I find joy in paying attention to small things in nature. I’m one of those hikers who appreciates “botany pace” in which everyone present is constantly pausing to say, “Look at this!” I’ll stop mid-stride to hear that bird call again. I’ll stoop down low to see the underside of a weird fungus. And I can hardly bear to just walk by a flower without admiring it and probably photographing it from five different angles, trying to convey its vibrant, wild nature. The idea for these socks came to me as an urge to express the messy perfection of petals and stems in knitting. This pattern is a celebration of the urge to stop and admire, to go slow and feel the rhythm of being a part of the world.

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Sizes & Finished Dimensions

Sizes: A(B, C, D)

Finished Foot Circumference:
6.75(7.5, 8.5, 9.25) in/17(19, 21.5, 23.5) 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 measured around the ball of the foot. 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.

304(351, 387, 421) yd /278(321, 354, 385) m fingering weight yarn

Main Colour:
187(216, 238, 259) yd/171(198, 218, 237) m

Contrast Colour:
117(135, 149, 162) yd/107(124, 136, 148) m

Shown in:
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock (100% organic Merino wool; 400 yd/366 m per 4 oz/115 g skein)

Main Colour: Edgewood; 1 skein
Contrast Colour: Charles Centre; 1 skein

Shop curated yarn bundles from Neighborhood Fiber Co.

Blocked Gauge

Gauge measurement should be taken after blocking.

38 sts/56 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in Stockinette stitch

38 sts/42 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in tighter gauge Colourwork sections (past the Toe and before the Arch)

36 sts/38 rounds =4 in/10 cm in looser gauge Colourwork sections (the Arch and Leg)

Needles

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

Toes, Heels, and Cuffs: Suggested Size US 0/2 mm needles

Colourwork Tighter Gauge: Suggested Size US 2/2.75 mm needles

Colourwork Looser Gauge: Suggested Size US 4/3.5 mm needles

Notions

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

Skills

I consider this an intermediate level pattern. Techniques used include Judy’s Magic Cast-on, working colourwork from charted instructions, wrap-and-turn short row shaping, and increasing.

Tutorials

Swatching in the round

Judy’s Magic Cast-on

Short Row Heel

Using Stitch Markers on Small-Circumference Knitting

Knitting Colourwork with Two Hands

Pattern Notes

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

The heel is worked using short row construction.