With the book Socks of Iceland, Hélène Magnússon is reinventing the tradition of socks in Iceland. Taking inspiration from old Icelandic socks, historical patterns, but also traditional Icelandic mittens, the book contains 17 socks patterns with a definite Icelandic flair. The socks involve all sorts of techniques and constructions that will ravish beginners and more advanced knitters alike. The book also draws a complete history of sock knitting in Iceland.
For more info, please visit https://icelandicknitter.com/product/socks-of-iceland

REIÐSOKKAR
The Reiðsokkar, literally riding socks, are, as their name suggests, partially based on black riding socks reaching over the knee and tied with a woven band, with stripes at the top, described by Bjarni Pálsson in the Journey through Iceland with his friend Eggert between 1752 and 1757: “When travelling on horses, people wear so-called riding socks as to not get their feet dirty. They are coarse, black socks, knitted with stripes, often knitted with horsehair or another material that withstands hardship well. These socks are worn over the shoes and all else, and to prevent them for wearing out on the inside of the foot because of the friction, so-called riding pads are used. These are patches made from thick leather that are placed on the inside of the calves and fastened there with a strap around the foot just below the knee.” (p. 637)
Many riding socks, sometimes also called sport socks, can be found in the museums in Iceland but they are of a recent facture, from the 20th century. Many feature a cuff that can be flipped over, often decorated with a band of motifs in stranded knitting. I based my Reiðsokkar on such a pair of sport socks with a chevron lace pattern with stripes, belonging to the Textile Museum in Blönduós.
The shaping of the leg is loosely inspired by Skúli fogeti´s knitting instructions from 1860-1870. And since he didn´t give any indication on how the toe and heel were supposed to be, I went wild with them!
My Reiðsokkar are knitted from the toe up with a reinforced “fleegle heel”: the gusset is knitted in the round with increases, then the heel stitches are worked back and forth with decreases and the yarn double. The toe is worked in stranded knitting and shaped like a hat crown, making a dense fabric that will keep your toes toasty.
I like how the three bold white stripes on the black lace give the socks the athletic style that emerged in the 1910 and is still quite popular those days.
The socks have a ribbed welt and a garter bind off, aka Icelandic bind off. Suspended garters could also be used to hold them in place and I included instructions for them too.

Sizes: 1(2,3,4) to fit a foot 20.5(22.5,25.5,28.5) cm/ 8(9,10,11¼)” in circumference.
You can achieve more sizes by changing needle size and adjust the length by adding or withdrawing rounds, and the circumference of the leg and calf by adding or withdrawing increases.
Sample shown is a size 2.

Finished measurements:
Foot circumference: 17.5(20.5,23.5,26) cm / 7(8,9¼,10¼)”
Foot length: 17.5(20.5,23.5,25.5) cm / 7(8,9¼,10)”
Total length from heel (unstretched): 67(70,74,77) cm / 26½(27½,29¼,30¼)”
Recommended fit for foot: negative ease of 2.5 cm / 1” in circumference and 15% in length.
The sock reaches approx. 19 cm / 8½” above the knee

Calf circumference: 26(29,31.5,34.5) cm / 10¼(11¼,12½,13¾)”
Above knee leg circumference: 29(34.5,41,46.5) cm / 11½(13½,16,18¼)”
Calf and leg circumference adaptable: try the sock on add or remove dec (that is sts) as you go to fit the leg.

Yarn: Katla sokkaband by Hélène Magnússon: pure new Icelandic lambswool with a dash of silk (1%), DK/sport weight sock yarn, 4 ply, non superwash, 100g skein = 220 m / 240 yds: MC Raven black 2(3,3,4) skeins, CC´s 1 skein each or left overs.

Yardage used (estimation)
MC, Raven black: 383(484,608,724) m / 419(529,665,792) yds
CC1, Natural white: 38(44,50,57) m / 41(48,55,62) yds
CC2, Arctic coral: 38(44,50,57) m / 41(48,55,62) yds
CC3, Moss green: 4(4,5,6) m / 4(4,5,6) yds
CC4, Askja blue: 15(18,20,23) m / 16(19,22,25) yds

Other material : 4 buttons to hold the garters in place.