Grab a skein of speckled yarn and watch the colors pop! This pattern includes two versions that use the “Pops and Pins” textured stitch: 1) a full pattern with detailed contrast toe/heel/cuff instructions, and 2) a recipe which is more of a worksheet on using the texture.

Yarn Requirements

• 100g sock yarn in main color (MC)
• 20g similar yarn in contrasting color (CC) (optional)

Sample yarn: Yarn Cafe Creations Fluffy Sock in “Popsicle” (MC, full skein) and “Brilliant Blue” (CC, mini skein).

Gauge/Needles

Gauge in pattern notes is for fingering weight yarn (32 sts x 35 rows/4” in stockinette). Gauge and yardage will change depending on yarn weight.

The full pattern is written for Magic Loop in mind, so you’ll need a long (32” for one at a time, 40”+ for TAAT) circular needle in the size needed to obtain your preferred sock gauge. The recipe is written to be needle-agnostic.

Techniques

This pattern is written with an intermediate sock knitter in mind, who is perhaps looking to try a couple of new sock techniques. Prior to knitting the full pattern, you should have an idea of your preferred sock gauge. You’ll also need to know basic toe-up construction, simple increases and decreases, Judy’s Magic Cast On, wrap-and-turn short rows, and slipped stitches.

Sizing

The full pattern is written for two sizes: S (56 st sock) and M (64 st sock), which you choose depending on your gauge. The recipe includes instructions for how to adapt the sock to a different stitch count.