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The Connacht Socks are part of the “Provinces of Ireland” sock designs, all using traditional Aran stitches to create interesting socks to knit and wear. In the Connacht socks, small cables are interspersed with rows of knit and purl. This is known as the Ladder of Life and represents the stages of life; sometimes it is given religious significance, symbolising the path to salvation. This stitch pattern is also known as Sailor’s Cable as it is said to reflect the ropes and ladders on the fishing boats.

The original Provinces of Ireland Socks written for Folklore Yarns “Faerie Folk” Donegal Tweed in colours representative of each coat of arms, this version is re-worked to suit the stitch counts for fingering weight yarn. They are knit from the cuff down with a traditional heel flap and gusset. However, the heel can be substituted for your own choice of heel. It is knit using a magic loop but can be adapted with dpns or a short circular. The pattern has written instructions and a chart for the cable.

Size: To fit approx.:
Small 7”/18 cm foot circumference
Medium 8”/20 cm foot circumference
Large 9”/23 cm foot circumference
Foot and leg length can be easily adjusted.

Needles:
2.75 mm (US 2) 80 cm circular needles or dpns (or size needed to get gauge). This cable pattern produces a tight material, I strongly advise using a larger needle size than you would regularly to knit a sock. (I mostly knit my socks on a 2.25mm (US 1), but had to increase to 2.75mm (US 2) for this pattern.)
Optional - a needle one size down from the main needle for completing the heel and the toe.
Cable Needle (cables can be worked without a cable needle if desired).

Gauge: 38 sts x 44 rows per 4 inches using 2.75 mm (US 2) needle over cable pattern.

Notions: Stitch markers, progress keeper, tapestry needle.

Yarn: Fingering weight sock yarn (approx.) MC: 60 (80) 100g 269yds/246m (358yds/328m) 448yds/410m; C1: 5g 22yds/21m and C2: 10g 44yds/41m for toe.
(Amount of yarn is a guide and will depend on length of foot and leg you decide to knit.)