Every Librarian needs cozy socks for warmth in drafty libraries or when chasing after overdue books. These toe-up, unisex socks pay homage to the librarian’s stock-in-trade – The Stacks. The stitch pattern evokes bookshelves while the top border brings to mind the drawers of a card catalogue. Pattern is easily reversed for those that prefer to work socks top-down and can be customized with longer legs for those wishing to wear them with a skirt.

Worked toe-up, the socks are offered in 6 sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) to work for both men and women’s sizes and are best worked in a solid, tonal or semi-solid M/C/N sock yarn. They feature a wide toe and the stitch pattern continues down the heel flap. The “stacks” stitch pattern is worked on the instep and up the leg, made up of 2 x 2 ribs that form the “books” and sections of twisted stitches form the “shelves.” The border pattern is comprised of st st and reverse st st boxes that bring to mind a row of card catalogue drawers. Stitch patterns are provided in chart and written form.

Pattern is 9 pages.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Yarn: 360 - 600 yards/329 - 549 meters any MCN blend (Merino, Cashmere, Nylon) fingering weight yarn with 8 sts/inch.

Sample: Pagewood Farm ‘Alyeska Hand Dyed Sock Yarn’, (360 yds/329 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein), 1 (1, 1, 2) 2,2 skein(s) in Mississippi Mud. Size Medium.

Finished Sizes (blocked):
X-Small, (Small, Medium, Large) X-Large, XX-Large
Circumference of foot - 6 (7, 8, 9) 10, 11 inches/15 (17.5, 20, 22.5) 25, 27.5 cm, unstretched
Fits up to – 8.5 (9.5, 10.5, 11.5) 12.5, 13.5 inches/21.25 (23.75, 26.25, 28.75) 31.25, 34.25 cm, stretched
Leg Length – 6.75 inches/17.15 cm, measured from end of heel flap

Other possible yarns:

• Handmaiden Fine Yarns ‘Cashbah’, (355 yds/325 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).
• The Sanguine Gryphon ‘Bugga’, (412 yds/377 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein).
• String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn ‘Caper Sock’, (400 yds/366 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein).
• Indigodragonfly ‘MCN Sock’, (375 yds/343 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).
• Creatively Dyed Yarn ‘Luxury’, (360 yds/329 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.44 oz, 126 grams per skein).
• Tanis Fiber Arts ‘Purple Label Cashmere Sock’, (400 yds/366 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).
• Zen Yarn Garden ‘Serenity 20’, (400 yds/366 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein).

Other Tools:

• Stitch markers (2)
• Glow line tape (to mark current row on chart - optional)
• Tapestry needle

Skills Required:

• Increasing and decreasing
• Knitting in the round
• Toe up sock construction
• Short rows/wrap & turn
• Twisted Stitches
• Following charts
• Blocking

Hard (paper) copies of this pattern can be ordered from Shall We Knit?