Promises to Keep Socks by KnittyMelissa

Promises to Keep Socks

Knitting
December 2019
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
32 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches
in stranded stockinette stitch
US 1 - 2.25 mm
350 - 400 yards (320 - 366 m)
S - 60 sts (M - 68 sts, L - 76 sts, XL – 84 sts)
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

This pattern was designed for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry for the January 2020 Mystery Sock, or MOCK, to fit the stranded colorwork challenge. Because it is a mystery, no photos are present in any of the clues.

The clues will be released on January 1, 8, 15 & 22.

The name is inspired by the Robert Frost poem “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening.” These socks would be perfect to wear as you take a moment to stop and watch the woods fill up with snow.

Materials:

  • Fingering weight sock yarn – 48 (52, 56, 60) grams main color (MC) and 38 (40, 42, 44) grams contrast color (CC). The charts are written for a darker MC. It is recommended that MC be solid. The CC can be solid, speckled, tonal, or very lightly variegated. There should be good contrast between the yarns and no overlapping colors. Note that yarn usage is dependent on gauge and foot length. For tighter gauge or longer-than-average feet, you may need more of each color.
  • One US size 1 (2.25mm) circular needle, 32” or longer
  • One US size 1.5 (2.5mm) circular needle, 32” or longer (optional for colorwork)
  • Locking/removable stitch markers & tapestry needle

This pattern is written for magic loop but can be adapted to your preferred needle type.

Four Sizes:
Small - 60 sts (Medium - 68 sts, Large - 76 sts, XL – 84 sts)

Gauge:
8 or 9 spi (stitches per inch) in 2-color stranded colorwork

  • At 9 spi, the sock will be 6.7” (7.5”, 8.4”, 9.3”) in circumference.
  • At 8 spi, the sock will be 7.5” (8.5”, 9.5”, 10.5”) in circumference.

Remember that stranded colorwork usually has less stretch than stockinette, so plan for little to no negative ease.

In addition, when knitting colorwork socks it’s important to leave the floats (the strands of yarn carried behind the work) loose enough so that the socks have some stretch. It is especially important to do so in the corners where you switch from one needle to the other. In order to force floats to take the longest path, it can help to knit colorwork socks inside out. Check out my “Colorwork Knitting Inside Out for Socks” video tutorial.

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