35% intro discount code FRUITY until end of December 25th. Fluffy eared koalas are very cute and hard to resist! This design features happy koala faces (including furry ears). They are even surrounded by their favourite food with a gumtree leaves border. Inspired by Andrea and Madeleine from Fruity Knitting, this sock was designed during Fruity Knitting´s Christmas episode on YouTube in December 2024 and inspired by the presenter´s Australian heritage.

These are the socks to wear if you have dreams of visiting Australia and seeing a koala. Or maybe you live there and adore these cute, native marsupials!

Knit from the top down, they start with a ribbed cuff. These socks have fun to knit stranded colourwork koala faces complete with fluffy ears motif pattern. The heel is a ribbed heel, with flap and gusset construction.

Sizing
1 (2, 3)

To fit (foot circumference): 19 - 21 (21.5 –23.5, 25.5 – 27.5) cm / 8 (9, 10 ½) inches
Finished leg circumference for colourwork: 17.5 (21, 24.5) cm / 7 (8, 9 ½) inches

Further sizes can be achieved by going up or down a needle size. Leg/foot length can be easily adjusted. See instructions for details. Sample shown is knit in size 2 for shoe size US 8.5 (EU 39, UK 6), foot circumference 22.5cm (8 ¾ inches).

MATERIALS
Yarn - Fingering weight sock yarn
MC, CC1, CC2, CC3, and CC4: Filcolana - Arwetta Classic (80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon), 210 m (230 yds) per 50g
CC5: El Robledal de la Santa - Fluffy Yak (10% Yak, 42% Baby Alpaca, 35% Silk and 13% Merino), 400m (437 yds) per 100g
Any fingering weight sock yarn can be used for this pattern as long as you obtain the same gauge.

Shown in:
MC: Marzipan (melange) 977. Approx 45 (50, 60) g, 189 (210, 252) m / 207 (230, 276) yds.
CC1: Red Squirrel 352. Approx 20g, 84 m / 92 yds
CC2: Slate Green 105. Approx 15g, 63 m / 69 yds
CC3 : Medium Grey (melange) 955. 10g, 42m / 46 yards
CC4 : Black 102.
CC5 : Natural. (Yarn held double)
Scrap yarn amounts are required for CC4 and CC5.

Needles
For ribbing and stockinette: 2.25mm (US 1), 80cm (32 inch) circular for magic loop, or DPNs, or two circulars, or a 23cm (9 inch) circular needle, as preferred.

For colourwork: 2.5mm (US 1.5), 80cm (32 inch) circular for magic loop, or DPNs, or two circulars, or a 23cm (9 inch) circular needle as preferred.

Gauge
34 sts x 44 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for ribbing and stockinette.
34 sts x 36 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for colourwork. (This is the same stitch gauge even though we are using a bigger needle size because for myself and many other knitters, we often knit the colourwork sections tighter than stockinette. Please check your own gauge to see if this works for you).

This pattern uses the magic loop circular needle method (but can be knit with 23cm (9 inch) circulars or DPNs).

This pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knitted too.