Lashed to the mast

This was a mystery pattern designed for the SolidSocks group for March/April 2026.

On a day trip to Port Fairy, in Victoria Australia, in late summer 2025 I happened across a yarn store and as one does, I went in. I picked two stunning skeins of yarn from a new to me Australian Indie dyer, and my husband picked a third skein. It’s this third skein that inspired this design along with the song “Home at Last” by Steely Dan.

The yarn colourway name is “Siren Song” and with that, along with the song, images and ideas morphed to help create this design – images of the sea with it’s beauty, dangers and adventures plus the lures of the sirens and/or mermaids.

It all seems fitting given that Port Fairy is also one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria.

The siren song colourway that, in part, inspired the design didn’t work with the pattern but never fear, one of the other two yarns I bought did.

Pattern information

Sizing
A-60, B-66 (C-72, D-78) sts.
Finished circumference (approximately);
at a gauge of 36 sts: 16.5, 18.5 (20, 21.5) cm / 6.75, 7.25 (8, 8.75) inches.
– To fit foot circumference of 18, 20.5 (22, 23.5) cm / 7.5, 8 (8.75, 9.75) inches.
at a gauge of 34 sts: 17.5, 19.5 (21, 23) cm / 7, 7.5 (8.25, 9) inches.
– To fit foot circumference of 19.5, 21.5 (23, 25.5) cm / 7.75, 8.5 (9, 10) inches.
The sock fit is similar to a stockinette stitch sock.

Yarn
100g light fingering / fingering weight sock yarn.
Solid or semi-solid/tonal colourways would work well for this design.

Gauge (worked in the round and measured after washing and laying flat to dry)
36 sts = 10 cm/4 inches over stockinette stitch.

Needles (for working small circumference in the round)
2.25 mm/US1 needles (or size required to achieve gauge).

Pattern formats
The instructions for the construction of the socks are written and charted. All charts have written instructions.

Thank you
Thank you to those who tested the pattern.

A huge thanks also to yarnymama, Condichick and yalta for their ongoing valued advice, guidance, feedback and encouragement.

Errata
Clue 1: Written Chart Instructions Sand ripples - Sizes A and B - Row 10, p2 was missing
Row 10: P1, k2, p1, k2, p2, k4 x3, p2, k2, p1, k2, p1.