THE KIRSTENBOSCH SOCKS

These socks were designed in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa during a holiday. The sporty style of the socks are given an extra dimension by the folded over cuff and the stripey details. These socks include both a written and a Youtube tutorial of the afterthought heel. I love this heel method because you don’t have to think about the heel placement while knitting :)

Customize the socks to fit your own preferences:

• There are two options for the folded cuff: stockinette or ribbing
• The socks are completely customizable to any foot size
• There are three different options for the length of the sock: shortie, mid-length and longer leg.

After purchasing this pattern, you’ll receive two copies: one with a dark background to use on your devices to minimize energy use, and one print-version with a white background and less photos. The dark version contains tester photo’s and examples for the cuff options.

Sizing
The sizes shown in the pattern are based on the width or circumference of your foot. The length of your socks is adjustable based on your personal measurements. This should make sure the pattern is as size-inclusive as possible. If you feel excluded by any means, please let me know so I can add more measurements to the pattern.

Width size
This is what the sizes between (brackets) refer to in the pattern. Size (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) refers to a circumference of (56, 60, 64, 68, 72) sts. If you’re using the correct gauge, this should correspond to a finished sock circumference of (17.5, 18.75, 20, 21.25, 22.5) cm or (6.9, 7.4, 7.8, 8.4, 8.9) inches. To make your sock fit nicely, you’ll need a negative ease of 0-3 cm / 0-1 inch. Foot circumference is the measurement taken around the ball of your foot.

Length size
This is where you can customize; choose the length of your sock based on the bottom of your foot measurment. You can choose between a shortie (5,5 cm leg incl. cuff), middle length (9 cm leg incl. cuff) and a long sock (14 cm leg incl. cuff).

Gauge
Make a gauge swatch: a square of 10x10 cm (or 4x4 inches) should equal to 32 sts and 44 rows in stockinette stitch.

Needles
Use needles that obtain gauge. Make a gauge swatch to make sure the socks will fit as designed in this pattern. You’ll need one 2,25 mm circular needle with a long cord (80 cm or higher), short circular needles or DPN’s, based on your preferred knitting method for socks. Size your needle up or down based on your gauge (sizing up the needle size when you have MORE stitches per 10 cm, sizing down the needle size if you have LESS stitches per 10 cm).

Choosing yarn
Use a fingering weight sock yarn, preferably with a nylon, polyamide or silk content. Make sure that the main color and the contrast color yarn both meet your gauge and have a similar yarn weight (thickness). If one of your yarns is thinner (e.g. more towards light fingering) than the other, your stripes, heels and toes will be tighter than the main part of your sock or vice versa. To make sure this doesn’t happen, use the same yarn base in a different colorway or check the gauge on both yarns when making your gauge swatch.

Yardage
Main color: Because the length is completely customizable to your feet, I don’t have a yardage estimate. For most sizes you’ll be okay with 50 g of sock yarn for at least a pair of shortie socks.
Contrast color: 20 g (+/-70 m) for each size.

Contact
maanknitwear@gmail.com