Mercy Otis Warren by Kate Davies Designs

Mercy Otis Warren

Knitting
July 2021
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
32 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches
in colourwork in the round
US 1½ - 2.5 mm
656 yards (600 m)
Two sizes, S &L to fit adult foot with 18-19 (20.5-21.5) cm / 7-7½ (8-8½) in circumference
English
This pattern is available for £5.00 GBP buy it now

Also available as a kit from the KDD shop

Mercy Otis Warren

A pair of bold blue socks to celebrate the poet, essayist and early historian of the United States, whose political arguments were influential in the constitutional enshrining of a bill of rights. The motif I have chosen - of a twisted vine - recalls one of the most often-repeated Biblical verses in Warren’s correspondence (as well as that of many of her contemporaries) during the years of the American revolutionary war: “and they shall sit each under their own vine and fig tree, with none to make them afraid.” Micah 4:4

The vine motif can be found in Andrea Rangel’s Alterknit. Thanks, Andrea.

Yarn
John Arbon Exmoor Sock 4ply (60% Exmoor Blueface, 20% Corriedale, 10% Zwartbles, 10% Nylon; 200m / 219yds per 50g skein)
A Whortleberries: 2 x 50g skeins
B Mizzle: 1 x 50g skein

Needles and notions
Two below gauge-size circular needle(s) (any length) for cast on
Gauge-size needle(s) of your preferred type for working small circumferences
Above gauge-size needle(s) of your preferred type for working small circumferences
Spare gauge-size circular needle(s) for holding stitches
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Gauge
Small: 34 sts and 41 rounds to 10cm / 4in over colourwork in the round on gauge-size needle(s)
Large: 32 sts and 39 rounds to 10cm / 4in over colourwork in the round on gauge-size needle(s)

Use 2.5 mm needle as a starting point for swatching for small size and 2.75 mm needle as a starting point for swatching for large size.

Sizes
Two sizes, S and L, to fit adult foot with 18-19 (20.5-21.5) cm / 7-7½ (8-8½) in circumference. Foot length is fully adjustable within the pattern. Pay attention to your round gauge, as you’ll use this to measure the finished length of the foot.

Fit
If you are knitting as a gift and don’t know the recipient’s foot size, this table may be helpful:
https://kddandco.com/tutorials/shoe-size-tables-for-sock-...

The fit, ease and sizing of these socks should be considered differently to a comparable pair worked at the same gauge in plain stockinette. There are two factors to bear in mind: first, stranded colourwork has far less give and stretch than stockinette (so less negative ease in the sock is required), and second, the inner circumference of the sock is reduced as a consequence of the density of the double-stranded fabric. These factors account for the number of stitches, which, for a sock worked at this gauge, may be higher than you are used to. As a rule of thumb, if you knit a 56 or 60 stitch sock in stockinette, the small size will fit well, and if you prefer a plain sock of 64 or 68 stitches, then you should knit the larger size.