This pattern is recommended for “subtle striping yarns,” and it really works well with the Petals Olympic Blueberry yarn, as you can see in the close-up photo.

12/30/2012: The heel is giving me fits. After two attempts, and much nervous frogging back to the start of the heel, I’m now trying a heel flap / heel turn / gusset method described in Ann Budd’s Getting Started Knitting Socks, which I’ve used successfully many times.

1/5/2013: The comments on this pattern are critical of the heel instructions, and someone has offered an alternative. I’m sticking with my tried and true method.

1/13/2013: Finished, just in time to send to Mom for her birthday! I like the design and would knit these again.