25% off with code MOO until end of 17. August Inspired by life in Switzerland (a country famed for it´s cheese, chocolate, and clanging of cowbells), these socks are a tribute to these moo-gnificent creatures! The Herding Cows Socks are a celebration of cows, grazing on alpine pastures and the star of so many peaceful, Swiss mountain scenes. Whether you choose classic black and white cows or opt for a whole herd of different colours, you’ll enjoy watching them knit up and appear in their grassy green pasture. Perfect for cow lovers, farm enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys a bit of barnyard whimsy in their sock drawer.

Knit from the top down, starting with a ribbed cuff, these socks have a short row heel and a fun to knit stranded colourwork cow motif pattern. There are some three colours in one round details, but these can also be duplicate stitched on too (a video tutorial for this is provided). The cows are repeated throughout the leg and foot of the sock. The toe is finished by grafting stitches together. This pattern uses the magic loop circular needle method (but can be knit with 23cm (9 inch) circulars or DPNs).

Sizing
1 (2, 3)

To fit (foot circumference): 19.5 – 21 (21.5 –23.5, 26-28) cm / 8 (9 ½, 10 ¾) inches.
Finished circumference: 17.5 (21, 24.5) cm / 7 (8 ½, 9 ¾) inches.

Recommended ease: Approximately 2.5cm (1 inch) of negative ease. For your foot circumference, measure around the widest part of your foot (normally the ball of your foot, just before the start of your toes). Further sizes can be achieved by going up or down a needle size.
Leg/foot length can be easily adjusted. See instructions for details.
Sample shown is knit in size 2 for shoe size US 8.5 (EU 39, UK 6), foot circumference 22.5cm (8 ¾ inches).

MATERIALS
Yarn - Fingering weight sock yarn
MC: Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 tweed sock yarn (75% Virgin wool superwash, 25% Nylon), 420m (460 yds) per 100g
CC colours: Filcolana Arwetta Classic (80% Merino wool, 20% Nylon), 210m (230 yds) per 50g

Any fingering weight sock yarn can be used for this pattern as long as you obtain the same gauge. Please use whatever sock yarn you have available to you.

Shown in:
MC: Green 165. Approx 50g (60g, 65g), 210 (252, 273) m / 230 (275, 299) yds.
CC1: Black 102. 20g, 84m / 92 yds.
CC2: Natural White. 101 20g, 84m / 92 yds.
CC3: Flamingo 370. 15g, 63m / 69 yds.
(For the multi-coloured version, use CC1 in various scrap sock yarn from your stash. Approx 3g per set of cows).

Needles
For ribbing and stockinette: 2.25mm (US 1), 80cm (32 inch) circular for magic loop, or DPNs, or two circulars, or a 23cm (9 inch) circular needle as preferred.

For colourwork: 2.5mm (US 1.5), 80cm (32 inch) circular for magic loop, or DPNs, or two circulars, or a 23cm (9 inch) circular needle as preferred.

Important note: Do check your gauge for fitting. Further sizes can be achieved by going up or down needle sizes.

Gauge
34 sts x 44 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for ribbing and stockinette.
34 sts x 36 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for colourwork. (This is the same gauge even though we are using a bigger needle size, because for myself and many other knitters, we often knit the colourwork sections tighter than stockinette. Please check your own gauge to see if this works for you).