SPECIAL OFFER: 25% off regular price with coupon “Bells” until midnight January 31, 2023.

The sound of bells ringing has so many meanings. No matter the time of year or occasion, their unique tonalities strike a chord within the human psyche. Longfellow’s poems, “Carillon” and “The Belfry of Bruges,” beautifully express the sounds and imagery of the bells he heard in Bruges. I especially like the line, “But I heard a heart of iron beating in the ancient tower”. This next little story explains why.

I once had a dream that I would lead a choir of bell ringers. Strangely enough, a related opportunity opened up a couple of months later in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, when I was able to replace a bell ringer in a church with a bell tower and set of 11 functioning bells. Every week, I mounted the winding steps up the tower to reach the keyboard. The bells themselves were attached by chains and rods several storeys higher. It was a physically demanding job to grab and push down the correct levers at the right time. My finale was a change cadence up and down the keyboard – a workout for the bells and for me. The town loves its bells, and I loved the experience!

DESIGN
The Sound of Bells sock features the motif of three swinging bells centred in a “bell tower” panel framed by open knot stitch cables. The design is decorative and looks complicated, but it’s easier to knit than you think and stretches out beautifully when worn!

CONSTRUCTION AND PATTERN DETAILS

• The sock is knitted toe up so that the bells swing downward.
• There are directions for stitch distribution for both the magic loop and dpns.
• The pattern has written instructions and a chart for each size.
• The heel is shaped using the German short-row technique.
• The leg band is worked in tubular cast-off for a secure, non-binding edge.
• Photos illustrate details of the sock construction.
• Online tutorials are suggested for the specialized techniques.

SIZE
Women’s - Small (Medium, Large)
The sock is designed for a foot width of 17.5 (21, 24.5) cm / 7 (8.25, 9.75) ins and length of 21 (24, 27) cm / 8.25 (9, 10.5) ins, slightly stretched. The leg length is adjustable based on completion of one or two pattern repeats.
The model is shown in size M, worked on 2.75 mm (US 2.0) needles.

YARN
Fingering weight sock yarn.
The model uses:
MC - 80/20 Sock, by Lichen and Lace (80% superwash emrino, 20% nylon; 100g/3.53 oz, 334 m/365 yds) col. Christmas cactus (hand-dyed).
CC - BC Garn Bio Shetland GOTS-certified organic 100% wool (50g/1.8 oz, 250 m/273 yds), col 34 bright pink.

QUANTITY
MC - 1 (1, 1) skein – 230 (270, 330) m / 250 (295, 360) yds
CC- small amount (<5 g / 0.18 oz)

NEEDLES
Set of 5 dpns or circ needle (magic loop)
2.25 mm (US 1.0), 2.75 mm (US 2.0), 3.0 mm (US 2.5) optional for cast-off. A tighter fitting sock is achieved with the smaller needles.

GAUGE
32 sts and 42 rounds to 10 cm/4 in in st st, using 2.25 mm (US 1.0) needle.
29 sts and 40 rounds to 10 cm/4 in in st st, using 2.75 mm (US 2.0) needle.
Lace pattern repeat measures approx. 7.6 x 7.6 cm / 3 x 3 ins.

SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate