Difficulty: Improver - Intermediate

Design: The Court Socks combine sporty double stripes at the cuff and toe, with half-twisted rib texture. Leaning into the athletic look, the sample is knit with a minimal ankle-length leg (however, the leg length is completely customisable). Whilst many ribbed socks feature a ribbed cuff, the Court Socks have a rolled cuff knit in stockinette stitch. This allows knitters who are new to knitting Magic Loop to get comfortable with the technique before having to incorporate ribbed stitches.

About the pattern: There are two PDFs provided with a purchase of the Court Socks pattern. The first is the “improver” PDF. This iteration of the pattern is written for people who have some knitting experience, but who have not yet knit socks. It includes a series of advisory notes guiding you through techniques that you might be unfamiliar with. Whilst you don’t need to have previously knit a sock to follow this version of the pattern, prior experience with a shaped garment (such as a hat, glove, jumper or cardigan) is recommended. There is also an “intermediate” PDF. The instructions in this version are more sparse, and are intended for knitters familiar with working socks and stripes. A playlist of video tutorials is available on YouTube for both versions.

The document for this pattern is relatively long, as there are different instructions for sizes 1, -, 3 (-, 5, -) and sizes -, 2, – (4, -, 6). If you are printing the pattern, you may want to choose your size before printing (see pages 3-4). You can then print just the pages relevant to your size.

Construction: These socks are knit cuff-down. First, you cast on at the cuff and work eight rounds in stockinette to create a rolled hem. You then work the leg in the half-twisted rib pattern, incorporating two CC stripes. The heel is then worked using the heel flap and gusset technique. Next, the foot of the sock is worked with the established half-twisted rib pattern continuing on the in-step. The sole of the foot is knit in plain stockinette, for comfort. A further two CC stripes are worked before the toes. There are two toe shaping options: the first is a classic wedge toe which is worked the same across both socks, and the second is a shaped left and right toe which differs for each sock.

The in-step ribbing is symmetrical for the odd sizes, and asymmetrical for the even sizes. This means that the odd sizes have just one set of instructions to follow for both of the socks (starting on page 5). Meanwhile, the even sizes have two sets of instructions to follow, so that the right and left socks mirror each other (starting on page 8 for the right sock, and page 11 for the left sock). Make sure to follow the correct set of instructions throughout.

Sizing: The Court Socks come in six sizes, with finished foot circumferences of 13.5 – 22.5 cm / 5 1/4” – 9”. They are designed to be worn with 2.5 – 5 cm / 1” – 2”of negative ease.

Yarn: The recommended yarn is Isager Sock Yarn (386m/422 yds per 100g), however the Court Socks can be knit in any heavier fingering-weight sock yarn.

The sample uses Isager Sock Yarn in the shade 56 as the MC, and in the shade 0 as the CC.

You will need approximately 127, 178, 228 (282, 332, 382) m / 139, 195, 249 (308, 363, 418) yds of your MC, and 23, 31, 39 (50, 58, 66) m / 25, 34, 43 (54, 63, 72) yds of your CC.

Techniques: This pattern uses the German Twisted Cast On, Knit Through the Back Loop, Jogless Knit Stitches, Jogless Twisted Knit Stitches, Knit 2 Togethers, Purl 2 Togethers, Slip Slip Knits, and Kitchener Stitch. Video tutorials for all of these techniques are provided.