Hi Holice:
To answer your question about what is used to make the Christmas Socks for soldiers...our group has made and donated probably close to 700 socks. We've made them out of denim with the cuff in bright reds or Christmas fabric; Christmas fabric socks; fleece and flannel, cotton, just about anything you want to make the socks out of. There is a thread on the board that is named Socks for Soldiers under the BOM thread that has pictures, pattern and where to send them or take them. Good luck.