This pattern is for a pair of ankle socks, but they could be made as long as you want. Two running Greyhounds on the ankle, & a band of smaller running hounds around the toes, positioned to face the wearer. I

They were inspired by, and named in honour of, my beautiful girl Pepper. It is the first pattern I have written out & published, so I am making it free but would ask that you make a donation to a Greyhound rescue charity, if you do download it. Thank you

I made them to fit my UK size 5 foot, but they could be made shorter by omitting the band around the toes & doing just the diamonds for the required length. To make a longer foot, you could add some extra rows at the start of the sock: stripes perhaps either side of the toe band. There is also the option of flipping the “toe band” & knitting it around the top of the sock before the cuff, for a longer sock.

I would strongly recommend that you try the sock on as you knit it, especially when you’ve done the heel: if it is too tight to slip on, do the heel flap in a larger size needle & do not pull the yarn too tightly. I did the foot of my socks (including heel turn) on the smaller 2.25mm needle, & went up a size for the heel flap & leg.

You will need two balls of 4ply sock yarn ; one dark (main colour) & one light (contrast colour). I used Crazy Zauberball in dark shades: Herbstwind, & a luxury skein of Superwash Merino & silk from Sheep on Mars. NOTE: if you choose a variegated yarn as your main colour, you will have to cut the yarn after the heel & attempt to match the colour on the instep when you go back to working in the round.

A word about the sole gusset on this sock. Cat Bordhi discovered that gussets do not have to be placed either side of the ankle! This particular arrangement of one large gusset in the centre of the sole is my favourite for many reasons; especially for the ease of construction & the way it pushes out the design on the sole to branch up to the ankle where the conventional gusset would have been.

The shortrow heel turn & the slipstitch heelflap which simultaneously picks up & decreases the gusset stitches ready to knit the leg back in the round again, is a sheer joy, & there is no kitchenering and very little finishing ( unless you’ve chosen a multicoloured main yarn).

RIP STONE MOLE PEPPER 25/8/2006 - 2/1/2020