For these socks, I wanted to create a fun pattern that would show off colorful yarns, so that even very busy yarns could shine without being overwhelming. Both toe-up and cuff-down constructions are included, with the design customized to fit each method. The contrast color begins at either the toe or the cuff, depending on which construction method is used, and then gradually fades into the main color through the colorwork sprinkles.

Colorwork charts plus written instructions are provided. For optimal chart reading, there are two versions - one with a light MC and a dark CC, and one with inverted colors for a dark MC and a light CC. Also included is a full page of tips on general sock making, calculating foot length, and knitting colorwork!

Yarn ideas

• For socks that resemble the samples, use a variegated yarn for the contrast color and a solid or tonal yarn for the main color. Choose a variegated yarn that doesn’t contain the same color as your solid, so that the sprinkle stitches don’t blend in too much. For instance, if you use a white for your solid, try to choose a variegated yarn that doesn’t contain any white areas.
• For a bolder look, you could invert this and use a variegated yarn for the MC and a solid for the CC
• Or use two minis for each sock’s CC for a mismatched pair
• Or use two full skeins to make two pairs, reversing the MC and CC for each pair

Construction
For toe-up socks, the CC starts at the toe, and for cuff-down socks the CC begins at the cuff. Both styles use a shadow wrap short row heel, in which you don’t need to wrap the stitch. You can use another short row heel method if you prefer. Each construction features an optional folded cuff (instructions and demo videos are included). The cuff-down version includes options for either a single color toe or a patterned toe (shown).

Sizes
Small (Medium, Large, X-Large)
To fit foot circumference: 8 (9, 10, 10.5)” / 20 (23, 25, 26.5) cm

Yarn & approx yardage
Yardage includes the folded cuff.

Toe-up
MC: Hue Loco Sock, 100g / 460 yards; 75% SW Merino, 25% Nylon, in Snowshoe. Approx 63 (75, 89, 102) g / 252 (300, 356, 408) yds / 237 (282, 335, 384) m
CC: Barnyard Knits Sock, 100g / 463 yards; 75% SW Merino / 25% Nylon, in Carnivale. Approx 19 (22, 26, 30) g / 88 (102, 121, 139) yds / 83 (96, 114, 131) m

Cuff-down
Bad Sheep Yarn Fingering: 75% SW Merino / 25% Nylon; 100 g / 462 yards.
MC: Velvet, approx 41 (48, 57, 66) g / 190 (222, 264, 305) yds / 179 (209, 249, 287) m
CC: Snow Day, approx 29 (34, 40, 46) g / 134 (158, 185, 213) yds / 126 (149, 174, 201) m

Pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.

Share your creations with me on instagram! @oakwood.knits