DESIGN INSPIRATION

The idea for the Watering the Trees Socks came about after my six-year-old and two-year-old decided to “water” our backyard trees. This event mostly involved the two of them running around and spraying each other with the garden hose, but they had fun, and the two maple trees in our backyard did get a bit of water.

The design features two mirrored cables to represent our two maple trees, and the textured ribbing makes me think of the streams of water from the garden hose. Carefully placed increases and decreases make the cables in this design really pop while avoiding any guesswork as to which size you should make. Simply choose the stitch count closest to what you would normally use for vanilla socks, and you will be ready to go. This easy-to-memorize pattern will fly off of your needles.

CONSTRUCTION

The Watering the Trees Socks are knit cuff down, beginning with a German Twisted Cast-On and 2x1 rib. The leg and foot of the sock feature columns of mirrored cables and textured ribbing. A traditional heel flap and gusset make for a great overall fit, and a rounded toe and Kitchener stitch finish off the sock.

PATTERN INFORMATION

Difficulty Rating
INTERMEDIATE: Project is worked in the round from the cuff down and includes cables, slipped stitches, increases, and decreases. Kitchener stitch is used to finish off the toe.

Recommended Yarn
Bare Feet Sock by AT Haynes House, 75% superwash merino wool/25% nylon, 463 yds (423 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g): 1 skein (shown in Just Leaf Me Alone) OR approximately 400 yds (366 m) light fingering to fingering weight yarn.

This pattern will play nicely with any fingering weight merino/merino nylon blend yarn in solid, tonal, or lightly speckled colorways.

Needles/Notions

• US #1 (2.25 mm) 32-40” (80-100 cm) circular, or five double pointed needles; OR size needed to obtain gauge.
• Tapestry needle for Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends.
• 4 stitch markers and 1 locking stitch marker.
• Cable needle.

Gauge

36 sts and 48 rnds to 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US #1 (2.25 mm) needles.
Pattern gauge was measured after washing and blocking.

Sizes Available
S {M, L, XL} sts

Finished Measurements
6.25 {7, 8.25, 9}” (16 {18, 21, 23} cm) leg circumference, unstretched.
Recommended fit is 0.5-1.5” (1-3.8 cm) negative ease.

The model has a ball-of-foot measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and leg measurement of 8.5” (21.5 cm) and is wearing the M size. The model typically wears 64-st or size M vanilla socks.

To get the best fit, choose the size with the CO stitch count closest to what you would CO for vanilla socks using your preferred needle size and sock yarn. The cables are taken into account in the pattern, so you do not need to adjust your size for the cables.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.