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Pattern created in celebration of the “Fashions of Fiction” exhibit opening at Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University in April 2018.

Inspired by a pristine pair of historic 19th century stockings from Chester County, Pa., these socks integrate a unique cuff and cable motifs with modern sock techniques to present a fun pair of socks for the modern knitter.

These socks take two of the five overall cable patterns from the original stockings and translate them for the modern knitter: The four-strand braided cable and the twisted cable. The cable motifs are mirrored on each side of the calf, culminating at the ankle. The unique cuff is taken verbatim from the historic stockings, and the heel, gusset and toe techniques used in this modern update mirror those used by our knitting ancestor.

The intricate braided cable which climbs the legs is best shown off with a tightly twisted fingering weight sock yarn in a solid color. However, feel free to use your imagination to create a pair of your own or for the historian in your life.