It begins with absence and desire
It begins with blood and fear
It begins with… A discovery of witches.
—Deborah Harkness, A Discovery Of Witches

The Discovery of Witches books include everything I love in fantasy novels: magic, witches, vampires, history, old books, old castles, chivalry, inspired creatives (aka daemons), daring adventures, and complicated puzzles needing to be solved.

These top-down socks pay homage to the three fantastical Creatures featured in Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy.

You will knit a Witch’s Broom down the back of the Leg using simple cable and slipped stitch techniques, followed by a heel flap and gusset. The entire heel is reinforced, and the gusset decreases are on the bottom of the foot, creating a beautiful look and great fit.

Use your own creative (lace) genius throughout the sock to sprinkle in Vampire Bites, and seemingly drop stitches like a Daemon.

In the end, you will bind all three Creatures together through a Braid down the front!

Take my hand, and let’s step out into the ever-changing sock future together.

This pattern includes both charts and written instructions, as well as video tutorial support. This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

This pattern is an intermediate level pattern, but is accessible to an adventurous beginner and beyond.

Includes Video Resources for tutorials on casting on, binding off, and how to knit cables without a cable needle.

Pattern Details

Sizes
Adult S (M, L)
Finished size: 7”(8”, 9”) /18cm (20cm, 23cm)
Finished size should fit with 0.5” to 1” negative ease, around widest part of foot.

Gauge
8 sts x 12 rows = 1” in stockinette

Yarn
Fingering weight sock set
1 - 100g skein (MC)
1 - 20g OR 100g skein (CC)

Sample uses:
Malabrigo Ultimate Sock (75% Superwash Merino/25% Nylon); 420yds/100g
One skein each: “Zinnias” (MC) and “Sunset” (CC)

Recommended Needles
US 1 (2.25mm); 32” circular needles (OR dpns OR 9” circs + 32” circ)

Additional Tools
Crochet hook (recommended); 2.5 mm — OR additional knitting needles in a similar size
Cable Needle (pattern includes video tutorial on creating these cables without a cable needle)

Notions: tape measure; darning needle; removable stitch markers

For more information and discounts, find Mountain Song Designs on Substack: https://mountainsongdesigns.substack.com/?sd=pf

Pattern is also available on Etsy: https://mtnsongdesigns.etsy.com/

YouTube episode: Ep. 22 - It Begins With… Socks! (ADOW!) Plus so many patterns and projects and books
https://youtu.be/j2P3_SG6giQ

Copyright Jocelyn Peters 2024