When I was 7, my family lived at 209 E. Islay Street. (People in Santa Barbara pronounce it Is-Lay) It was a Grand old home with a fabulous rope swing in the back yard, hanging from a giant Sycamore tree.

Islay Street is named after the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands, off the west coast of Scotland. It’s known for its whisky, the island’s characteristically peaty single malts. If you go to Scotland, Islay is pronounced Eye-la. Ideas differ about the derivation of the name Islay. Various possibilities have been put forward, including “island divided in two” and “the law island”, while it also has been suggested that the name derives from a Pictish princess called Ile, who lived around 650-700 AD.

This is a sturdy “cottage style” sock with a grand “swinging rope” cable running down the front to the toe and down the back to the heel. It has a reinforced heel that snugs up nicely around the ankle. Instructions are both written and charted. And, although it looks complicated, it is not a difficult chart to follow….and knits up very quickly. Worsted weight yarn will make a small/medium size, and Aran will make a larger sock.

It is very straight forward and lots of fun, suitable for both for the beginning sock knitter and the more experienced. Familiarity with basic cables and reading charts suggested. Size will vary with yarn used.

Materials:
100 g. worsted weight or Aran weight yarn
US size 7 for worsted, 8 - 9 for Aran or size needed to obtain gauge - either long circular for magic looping, or two shorter circular needles
cable needle or hook

Gauges: 4.5 sts per inch in worsted for Small/Medium & 4 sts per inch in Aran for Large