As a classically-educated lover of books, linguistics, folklore, and rhetoric, I have always found nursery rhymes particularly haunting and evocative. On the surface, they are taught to children as tools of language acquisition and often feature deeper lessons; yet, they also often couch within them entire worldviews, economics, diplomacy, political positions, and cultural cues.

“Sing a Song of Sixpence” is one that has fascinated me for many years, as it has so many various (and divergent) meanings associated with it, from criticism of English monarch Henry VIII, to piracy under the helm of the infamous Blackbeard, to something as benign as a French recipe for royalty. What is the truth? Perhaps we’ll never fully know, or perhaps it is as nuanced as the theories we love to debate over.

Either way, the line “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” evokes quite an image. It is mystery, it is intrigue, it is gruesome as well as elegant, with a haunting tone of dark academia meets gothic fairytale - in short, all the things I love about literature, and ripe for exploration in a sock pattern.

I’ve been sitting on the idea of designing a “Four and Twenty Blackbirds” sock for several years now, intending to release it during an autumn month…however, when Pi(e) Day 2024 came around, I thought this would be a fun play on the concept of “pie”.

Each size features 4 blackbirds with 4 matching sets of footprints, knit in colorwork to call back to the “Four and twenty blackbirds” line of the rhyme. “Four and Twenty Blackbirds” works best in two tonal, highly contrasting yarns, but also has a fun twist when worked in a more variegated main color, as shown in the pattern photos. Whatever colors you select, be sure to have a piece of your favorite pie near by to knit to!

Materials

Yarn - 100 grams (approximately 400 yds) fingering weight yarn, recommended with a nylon component; 1 MC skein (recommended 100 grams), and 1 contrasting mini ( 20 grams)

Yarn used in photos:
Knitting Lizard Fibers - Super Soft Sock - fingering weight 75% 19.5 Micron Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon (463 yds/100g)
MC: Chocolate Pudding Pie
CC1: Mint

Needles
US 1 (2.25mm) 40” circular needles (for Magic Loop)

Other options: DPNs are also welcome if you are comfortable translating a pattern written for Magic Loop to DPN

Notions
1 tapestry needle
1 stitch marker to mark BOR (optional)

Gauge & Notes
36 sts & 48 rows = 4” stockinette

Socks are worked in the round from the cuff down on Magic Loop. They include a heel flap and gusset heel construction, with a colorwork leg panel consisting of 4 blackbirds and 4 sets (8 individual) blackbird footprints, with a colorwork stripe between motifs that is echoed in the foot before the toe decreases. Pattern features 2-colorwork knitting. Cuff, leg, foot, and toe are worked in the round, with the heel flap worked flat. Written instructions and charts for colorwork motifs are included.

Pattern is written for 3 sizes: Small (56 sts), Medium (64 sts), and Large (72 sts).