Whether collected from rare birds in far-off places by keen Victorian naturalists or discarded by a modern rooster in a backyard coop, feathers are fascinating. We’ve used them for everything from literature to warfare to ritual, as fashionable decoration and scientific inspiration. Soft and sleek, brightly iridescent or cleverly camouflaged, they’re both beautiful and aerodynamic, a feat of evolutionary engineering. Hundreds of tiny components intricately fit together to create the vane, the smooth, curved surface of a feather to catch the wind, creating a little bridge between earth and sky.

The Feather Vane socks play with the shapes and parts of feathers in a fun-to-knit front panel of layers, chevrons, and twists. It’s a subtle sort of lace, interesting enough to hold your attention but simple enough to relax your mind as you make these socks, even if you’re new to sock-knitting. Including three sizes, this top-down pattern can be knit as-is with a 1x1 twisted rib cuff, a ribbed slip stitch heel flap, and a wedge toe, or easily customised to include the finishes you love best.

Size
Small (Medium, Large)

Finished Measurements
To fit approx. foot circumference of
7 (8, 9)” /17.5 (20.5, 22.5) cm

Yarn
The Wool Barn Cashmere sock 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 100g = 350m/383yds, 1 x 100g skein
Colour: Dusky Rose
Medium Size sample used approximately 90g, 315m/345yds of fingering weight sock yarn

Needles
2.25mm (US 1), 100cm (40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain
gauge) for magic loop method or DPNs if preferred

Notions
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers
Cable needle

Gauge
32 sts/46 rounds = 10 cm (4”) in stockinette stitch