This is the FOURTH pattern in a year-long journey of knitted sock patterns, twelve in all, a new one each month, beginning January 2018. The patterns are inspired by streets, homes, and places of interest from my little town in Southeastern Connecticut.

Socks are knit top down with a wrap and turn short row heel design and written for size small with (medium, large) in parantheses.

The cuff uses an aqua yarn, reminiscent of the Library’s verdigris copper roof, and features lacy bobbles representing the shell motif along the roofline. Graphite-colored yarn is used intermittently among a solid parchment or gray leg and foot in a simple, but effective staggered, interrupted ribbing, mimicking the pages of books on a shelf.

Built in 1900, the Stonington Free Library stands in Wadawanuck Square, the heartbeat of Stonington Borough. The large village green serves the community throughout the year with garden club tours, a summer fair, a Christmas-tree lighting and much more. Beautiful aged trees sprinkle the lovely open space, inviting children to climb, and benches border the edges for a shady place to rest.

Just before the library was built, the Wadawanuck Hotel stood on the site, serving the town’s many visitors as it was a bustling through-way for ships and trains between Boston and New York.

A lovely rendition of Victorian architecture, the library roof features weathered verdigris copper, lined with clam shell motifs, and the granite columns and lovely front door are magnificent examples of its artistic design. Always a favorite spot for my children when they were small, we visited the library often for the best story hours and play time. In this day of digital media, it’s still a regular stop for me during my route to the bank and the post office. It is the epitome of small-town life, and offers sweet comfort of a slower-paced time with the smell of books and quietness still a welcome respite.

Each month a new sock pattern will feature a part of the town and the theme will be repeated in various stitches, colors and techniques. There will be a varied assortment of lace, eyelet, cables, decorative ribs, slip stitches, color work and maybe even some bobbles. Every month will be different, either top down or toe up with various heel techniques, and some months will even feature two separate designs for a fraternal pair. There will also be a descriptive essay sharing my thought process and inspiration: Stonington through the eyes of a knitter!

Regular subscription price is $72 for all 12 patterns.
Individual patterns are each available after release for $6 each.

A GROUP FORUM WILL BE LIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSCRIBERS AND THE DESIGNER.

Stonington Borough is the quintessential New England village, complete with old sea captain placards on centuries-old homes and gossip galore. Filled with seafaring history, fishermen and multi-generations of working-class families, it is a quirky and sought-after seaside village that, as everything, has changed through time - not always to everyone’s agreement.

A train viaduct is the only entrance and egress to this tiny 18th century village, and the feisty dwellers are happy it is so. Here is where you can walk your dog, get your mail, go to church (there are three), stop at the library, the newsstand, the barber, the florist, board your boat and sail to three states within site. No car required. There is a nice inn, a bank, a boatyard, cute boutiques, antiques and tasty restaurants, all of which echo the surrounding sentiment.

With one road in and out, beginning with Alpha Avenue and ending with Omega Street, the flora, fauna, and historical house color combinations of this rough and craggy New England coastline community date back to the 1700’s. Some of these houses are still standing in all their originality for a lost time. Many have been lovingly restored but thanks to a terrific historical society, retain their original character and charm. Planning and zoning battles rival TV reality shows, but it seems to work as the village is strongly hanging on to its original message. Each street boasts some color that identifies it: Wall Street is just that - a rock wall at water’s edge. Water Street follows the coast as the main road in, while Main Street with its magnificent tree-lined sidewalks, guide the motorists out past Church Street, Union Street, the post office, and library.

I hope you come along for the ride!