DESIGN INSPIRATION

The Candy Dot Grid socks are inspired by the candy buttons treat that ended up in my Halloween bucket as a child. It was so fun to peel the little candies off of the sheet of paper and savor them one at a time. When my daughter recently updated her favorite color from red to the colors hot pink, yellow, and turquoise, images of those sweet candies popped into my head, and I knew they needed to be a pair of socks. I experimented with different methods of making the dots, from bobbles to just plain knitted v’s, but what really stood out to me were these delicate little purl bumps in the contrast color.

As I was swatching with only one CC, I noticed that the dots were spaced out in a grid shape, much like the dot grid notebooks that I use to jot down notes and sketches while I’m designing. I love the flexibility of using dot grid paper, from journaling to planning to games of Connect the Dots. The possibilities are limitless, and you can choose one or three or many contrast colors for your own special pair of Candy Dot Grid socks.

CONSTRUCTION

The Candy Dot Grid Socks are knit cuff-down, beginning with a German Twisted Cast-On and 1x1 rib. The leg of the sock features a simple stranded colorwork texture, and the foot of the sock is stockinette for speedy knitting. Thin stripes add a finishing touch to the toe of the sock. A traditional heel flap and gusset make for a great overall fit, and a rounded toe and Kitchener stitch finish off the sock.

PATTERN INFORMATION

Difficulty Rating
EASY: Project is worked in the round from the cuff down and includes an easy colorwork texture, simple stripes, and decreases. Kitchener stitch is used to finish off the toe.

Recommended Yarn
Approximately 400 yds (366 m) fingering weight yarn in MC and 80 yds (73 m) fingering weight yarn in CC. Dot Grid sample is shown in Practically Perfect Sock by Emma’s Yarn in the colorways Trendy AF (MC) and Just Add Salt (CC), 80% superwash merino wool/20% nylon, 400 yds (366 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g). Candy Dot sample is shown in the colorways Whisper (MC), Love Drunk (CC1), Limoncello (CC2), and Zumi (CC3).

This pattern will play nicely with any fingering weight merino/merino nylon blend yarn in solid, tonal, speckled, or high contrast colorways.

Needles/Notions

• US #1 (2.25 mm) 32-40” (80-100 cm) circular, or five double-pointed needles; OR size needed to obtain gauge.
• Optional: US #1.5 (2.5 mm) 32-40” (80-100 cm) circular, or five double-pointed needles; OR one size larger than size needed to obtain gauge.
• Tapestry needle for Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends.
• 3 stitch markers.

Gauge
34 sts and 44 rnds to 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US #1 (2.25 mm) needles.
Pattern gauge was measured after washing and blocking.

Sizes Available
48 {56, 64, 72, 80} sts

Finished Measurements
5.5 {6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5}” (14 {16.5, 19, 21.6, 24.1} cm) leg and foot circumference, unstretched.
Recommended fit is 0.5-1” (1-2.5 cm) negative ease.

The model wearing the two-color (Dot Grid) version of the sock has a ball of foot measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and leg measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and is wearing a 64 sts sample. The model typically wears 64-st vanilla socks.

The model wearing the four-color (Candy Dot) version of the sock has a ball of foot measurement of 7” (17.8 cm) and leg measurement of 7.25” (18.5 cm) and is wearing a 56 sts sample. The model typically wears 56-st vanilla socks.

To get the best fit, choose the size with the CO stitch count closest to what you would CO for vanilla socks using your preferred needle size and sock yarn.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.