Minna Canth, 1844-1897, was a Finnish writer, entrepreneur and driver of societal change. Canth was a feminist who worked towards improving girl’s education and opportunities. Canth was also the first Finnish female journalist and the first woman to get her own flag day in Finland. Minna Canth’s Day and the Day for Social Equality is celebrated on March 19th.
The Minna Canth socks were created to hold in remembrance the important societal legacy she created and to remind us of the great importance of persistent pursuit towards equality in our modern day.

The pattern includes a three-colour chart as a bonus for those wishing for more challenging knits!

Sizing:

Calf circumference: 30 - 35 - 40 - 45 - 50 cm

Foot length (EUR shoe sizes): (35/36, 37/38), 39/40, 41/42, 43/44, 45/56, 47/48, 49/50

Yarn:

Drops Fabel (100 g = 410 m) in colours 400 (black) and 101 (beige)
or Filcolana Arwetta Classic (100 g = 420 m) in colours 102 (black) and 977 (marzipan melange)

Choose two colours with a high contrast; one light and one dark. For a three-coloured sock choose also a medial tone that falls in between of the two, for example white, grey and black.

Yarn consumption:

Dark: 65 - 105 g
Light 35 - 55 g
The yarn consumption is an estimate and varies depending on the size knitted.

Equipment:

2,5 mm double-pointed needles, a set of 4-5 or a circular needle with a long enough cable for magic loop.

Gauge:

30 sts and 38 rds = 10 cm of stranded stockinette in the round. Measured out of a blocked swatch.

Skills and techniques needed:

Tubular cast on
Stranded knitting
Ladderback jacquard
A reinforced Dutch heel
Three-needle bind-off

Notes:

The needle size suggested is merely a recommendation. Always use the needle size you get gauge with. Getting gauge is important to ensure correct sizing in your finished project.

You are free to use a different cast-on / bind-off method than specified in this pattern.

This stranded pattern contains lots of long floats. The Ladderback Jacquard technique is an excellent way for binding long floats neatly. Should you choose to use a different way of binding your floats, make sure they remain elastic enough.

The three-coloured socks can be knitted using three colours at once or by replicating stitches with embroidery afterwards. The two-colour chart cannot later be transformed into the three-coloured one because of how the light and shade fall differently in the charts.

Choosing your size:

Measure around your calf from its widest part. Choose a calf circumference that is closest to your own measures. Some negative ease has already been designed into the pattern.

Socks modeled in the pictures were knit with a 40 cm calf circumference and a foot size of EUR 39/40.