Wheatsheaf Aran Socks by Loraine Birchall

Wheatsheaf Aran Socks

Knitting
November 2018
Aran (8 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in st st using 5mm needles. Or 24sts x 36rows = 4.25 in x 6in/11cm x 15cm with 5mm/US8 in cable pattern
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 8 - 5.0 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
200 - 260 yards (183 - 238 m)
Small US 4-6.5 UK 3-5.5, Medium US 7-9 UK 6-8, Large US 9.5-11 UK 8.5-11
English
This pattern is available for £4.50 GBP buy it now

The Wheatsheaf Aran Socks have been designed to match the Wheatsheaf Cowl, Wheatsheaf Hat, Wheatsheaf Boot Cuffs and Wheatsheaf mittens.

The socks can be knitted at a tighter or looser gauge/tension and feature ribbing on the cuff, back of the leg, heel flap and sole to ensure a nice fit for many foot sizes. The socks are made for lounging, wearing around the house instead of slippers and relaxing. They’re an attractive sock for lazy days and nights by the fire.

Sizes:
Small US 4-6.5/UK 3-5.5
Medium US 7-9/UK 6-8
Large US 9.5-11/UK 8.5-11

Options for
slim fit: 4mm/US6 for all sock
regular: 4mm cuff, 4.5mm for sock
slouchy 4.5mm cuff, 5mm for sock.

I made samples of the small size using 5mm needles for the body of the sock in Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, they would easily fit a slimmer foot or a wider foot due to the nature of the yarn and how springy it is.
I made the large size using Stylecraft Heritage Aran (Acylic/wool blend) and 5mm needles. They fit a wider food very well and spring back to shape after a wash.
I made the small size using 4mm needles for the whole sock, this had good hard wearing fabric and was a lovely neat fit.

If you want a slouchy sock, use larger needles and for a slimmer fitting more hard wearing sock, use smaller needles.
Size small using 4mm needles and acrylic blend yarn would easily stretch to fit a 9 inch food circumference.
Size small using Lamb’s Pride and 5mm needles would easily stretch to a 10 or 11 inch foot circumference, but be less hard wearing.

If you need to make a longer foot, the charts are set up so you can repeat a section or part of chart as often as you need to get the desired length. I’ve also included which chart row I ended on for each of my samples so you have an idea of how it worked for me.

There are four options for your heel pattern. I’ve used a sl st heel and a ribbed heel for the samples, both worked well and gave a good fit.