These stranded colorwork socks are full of details to keep you entertained. They also feature some great techniques to keep in your toolbox for future sock projects.

The socks are worked toe-up in the round, starting with Judy’s Magic Cast On. The colorwork begins in the foot, which features a “sprout” repeat, mimicking young plants just emerging from the soil in a garden bed. The leg section then switches to a large-scale arugula leaf pattern, with the sprouts from the foot section filling the background. A simple vine motif also runs along the center bottom of the foot and up the back of the leg. Two charts are provided for each size, so the second sock can be a mirror image of the first, if desired. The top of the sock is finished with a short, 1 x 1 ribbed cuff, and bound off using the sewn 1x1 tubular method, which produces an invisible, elastic edge.

The heel is worked as a forethought heel and finished by grafting using Kitchener stitch. The pattern also incorporates a modification to the standard forethought heel by adding short-row shaping gussets in the corner where the heel meets the ankle. The short rows create a small crescent shaped area that fills in between the heel wedge and the sock body, creating an improved fit across the instep. The gussets provide more ease at the crease of the foot and allow for better range of motion than a standard forethought/afterthought heel.

The pattern includes detailed schematics, size charts, row-by-row instructions, tons of notes and tips, colorwork charts, and photo tutorials for the forethought heel, 1x1 sewn tubular bind off, and short-row gussets. Video links are also provided for additional techniques utilized in the pattern.

SIZES
The pattern is graded for six sizes based on foot circumference, and is designed to be worn with 0 – 0.5” (0 – 1.5 cm) negative ease. The length of the sock is then customized for the wearer’s foot length. Suggestions are also given for how to customize the height of the sock.

Sized to fit foot circumference:
XS: ≤ 8.25” ≤ 21 cm
SM: 8.25 - 8.75” 21 - 22.25 cm
MD: 8.75 – 9.25” 22.25- 23.5 cm
LG: 9.25 – 9.75” 23.5 - 25 cm
XL: 9.75 – 10.25“ 25 - 26 cm
XXL: ≥ 10.25” ≥ 26 cm

GAUGE
After wet blocking
Stockinette, single color, using Needle A: 32 sts and 44 rows = 4” (10 cm)
Stockinette, stranded colorwork, using Needle B: 32 sts and 40 rows = 4” (10 cm)

SUGGESTED NEEDLES (or size to get gauge)
• Needle A (toes, heel, cuff): Size US 0 (2 mm) in your preferred type for small-circumference knitting (i.e., 32” or longer circular needle for Magic Loop, set of double pointed needles, or 9” circular needle)
• Needle B (stranded colorwork): Size US 1 (2.25 mm) in your preferred type for small-circumference knitting.

NOTIONS
• 3 stitch markers, 1 of which should be removable/locking
• Tapestry needle
• Short length of waste yarn (~ 10” 25 cm)
• Dental floss (~20” 50 cm)

YARN NOTES AND ESTIMATES
Suggested yarn is Retrosaria Rosa Pomar’s Mondim (sample was knit in #305 (green) and #109 (tan). Mondim is a 100% non-superwash, fingering (size 1) weight, worsted-spun Portuguese wool. This pattern could also work well in a different yarn suitable for socks. A good sock yarn will typically have a high degree of twist, multiple plies, and be spun from a durable fiber type.

Color A = toes, heel, cuff, and contrast color during colorwork
Color B = main color (background) during colorwork

XS: A: 220 yds 201 m, 1.8 oz 52 g; B: 210 yds 192 m, 1.75 oz 50 g; 1 skein Mondim each color
SM: A: 235 yds 215 m, 2 oz 56 g; B: 225yds 206 m; 1.9 oz 54 g; 1 skein Mondim each color
MD: A: 250 yds 229 m, 2.1 oz 60 g; B: 240 yds 219 m, 2 oz 57 g; 1 skein Mondim each color
LG: A: 265 yds 242 m, 2.2 oz 63 g; B: 255 yds 233 m, 2.1 oz 61 g 1 skein Mondim each color
XL: A: 275 yds 251 m, 2.3 oz 65 g; B: 260 yds 238 m, 2.2 oz 62 g; 1 skein Mondim each color
XXL: A: 285 yds 261 m, 2.4 oz 68 g; B: 270 yds 247 m, 2.3 oz 64 g; 1 skein Mondim each

TECHNIQUES
Toe-up socks, Judy’s Magic Cast On, forethought heel, short-row shaping gussets, tubular 1x1 sewn bind off, stranded colorwork, reading colorwork charts, increases, decreases, small-circumference circular knitting