A Checklist of Birds is a very pleasing catalog that lists the birds that are present in a particular region and when they’re around. This pattern takes that concept and puts it into sock form! Now you’ll always remember that Northern Flickers are common all year round in Victoria but that you’re much more likely to see Goldfinches and Rufous Hummingbirds in summer than in winter. This collaboration with Catherine at Gauge Dye Works takes the concept of the Checklist of Birds and roughly represents each month with two stitches so that a panel of 24 stitches is the whole year. When there’s a purl stitch, that bird is common that time of year. Catherine created an exuberant self-striping yarn to celebrate eight common birds we love here in Victoria, but you may want to do some stash busting and celebrate other birds too!

Learn more about the Checklist and our inspiration on my blog. Sample of the Checklist is used with permission of the Victoria Natural History Society.

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Sizes & Finished Dimensions
Sizes: A(B, C, D)

Finished Foot Circumference:
6.5(7.5, 8.25, 9) in/16.5(19, 21, 23) cm

Finished Foot Length (adjustable): 7(8.25, 9.5, 10.25) in/18(21, 24, 26) cm

Intended to be worn with about 1 in/2.5 cm of negative ease. Choose a size slightly smaller than the desired foot circumference at the ball of the foot.

Shown in size 7.5 in/19 cm

Yarn
Yarn quantities are approximate.

Fingering weight yarn:
288(333, 366, 399) yd /263(304, 335, 365) m

If substituting:
Main Colour (Yarn for Stripes):
193(223, 245, 267) yd/88(110, 119, 119) m

Contrast Colour (Beige Yarn for Toes, Heels, and Cuffs):
77(89, 98, 107) yd/70(82, 90, 98) m

Shown in:
Gauge Dye Works Merino Twist Classic (80% superwash Merino wool, 20% nylon; 443 yd/405 m per 4 oz/115 g skein); 1 skein

Blocked Gauge
Gauge measurement should be taken after blocking.
38 sts/56 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in Stockinette stitch

Needles
Needle Sizes are recommendations only. Always use needle size necessary to obtain gauge.

Suggested Size US 0/2 mm needles

Notions
tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn or spare cable (optional)

Skills
I consider this an advanced beginner level pattern. Techniques used include working a knit/ purl motif from charted or written instructions, wrap-and-turn short row shaping, increasing, and decreasing.

Tutorials
Swatching in the round

Judy’s Magic Cast-on

Short Row Heel

Using Stitch Markers on Small-Circumference Knitting

Pattern Notes
Socks are worked toe-up, beginning with Judy’s Magic Cast-On.

The heel is worked using short row construction.

Ribbing at the back of the leg not only looks fetching, but adds elasticity to the leg. To make the bottom of the foot smooth, it’s worked in Stockinette stitch.

The pattern includes row and length instructions so you can substitute yarns if you’re not using the Gauge Dye Works yarn. This would make a great scrappy stash-busting project!