This sock has been a mystery knit-along from January to February 2016, so the pattern is in clue-format (5 clues: beginning clue 0 to clue 4). The MKAL has been exciting and by far one of my most joyful experiences in this great community.

It has been so much fun, starting when everyone was looking and playing with yarn choices, to the point where the pictures of the first finished clue have been posted, up to finishing the final clue where all the socks came alive :-) And what great and wonderful socks everyone knitted! So unique and individual, so lovely and cosy :-)) If you want to have a peek you’ll find the MKAL thread here ♥

Clue 0 is for both variations of the sock (see options below: “easy knitting” and “colour play”). Starting clue 1 there are always 2 files available: one for the “easy knitting” option and one for the “colour play” option, so please make sure to download the right clue.

Two options:

1. Easy knitting:
Just grab your favourite skein of fingering sock yarn with a yardage of 380 - 400 m / 100 g (416 - 438 yards / 3.53 oz), a set of double pointed needles (pattern is written for a set of 5) and you’re all set :-)

2. Colour play:
Stash dive (always fun ;-)) and have a look if you have the following colours in fingering sock yarn, also with a yardage of 380 - 400 m / 100 g (416 - 438 yards / 3.53 oz). You’ll need about:

• 3 g (0.11 oz) of yellow (enough to knit 4 rounds)
• 1 ball (50 g / 1.76 oz) of a darker grass / moss green
• 1 ball (50 g / 1.76 oz) of a lighter apple green
• 10 g (0.4 oz) of red (tomato or fire fighter red)

For bigger sizes (shoe size EU 42 / US 11.5 and up), you might need more yarn. If in doubt, please have a look at the recommendations of the yarn brand.

Gauge & Sizes:
Gauge of sample sock (stockinette in the round):

18 sts x 24 r = 2 x 2 inches / 5 x 5 cm

using 2.5 mm needles (US 1½) and yarn in fingering weight. If you knit to gauge, then the socks will fit a foot of:

Size (stitch count) - circumference (ball of foot)

• Size S (56 sts) - 7 inches / 17.8 cm
• Size M (64 sts) - 8 inches / 20.3 cm
• Size L (72 sts) - 9 inches / 22.9 cm
• Size XL (80 sts) - 10 inches / 25.4 cm

Difficulty:
For seasoned sock knitters the sock will be an easy one, but even a novice sock knitter with only a few pairs under her / his belt should be able to take part.

Techniques needed:
You should have a basic understanding of sock knitting. Additionally you should be comfortable with reading charts. You’ll need to know how to

• cast-on, knit and purl,
• knit / purl 2 stitches together,
• knit 2 stitches together through back loop / ssk,
• make / increase 1 stitch, work selvedge stitches,
• pick-up stitches from selvedge stitches and knit them through back loop

and that’s it! Doable, don’t you think so too? :-)