This design is based on a simple, 4 stitch textured stitch pattern that creates a textured spiral pattern that reminds me of the bark of a mature Sweet Chestnut tree.

It’s an easy 12 row stitch pattern to memorise, using just knit, purl and slip stitches with two stockinette rows between each texture row. This pattern is written to be knit from the top down but could be knit from the toe up if preferred.
It’s a great pattern to use with a yarn that might pool if knit in plain stockinette, as the use of purl and slip stitches will break up the pooling.

The pattern is written for three adult women sizes but it is easily adaptable to fit any foot or leg width - as long as a multiple of four stitches are cast on to maintain the stitch pattern you can make it wider or narrower as required.
Length of the cuff, leg and foot are also simply changed just by knitting these longer or shorter as you require. Just remember to keep track of where you are in your stitch pattern so that you make both socks the same!

I have designed them using my preferred methods for the heel and toe – using a heel flap and gusset and a simple decreased and grafted toe. The heel flap is knit in a pleasing Eye Of Partridge pattern, which used slipped stitches to create the texture and looks great knit in a contrasting yarn in a solid colour. I knit my heel flap to a length that gives me a good fit for my high instep but you can make it longer or shorter just by adding or omitting rows.
Feel free to switch in your preferred heel and toe methods or even knit from the toe up! Make it your own.

One 100g/400m skein of fingering weight sock yarn will be plenty for this pattern. My medium size socks used approx. 60g
including a 10g mini skein.