I’ve always been intrigued by the many variations of the pattern called “Tracks of the Turtle” or some such. The pattern looks especially like the tracks that sea turtles make in the sand, I think. Often, however, it is a rather large-scale pattern that doesn’t translate well to socks. That’s how this pattern came about: I shrunk down the essentials to easily fit on a sock and was very happy with the results. Once knitted up, it seemed to me that it looked like the tracks that baby turtles make after hatching out and madly dashing to the surf. I thought I was done with the design aspect at that point but then I had an AHAH! moment and decided to finish the story and add the gentle welcoming waves of the ocean on the foot, because, of course, that’s where all baby sea turtles end up.

The pattern is knit top down and simulates a simple cable pattern without actually being a true cable and needing a cable needle. The patterns are written out and charted and most of both patterns are just a combination of easy-peasy knit and purl stitches. I would say that this pattern is appropriate for those that have made at least one or two pairs of vanilla socks and thus understand sock construction basics.