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Chirality Socks
DESIGN INSPIRATION
In organic chemistry, we describe a compound as being chiral if its mirror image is non-superimposable on itself. That is, no matter how you rotate the mirror image in three-dimensional space, you cannot line it up so that all parts of the mirror image stack on top of the original. Your hands are a great example of chiral objects. Your left hand is a mirror image of your right hand, but if you stack them up so that the backs of both hands are facing you, then the thumb of one hand lines up with the pinky of the other hand. Alternatively, if you line them up so that the thumbs are on the same side, then the palms and backs of your hands won’t line up. Your hands are said to be “non-superimposable” on one another.
A large part of my education and career as an organic chemist was devoted to considering the chirality or asymmetry of molecules. This is one of my favorite aspects of organic chemistry, and the Chirality Socks are inspired by this concept. I loved designing these socks to be non-superimposable mirror images of one another. If we stack the socks on top of one another, the cables will be going in opposite directions. It is not possible to orient the mirrored socks in such a way that everything lines up the same.
I love knitting socks and cables, but so often I find myself agonizing over which size to knit, and I’m always disappointed when my sock turns out to be tighter than I like. In this pattern, I’ve used carefully placed increases and decreases to take the guesswork out of choosing the best size to knit -- just cast on for your normal size using your favorite sock yarn and sock needles! This technique also allows the cabled ribbing to flow nicely without extra stitches to flare out the cuff. The cables and ribbing are mirrored on the left and right sock and flow down into the heel flap and into the toe of the sock for an extra cozy texture that is engaging to knit without requiring too much of your focus.
CONSTRUCTION
The Chirality Socks are knit cuff down, beginning with a German Twisted Cast-On and a beautiful cable and rib cuff. The leg of the sock features cabled ribbing that continues into the foot. A cabled heel flap and traditional gusset make for a great overall fit. The cabled ribbing flows into a rounded toe for a polished look with a comfortable space for your toes. Kitchener stitch is used to finish off the sock.
PATTERN INFORMATION
Difficulty Rating
INTERMEDIATE: Project is worked in the round from the cuff down and includes cables, slipped stitches, increases, and decreases. Kitchener stitch is used to finish off the toe. The pattern is primarily charted.
Recommended Yarn
Sock by Teal Torch Knits, 75% superwash merino wool/25% nylon, 463 yds (423 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g): 1 skein (shown in Dose of Sunshine) OR approximately 400 yds (366 m) light fingering to fingering weight yarn.
This pattern will play nicely with any fingering weight wool/wool blend yarn in solid, tonal, lightly speckled, heathered, or low-contrast colorways.
Needles/Notions
- US #1 (2.25 mm) 32-40” (80-100 cm) circular, or five double-pointed needles; OR size needed to obtain gauge.
- Tapestry needle for Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends.
- 3 stitch markers.
- Cable needle.
Sizes Available
48 {56, 64, 72, 80} sts
Finished Measurements
5.25 {6.25, 7, 8, 9}” (13.5 {15.8, 18, 20.3, 22.6} cm) leg and foot circumference, unstretched.
Recommended fit is 0.5-1.5” (1-3.8 cm) negative ease.
The model has a ball of foot measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and leg measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and is wearing a 64 sts sample. The model typically wears 64-st vanilla socks.
To get the best fit, choose the size with the CO stitch count closest to what you would CO for vanilla socks using your preferred needle size and sock yarn.
Additional Features/Notes
A video tutorial for how to pick up the stitches along the edge of the heel flap is included with the pattern.
This pattern primarily relies on charts. Individual charts are provided for each size; should you need a written translation of the charts, please reach out to the designer.
This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.
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- First published: October 2025
- Page created: October 16, 2025
- Last updated: October 16, 2025 …
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