What I love most about knitting colourwork socks is creating the second sock just a little different so I’m equally excited to make the second sock. For this design I changed the expressions of all the owls to add a bit more whimsy. You could knit both socks with only one owl chart repeated or, for a shorter version, only knit one or two rows of your favourite owls. There’s plenty of versatility with the charts to make several unique pairs.

The small sock will have 3 owls in each row, medium and large will have 4 each row, and Xl will have 5 owls each row.

These socks are knit cuff down, increasing sts and changing needle size for the colourwork on the leg and toe to accommodate the less stretchy fabric of stranded knitting. I started with a US1 (2.25 mm) needle and increased to a US1 ½ (2.5 mm) for the colourwork. If your gauge is the same for both stranded and plain stockinette then switching needles may not be necessary but I do recommend increasing stitches.

The heel is a slipped stitch heel flap and the toe is grafted together with Kitchener stitch.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS (if round gauge matches pattern, your sock will measure approximately 6¼ (15.5 cm) high, from the top of the heel stitches):
Approx. circumference in stocking stitch, not stretched: 6 ½ (7 ½, 8 ½, 9 ½) inches/16.5 (19, 21.5, 24) cm
Approx. circumference in stranded, not stretched: 7 ½ (8 ½, 9 ½, 10 ½) inches/19 (21.5, 24, 26.5) cm

YARN USED in photo:
MC: Black Cat Custom Yarn Everyday Sock Yarn, 80% Superwash Wool/ 20% Nylon, 400 yds /113g, Foundry (Brown)
CC: Black Cat Custom Yarn Everyday Sock Yarn, 80% Superwash Wool/ 20% Nylon, 400 yds /113g, Nude (Cream)

This pattern has been tech edited by Sigrun Jones and tested by volunteers.