In one of my earliest introductions to the mathematical field of geometry, a (somewhat zany) teacher began by drawing a cute alien on the chalkboard. This was a Zoid, she informed us, and the best way to deal with Zoids was to trap them. How does one trap a Zoid? With a polygon, of course! She proceeded to draw a trap in the shape of a trapezoid over top of the picture of the alien, complete with bars -- and thereby to ensure that none of us ever forgot what a trapezoid looked like.

I designed these ankle socks with the spirit of this creative teacher in mind. Worked in a heavy fingering or sport-weight yarn, they knit up quickly and use a relatively small amount of yarn, with the portions worked in the contrast color suitable for using up leftover scraps or mini skeins. The stranded section of the foot is easy for even a beginner in colorwork techniques and adds cushioning and an improved fit to that part of the foot. Best of all, the many trapezoids that appear on the socks (in the heel turn, around the foot, and in the toe shaping) will ensure that your sock drawer stays Zoid free.

To knit these socks, you need to know how to:

• work flat and in the round,
• work short rows,
• pick up stitches along an edge,
• work stranded colorwork from a chart,
• work basic decreases (k2tog and ssk), and
• use Kitchener stitch to graft live stitches.

Please note that the yarn estimates given are approximate; how much yarn you will use depends upon the size you knit and the length of your foot. Most people will need only one skein of the recommended yarn in the main color. However, if you are making the largest size and/or have very long feet, you might wish to purchase an extra skein just in case.

Tech editing by eledixon