Yarn:

○ Using Pennyroyal (530) for toes, cuffs, and maybe the heel (or maybe Poppyseed) - I’ll decide when I get to it. Main yarn is Wood Pigeon (864). Third photo down shows colours the best - Pennyroyal is more pinky than purple-y.

○ Do wish WYS would list each coordinating shade for each country birds/cocktails colourway - it’s fine with these, but working out which green/blue is which across Peacock, Kingfisher and Blue Lagoon is a nightmare!

○ Love WYS 4ply. Soft to work with but hardwearing - I’ve found it perfect for socks and cast on less stitches with this than with others (such as Drops Fabel) - 68 instead of 72.

Needles:

○ Have been using 2.5mm dpns despite ball band recommending 3.25mm, could probably go down to 2.25 for the foot but don’t want to have to mess about with the stitch count!

Pattern - my go to vanilla sock pattern for WYS 4ply:

○ Cast on 2AAT toes on 2.5mm circs (14 st per needle, Turkish Cast on, inc 1, 3, 1, 3, all, 1, 3, all, 1, 3, all, 1, all, all, 1). Knit on to 2.5mm dpns after increases (12 more rnds for long toes) then work sections on each sock in turn.

○ 36 rnds(after long toes) before first increase, then lifted inc from within gusset at far edge (two stitches in from end marker). Inc every other round, 16 stitches for each gusset.

○ Fleegle heel directions. (Knit 2 past centrally placed marker, k2tog, k; then turn, slip 1 pw then purl to 2 past central marker, SSP, p; turn and repeat closing gap each time.

○ End when 2 stitches left on each side, but on the knit row immediately after decreasing to 2, slide those two straight across to the left needle, switch yarn and knit with the main yarn across the top of the heel. When you reach the last 3 stitches before the marker, switch third and second stitch to opposite needles before SSK to avoid holes. Double check stitch count after final decreases - should be 68.

○ Knit for between 50 and 60 rnds(depending on stripe pattern and colours) before switching to contrast yarn for a single round before 2x2 ribbing for 21 rnds. JSSBO.

Changes from last time:
○ Trying an 11rnd long toe, and 34rnds before 1st inc.

Working notes:
○ Sock one/flower: increased 16 each side, completed plain knit rnd
○ Sock two/star: increased 16 each side, completed plain knit rnd
○ Next, knit Fleegle heel in poppyseed

Lessons learned:

• Tweaks to my vanilla pattern - 11rnds after last toe inc, and 34rnds before 1st gusset inc. These make the whole foot fit more snuggly.
• Having a different colour contrast heels to the contrast toes/cuff has turned out well - this increases mix and match options for contrasts to colourways such as Kingfisher.