Flea Circus Socks by Belinda Barbagallo

Flea Circus Socks

Knitting
August 2020
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
40 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches
in Slip-stitch colorwork pattern
US 1 - 2.25 mm
300 - 450 yards (274 - 411 m)
Small (7"), Medium (8.5"), Large (9.5")
English
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The Flea Circus Socks are designed to showcase a special skein of variegated yarn or those crazy colored scraps that you are saving in your stash. The pattern is written for three colors, but you can use your imagination and use as many colors as you want to make these socks truly unique. This pattern is intended for an intermediate knitter and requires basic knowledge of stranded colorwork, chart reading and grafting a toe.

Pattern Sizes:

Small: 7” circumference
Medium: 8.5” circumference
Large: 9.5” circumference

Leg and foot lengths are 100% adjustable

Suggested Yarn:
Knitpicks Stroll Sock Yarn
75% Fine Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon
462 yds/100g

Or any lightweight 75/25 sock yarn that meets gauge.

Yarn Requirements:
Main Color (MC): Solid color 462yds/100g

Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Scraps or highly variegated for flea pattern 140yds/30g

Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Solid contrast for heels and toes 93yds/20g

Suggested Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) or size required to obtain gauge

Gauge: 40st and 48 rows to 4”/10cm in slipped stitch colorwork
Note: a lightweight sock yarn is essential to meet
gauge for this design.

Construction Notes:
The Flea Circus socks are knit top down with a twisted rib cuff, eye of partridge heel, and a rounded toe. I suggest beginning with a Twisted German Cast-on to give you a stretchy cuff that will not flare. The cuff is followed by an increase row before beginning the colorwork leg. This is designed to give the sock a snug cuff before adding additional stitches to accommodate for the colorwork leg and foot. A set of decreases at the toe ensures a proper fit when switching back to single stranded stockinette after completing the colorwork. This design is written for magic loop, but it can easily be knit using DPNs or small circumference circulars. All stitch patterns are charted only.