This sock is knit top-down and combines twisted stitches, ribbing and a central cable panel (all charted). This produces a relatively stretchy cabled sock which can be knit for a man’s foot while minimising the worry that many of us have faced in knitting cabled socks: running out of yarn.

SIZING
The pattern is available in sizes Small, Medium and Large and has been designed to fit a foot that measures 16.5cm/6½”, 19cm/7½” and 23cm/ 8½” around respectively, when knit at a gauge of 8.5sts/2.5cm (8.5sts/inch).

KEY MATERIALS/RECOMMENDED NEEDLES
• One skein measuring 375 – 420 m (410 - 460 yds) fingering weight/sock yarn. Shorter feet require less yarn, but since cables are known for their ability to consume more yarn than standard stockinette, I don’t recommend using less yardage unless you are prepared to play “yarn chicken”.
• The socks in the photos were knit with a 75%/25% merino/nylon yarn, purchased from the fantastic Tausendschön dyers in Germany. The colourway used was part of a series named after the French stadia where the Euro 2016 football championships were played: this one was Marseille.
• Circular 2.25mm/US 1 needle. While the pattern is written for the Magic Loop technique, it can easily be adjusted to either two circular needles or five double-pointed needles (DPN’s).
• Cable needle (optional – I did the entire sock without needing one, but it is entirely up to the knitter’s personal preference…)

The Story behind this design
It has taken me quite some time to publish this pattern, as I designed it during a very difficult time. In February 2017 I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and underwent two surgeries in the space of 4 weeks. My husband Doug was there for me the whole time, supporting me. He didn’t do anything spectacularly courageous, he was just there. Whenever I need him. For whatever I need him for. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s my quiet hero, and this design is for him.

It is now three years later and I am absolutely thrilled to say that I am currently 100% cancer-free. I am convinced that my life was saved through the UK’s National Health Service offering of free breast screening (mammograms) for women over 50 years of age; please, please make sure you and your loved ones take advantage of whatever screening programs are available in your part of the world and help beat this horrible, terrifying disease.

It has been more than two years since a lovely group of Ravelers test knit this design for me; so a very belated thank you goes out to nevolik, chau7, Ingaredstoka, MargiBorck, Zaryffa and TangledStrandsOz for their fantastic input and suggestions on how to make this pattern better.