in.out.up.down is a partly stranded, partly striped sock pattern worked from the cuff down, with an Eye of the Partridge flap and gusset heel. The stranded portions are fully charted, and the design is written for two different stitch counts and five different sizes. This pattern is a great introduction to colourwork, as there are no long floats, the design is easy to memorise, and only half of the sock is stranded.

Skills required:

working in the round, chart reading, stranded colourwork, basic increases and decreases, Kitchener stitch.

Materials:

• fingering or sport/dk weight yarn; approx. 100g of MC and 50g of CC (this includes a generous buffer)
• tapestry needle for grafting
• stitch markers

Gauge: in both stranded knitting and stockinette stitch – use more than one needle size to achieve consistent tension, if necessary

fingering weight: 8-9 stitches per inch (32–36 stitches per 4 in / 10 cm);
sport/dk weight: 7 stitches per inch (28 stitches per 4 in / 10 cm)

Needles:

fingering weight: 2.25mm (US 1) or 2.5mm (US 1.5) or size needed to obtain gauge
sport/dk weight: 3mm (US 2.5) or size needed to obtain gauge
use whichever needles you like best for working a small circumference in the round – you may also need to use a different needle size for the stranded portions

Sizes:

56 stitches or 72 stitches – your gauge and yarn weight will determine the size of your socks. the breakdown is as follows:

• 56 sts, 9 spi: 6.25 inch (16 cm) circumference (extra small)
• 56 sts, 8 spi: 7 inch (17.5 cm) circumference (small)
• 56 sts, 7 spi: 8 inch (20 cm) circumference (medium)
• 72 sts, 9 spi: 8 inch (20 cm) circumference (medium)
• 72 sts, 8 spi: 9 inch (23 cm) circumference (large)
• 72 sts, 7 spi: 10.25 inch (26 cm) circumference (extra large)