Pattern Description from Interweave Knits, Fall 2005: “Nancy Bush has designed these classic socks to celebrate her upcoming book Knitting Vintage Socks (Interweave Press, 2005), a collection inspired by projects in Weldon’s Practical Needlework newsletters published in Great Britain between 1886 and the end of the 1920s. Many of the men’s socks and stockings of the time, like the ones featured here, used ribbing and cable patterns. Nancy derived this pair from one called Gentleman’s Bicycle Stockings in Volume 2 of Weldon’s. Worked in a modern hand-painted yarn, the socks look good while you’re pedaling or simply lying about.”

Finished Size: 7½“ (19 cm) foot circumference, 8” (20.5 cm) long from cast-on edge to top of heel flap, and 9½” (24 cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe. To fit women’s U.S. shoes sizes 8 to 9.

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon; 350 yd 320 m/100 g): wilderness, 1 skein.

Needles: Size 1 (2.25 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions: Marker (m); cable needle (cn); tapestry needle.