This sock pattern is the first design in my Architectural Series in which I explore motifs, building structures, styles and even specific examples of architecture and interpret them into a knitted sock design. Interpreting brickwork seemed like a very natural place to start: what’s more common and familiar than brickwork in buildings? The rectilinear shapes are easily converted into an easy knit and purl pattern. There are, of course, many different ways to lay out or stack bricks-but I’m keeping it simple here, and depicting one of the most basic brickwork patterns called “running bond” in which each row overlaps the previous row in the middle of each brick. It’s a pattern that yields a strong wall or pavement and is also quite pleasing to the eye. When I started my design process, I did some research to see if this pattern already existed I n a knitted version. I did find a fair amount of so-calld brick patterns, to be sure, but to me they actually looked more like what I would call a basket-weave pattern. Handsome, but not what I was looking for. So after some test knitting of potential brick patterns in which I varied the brick size, proportions, dividers, (you name it!), I came up with this stitch pattern. The bonus here is that it ended up being a straightforward knit and purl pattern; nothing too fancy in the heel or sole and so these socks ended up being an easy knit. Patterns are always fun for women’s socks, but the architectural aspect in these socks is perfect for men’s socks also, especially if they are a little adventurous. And if your recipient happens to be an architect…well, then.. double bonus!!!

These socks are knit top down with a traditional heel flap and gusset. I give both a charted and written pattern. The heel employs the “eye of the partridge” pattern, a simple variation on the basic heel with a K1, S1 pattern. This sock pattern is appropriate for beginning knitters that have made a least one pair of vanilla socks and thus know the knitting basics. Instructions are given for 3 sizes: Ladies S/M, L and XL (Ladies L = Men’s M and Ladies XL = Men’s L).

Note: I knit socks on 4 DPNs at a time, I have attempted to generalize my instructions for folks who use other needle set-ups.

Yarn Suggestions: Heavily speckled, self-striping or self-patterning yarn is not a great choice-the pattern will be completely lost. Best to stick with solid colors or slight tonals. Lighter shades tend to show the pattern better than darker colors.

Materials: Yarn as shown: Primrose Yarn Company, Adelaide. 100% superwash merino in fingering. 95 g or 370 yards for the size L. Needles in size US 0 and 1 OR sizes needed to obtain the gauge

Errata: The chart is accurate for the pattern but Row 3 of the written instruction was left off the first version of the pdf and should read: Row 3: P1, K1, P10. The current updated version reflects this change