These lovely, thick and cosy knitted socks are very generously sized so that you can easily pull them on over other socks when you want to be out and about in your wellies or just curled up in front of a nice warm fire – they also make very handsome festive stockings.

All the colour work patterns are made using duplicate stitch and you can choose to make them with, or without, the Baltic Star motif – or of course, you could leave them completely plain.

You can easily make the socks longer (or shorter), by simply increasing (or reducing), the number of rounds knitted before marking the heel and shaping the toe.You can also achieve the perfect fit by working the heel and trying the sock on for size before finishing the foot.

They are knitted in an Aran weight (4 Medium) pure wool yarn that knits up to a tension of 19 sts and 27 rnds = 10 cm (4 in). They can be made in two generous sizes — Small/Medium (24 cm (9½ in) foot circumference and 39 cm (15½ in) total length), and Medium/Large (30 cm (12 in) foot circumference and 47 cm (18½ in) total length). They require 2 (3) (165 m (180 yd) /100 g 3½ oz) skeins in two different colours as well as small amounts of a third and fourth colour to complete.

The Baltic Star Socks are knitted in the round with five needles, from the top down with a short rib cuff, peasant (or ‘after thought’) heel and a wedge toe. The simple charted colour patterns and striking Baltic star motif are worked after the knitting has been completed using duplicate stitch. Simple French knots decorate the star pattern and there is a decorative braided tassel.

This particular pair of Baltic Star Socks are knitted in the hugely handsome, rugged and robust Sirri 3 ply — a Faorese, pure wool yarn that is available not only in soft natural tones but also cheerful, bright solid colours.