I got this idea for keeping men's socks together while studying things you can do on a wet afternoon with a piece of hat-elastic.

Marry each pair of socks together permanently with a length of hat-elastic long enough to go over your neck and down your front and down each leg to each sock so not only does it keep your socks together forever but it keeps them from sagging.

Feetnote: Does this qualify as a chindogu?
-- rayfo, Dec 06 2000

The problem with a piece of elastic that long is that when you threw it in the washer, they'd instantly and irrevocably tie themselves into knots the approximate density of a neutron star.

I'd say it's a chindogu, tho.
-- StarChaser, Dec 08 2000


Also there would tend to be a wierd tuggy downward pull along the inseam of your trousers. This might, of course, be a Feature.

You could wear men's pantyhose instead - I'm not recommending them, exactly, but they don't get separated in the wash.
-- hello_c, Dec 09 2000


//The problem with a piece of elastic that long is that when you threw it in the washer, they'd instantly and irrevocably tie themselves into knots the approximate density of a neutron star. //

Here's a trick I learned to cope with long parachute* lines: Fold the string in half, so that both socks are at one end. At the other end, you have a loop. Turn the end of the loop (an inch and a half of string) over (one twist). Reach through the loop with forefinger and thumb and pull through the two strands of string. This forms a second loop. Repeat, (gently reducing the slack in the last loop as you go along) for each consecutive loop until you reach the socks. Lock off the last loop with a clothes peg through it.

You now have one short, thick knot that won't get tangled. To undo, remove the peg and the knot will unravel easily.

(*if you are parachuting, remember to unravel the lines and stow them properly when you repack)
-- FloridaManatee, Mar 07 2003



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