Fancy Fair Isle Socks by Carmen Jorissen

Fancy Fair Isle Socks

Knitting
November 2021
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
34 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in colourwork stockinette
US 1 - 2.25 mm
US 1½ - 2.5 mm
328 - 437 yards (300 - 400 m)
6 adult foot sizes, see description
Dutch English
This pattern is available for £7.50 GBP buy it now

This pattern was originally published in the Sock Knitting Bible in 2021, and is available for individual purchase since 2023.

Designers Notes: “I’m fascinated with traditional Fair Isle patterns, and particularly with so called XO patterns. With XO patterns, one part of the chart forms an “O”, or sometimes a diamond shape, and the pattern in between the O’s forms an X, or sometimes just a vertical line. In this design I have combined a variation on an XO-pattern with a striping effect, by alternating two pairs of contrasting colours.”

About the designer
After designing her first pair of socks in 2017, knitwear designer Carmen from New Leaf Designs was completely hooked. She specializes in toe-up colourwork sock designs, and is known for taking new knitters through the process step by step.

Pattern Notes
These colourwork socks are knit from toe-up, casting on with Judy’s Magic Cast On. The pattern uses four colours, with a maximum of two colours for the same round.

These socks feature a gusset on each side of the foot to allow for more room around the heel and ankle, and to prevent the colourwork print from distorting.

The pattern PDF contains video links for relevant techniques used.

Sizes
This sock pattern is available for 6 adult foot sizes.
EU: Size 35/36, 37/38, 39/41, 42/43, 44/45, 46/47
US: 5/6, 6.5/7.5, 8/9.5, 10/11, 12/12.5, 13/14
UK: 2.5/3.5, 4/5, 6/7, 7.5/8, 9/10, 10.5/12

Yarn
The pattern uses 4 colours of Scheepjes Metropolis yarn. Two of these colours should be light, and the other two should be dark, so that there is enough contrast between each other.
Colours used for sample:
A- Milan 057 (dark)
B - Dubai 047 (light)
C - Marrakech 051 (dark)
D - Sydney 048 (light)

In this pattern, Yarn A contrasts with B, and Yarn C contrasts with D.