn in label vertically in his socks. Starting at the top then going down to above the heel.
Not sure with girls thinner socks if this would work or not

They will get lost and your dc will come home with someone else’s clothes all the time.
If Jakes mum is out there wondering where half his wardrobe is we have it

However
I sewed a label on the inside of the sock at the top hanging down
you only need to sew the end of the label near the inside top as socks are stretchy so I found it the best way.

As an aside just in case they do intend to chuck everything into the washing machine I’d pack a large mesh wash bag so your dcs don’t get mixed with others,

With the woven ones, I fold them over the top of the sock and sew the two ends together through the sock. I also have iron-on ones, and those get ironed onto the arch of the foot.

Our school also uses the mesh bags, but we label everything as well.

I used these when dd was at vocational (ballet) school https://www.easy2name.com/iron-on-name-tapes I did use sew in ones for larger items of clothes and leotards but used the iron in for socks, tights etc.