It was a crisp, clear autumn night, and I’d stepped outside to watch the full moon lighting the lower field a pale, mellow gold. So quiet, I could hear Canadian geese calling to each other as they fled south for the winter. I laughed and thought, “Those drunken geese! In such a hurry to get to the warm, sunny beaches, they’ll fly through the night by the light of the moon!”

The lace pattern on this sock represents those drunken geese flying in their V formations. Zigging and zagging their way down your leg and across your foot. The cables are the tightly knit bond of the flock—supporting each for the long flight. The flying geese heel pattern depicts the changing of leaders—over and over as one tires and another moves forward to take on the task of cutting a passage through the air for the rest of the flock.

This sock is worked from the top down. The front lace panels extend from the ribbing to the toe shaping.

TECHNIQUES USED

Knitting in the round, knitting through back of stitch, cables, simple lace work, working from graphs without written instructions.

SIZE

Women’s US size 7-10. The sock may be made smaller by using smaller needles, a finer gauge yarn, or both. It may be sized larger by using larger needles, a heavier gauge yarn, or both. Length of leg to beginning of Flying Geese heel is 6 inches (15 cm), or to desired length.