Memphre Socks by Lou Lachance

Memphre Socks

Knitting
April 2020
Light Fingering ?
32 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 1½ - 2.5 mm
300 - 500 yards (274 - 457 m)
S (M, L): 7.5" (8", 8.5")
This pattern is available for C$6.00 CAD buy it now

50% of sales will be donated to Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders to help in Ukraine.


I grew up near the shores of Lake Memphremagog in Quebec, Canada. The name of the lake comes from the Algonkian “Memrahabegek” (where there is a big expanse of water) and the Abenaki “Mamlawbagak (a long and large sheet of water). It is indeed big at 51 km in length, and there is a legend of an ancient creature, Memphre, living within its waters.

A simple cable meanders up the side of the instep on these of these socks, representing the waves of the lake… or perhaps a hint at the creature’s shape in the distance.

The socks have a wide, rounded toe and a standard toe-up construction, but with a heel flap and gusset that flips the heel on its head - quite literally. I call these “bottom flappers” - the heel is knit exactly like a top down heel flap and gusset, but since you’re starting on the bottom of the foot, the cushy slipped stitch heel flap is right under your heel to provide extra durability and comfort. Both the foot and leg length are adjustable, so you can make these with as much or as little yarn as you have.


Materials/Notions:

  • fingering weight wool or wool blend: 300-500 yds (274-457 m) - striped sample used about 310 yds for 64 st size and 3.25 cable chart repeats; gold sample used 375 for 64 st size with 4 cable repeats)
  • US sz 1.5 (2.5mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
  • 4 stitch markers (optional)
  • 2 row counters (optional)

Huge thanks to Nicky for tech editing, and to Cindy, Judith and Margs for very speedy test knitting and for their awesome feedback.