The stacked sock design lends its inspiration from the career of the artist Marcel Duchamp. Early on in his career he was aligned with the cubist artists whose paintings were inspired by early time-lapse photography. The artists attempted to capture movement with static images and geometric forms, where parallel lines were artfully presented to described the idea of movement on a static painting. Nevertheless, despite the early cubist inspired art, Duchamp decided to distance himself from the art world while working as a librarian. During this time, he decided to approach art from a different perspective and delved into the world of conceptualism, using found objects as a central part of his artistic expression. One of the first of these new Dada art works was the bicycle wheel, which was a wheel mounted on a wooden stool. Marcel Duchamp’s work in Dada and conceptual art paved the way for the contemporary and postmodern art movement and I wished to honour his contribution with this sock design. The early cubist work is alluded to in the stack geometric boxes in the middle of the design, and the simple lace eyelets convey the idea of movement and are an abstract reference to the bicycle wheel stacked on a wooden stool.

Materials:
• One 2.25mm / US size 1 circular needle, 100cm / 40” in length for magic loop or set of DPNs, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• Stitch markers (2), one of which is used to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads.
• Blocking materials.
• Fingering weight (sock weight) yarn, exact yardage may vary and is dependent on size and foot length. A 100g skein of sock yarn should be suitable for most adult sizes. Sample is shown in cowgirlblues Proper Sock 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon, 366m / 400yds per 100g in colourway Emerald.

Size:
1 (2, 3, 4): The socks are 17cm (19cm, 22cm, 24cm) / 6.5” (7.5”, 8.5”, 9.5”) in circumference. Socks are intended to fit with approximately 2.5cm – 4.5cm / 1” – 1.75” negative ease. Sample shown in short sock, size 2.

Gauge:
33 stitches and 48 rounds = 10cm / 4” in textured pattern, worked in the round and blocked.