My husband is obsessed with all things nautical; pirates are especially interesting for him, and also Vikings. Over our decade long marriage, I too have been initiated into the world of piracy, pillaging, and adventure. So not too surprisingly, he introduced me to the Vikings TV show airing on the History Channel and we’ve been die-hard fans since day one.

That’s where the inspiration for these socks was gleaned, not from the twisting braids of the shield maiden’s hair, or the bloodthirsty lustiness of their king, but from their crazy boat building side-kick of sorts, Floki. He’s a brilliant, gifted engineer, a visionary years ahead of his time. I wanted to design something that reflected his personality and personal style. His clothes are tattered, almost lacy, yet completely masculine and fierce.

These socks, just like the man, are streamlined, designed to be impressive yet simple in their execution. The texture pattern is easy to memorize but just difficult enough to keep you entertained and has the added bonus of showcasing even wild variegated yarns with ease.

The leg stretches vertically to extend up just below the knee when worn, despite being much shorter when unworn. The lace gives both vertically and horizontally for increased stretch and flexibility. This design feature partnered with decreases worked throughout the leg creates a truly tapered fit that keeps the sock in place without the need of a ribbed cuff or elastic. The gusset decreases have been moved from their traditional location to the top of the foot, removing all uncomfortable seams and giving a streamlined finish to the foot. Like Floki, these socks are just crazy enough to be a special kind of awesome.

Gauge for Leg Pattern: 23-24 sts/44 rounds