This was designed as a free pattern for all participants of the Socks Revived Design Contest at ExerciseBeforeKnitting.com. Those who do not enter designs in the contest may purchase the pattern through Ravelry.

The body stitch pattern comes from an old Latvian book of mitten and glove designs. It is framed by 3x1 corrugated ribbing at the cuff and 3x1 corrugated knitting at the toe, with racing stripes running down the back of the leg, over the heel, and down to the toe.

Because stranded socks have less give to them, the heel flaps have been made a little bit longer than normal to ensure the sock will slip easily over the heel.

I named them Culture Socks, because I think the splotches look like cultured cells. If you prefer not to think about microbes and lab cultures, consider them as highbrow socks for the discriminating wearer!

Difficulty
Intermediate

Skills used
Knitting in the round, knitting with two colors, reading a color chart, decreasing, picking up stitches, grafting together stitches.

Sizes
S (M, L)

Shown in M, black/gray version: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport; blue/green version: Louet Gems Fingering Wt.

Finished measurements
Cuff circumference: 7.75 (8.75, 10)“
Ankle circumference: 7 (8, 9)”
Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9)“

Leg length from cast-on to top of heel flap: 6”
Foot length: As desired

Gauge
36 stitches and 38 rounds = 4″ in stranded stitch pattern on US 1.5 (2.5 mm) needles, or size required to make gauge.

Yarn
Black/gray version:
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport 100% wool; 184 yd (168 m); 50 g skein; colors: 601 Pepper (MC), 880 Charcoal (CC), 2 skeins each.

Blue/green version:
Louet Gems Fingering Wt 100% merino wool; 185 yd (169 m); 50 g skein; colors: 54 Turquoise (MC), 39 Fern Green (CC), 2 skeins each.

Needles
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) circular needle, 32″ long or 1 set US 1.5 (2.5 mm) DPNs

Notions
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle