These cozy worsted-weight Fair Isle socks are designed for knitters who love a quick, satisfying colorwork project with a little extra squish. The sweetheart argyle motif uses an easy repeating chart, making this a great pattern for knitters who are ready to practice stranded colorwork without signing up for a tiny yarn circus.

The sample was knit using Harrisville Designs Highland, a sturdy wool yarn that softens beautifully after blocking and blooms into a plush, woolly fabric with that classic handmade-sock feel. These socks are cheerful, cozy, and a little bit bossy — basically the kind of socks your feet start bragging about. For a smoother superwash option with added nylon strength, use Viking of Norway Raggen. If using Raggen, the optional Jawoll reinforcement thread is not needed.

Pattern includes written instructions, colorwork charts, heel and toe shaping notes, and sizes Adult Small through Adult XL.

Skills used include knitting in the round, stranded colorwork/Fair Isle, ribbing, short row heel construction, decreases, and Kitchener stitch.

Sizes: Adult Small, Medium, Large, and XL sizes.
Leg Length: Approx. 9 in / 23 cm from cuff to start of heel.
Approximate Finished Foot Lengths:
• Adult Small: 8–8.5 in / 20–21.5 cm
• Adult Medium: 9–9.5 in / 23–24 cm
• Adult Large: 10–10.5 in / 25.5–26.5 cm
• Adult XL: 11–11.5 in / 28–29 cm

Use a larger needle size for the Large and XL sizes.

• Yarn: Harrisville Designs Highland, worsted weight, 100% virgin wool, approx. 200 yd / 183 m per 100g skein. You will need 1 skein each of 2 high-contrast colors, approx. 400 yd / 366 m total. The sample socks shown were knit in Highland. Substitute option: Viking of Norway Raggen, worsted weight, 70% Australian wool superwash / 30% nylon, approx. 164 yd / 150 m per 100g skein. You will need 1 skein each of 2 high-contrast colors, approx. 328 yd / 300 m total.

• Optional Reinforcement Yarn: Jawoll Reinforcement Yarn or similar wool/nylon reinforcement thread for heels and toes; optional but recommended when using 100% wool yarn such as Harrisville Designs Highland.

• Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle for Magic Loop, or DPNs, or size needed to obtain gauge. For larger sizes or a roomier fit, you may need to go up one needle size.

• Gauge: 22 stitches and 24 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm in stranded colorwork, worked in the round on US 5 / 3.75 mm needles. Gauge was measured over the Fair Isle colorwork section on finished, blocked socks. For the best fit, knit a small stranded colorwork swatch in the round then block before measuring. Adjust needle size as needed.

The sample shown uses two high-contrast colors in Harrisville Designs Highland worsted-weight wool yarn. For best results, choose one main color and one contrast color so the sweetheart argyle design really pops.

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