Effie socks: the next installment in the Midnight Feasts collection

Last month I released my Bobby socks, the first in the Midnight Feasts Collection. Well, here are the second: the Effie socks (named after a friend’s Granny, Euphemia). 

As a child, I used to love reading vintage boarding-school stories, and always imagined that the girls in them would wear cute little ruffled socks while eating their midnight feasts and drinking ginger beer. The Effie socks are the second in a series of sock patterns: the Midnight feasts collection, which pays homage to these books with a series of cute ankle socks, all featuring a frill around the cuff: show them off by wearing them with circle skirts and Mary-Jane shoes, or let the cuff peep out of the top of a pair of ankle boots for a really cute look. All the socks in the collection are knitted from the top down using a standard heel flap and gusset construction. The ruffled frill and first half of the turned-back cuff are knitted first, then inverted using a short row before knitting the rest of the sock. The foot length of the socks is adjustable to fit.

The Effie socks are perfect for dressing up a simple outfit – they can be worn with shoes or boots, letting the lace frill detail peep out over the top.

Instructions are given for both two-colour and single-colour versions. The lace stitch pattern is given as both a chart and written instructions. Tutorials are included for the inversion round and blocking the ruffle.

The pattern is written to be needle-neutral and can be knitted using either the magic-loop technique, short circulars or DPNs, depending on your individual preference. The pattern also features helpful hints for beginners.

I’ve written this pattern for a whopping *seven* sizes, so you should certainly be able to make a pair to fit – you could even make a matching set for you and a small child…

The pattern is live on Ravelry now, and you can get 30% off with the code STAYATHOME (you can use this code on any of my patterns – the discount lasts until the end of March – thanks for sticking with me during the Covid-19 uncertainty).

Bobby socks

If you like socks with frills, and think you might like to get all my frilly sock patterns, why not buy the Midnight Feasts ebook? It costs £10, and every time I add a frilly sock to the Midnight Feasts collection, you’ll get it added to your library automatically.

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Sizes

XXS (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL)

Finished sock circumferences: 12.5 (15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 27.5) cm [5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) in]; for the best fit, choose a size that is approximately 2.5 cm [1 in] smaller than your foot circumference.

Leg length to heel: 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) cm [2.75 (3.25, 3.5, 4, 4.25, 4.75, 5) in].

Foot length is adjustable.

Tension

32 sts and 44 rnds = 10 cm [4 in] in stocking stitch and worked in the rnd on 2.5 mm (US 1.5) needle(s) after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn

4ply-weight sock yarn in the following colours and amounts (yardages are approximate as the amount of yarn used will depend on the length of the foot, which is adjustable):

Single-colour version

·        150 (205, 265, 340, 420, 500, 590) m [165 (225, 290, 375, 460, 550, 650) yds]

Two-colour version

·        MC: 130 (180, 235, 310, 385, 460, 545) m [145 (200, 260, 340, 425, 505, 600) yds]

·        CC: 20 (25, 30, 30, 35, 40, 45) m [25 (30, 35, 35, 40, 45, 50) yds]

I would recommend using a dedicated sock yarn that is tightly plied wool and has some nylon content for durability.

Needles

·        2.5 mm (US 1.5) DPNs, 15 cm [6 in], set of 5, or

·        2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, at least 80 cm [32 in] in length to work magic loop, or

·        2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, 22.5 cm [9 in] in length

Notions

·        Stitch markers x 5

ONE DAY ONLY Bobby socks: 50% off and all proceeds go to Down Syndrome International

A bit earlier than scheduled, I've just released my #LotsOfSocksKAL pattern: the Bobby socks. From now until 11:59pm EST, Thursday 13th February 2020, this pattern is available with 50% off using the code LOTSOFSOCKS All proceeds during the sale period will go to Down Syndrome International (if you want to make a bigger donation, just omit the code and all the proceeds wil go to Down Syndrome International). If you haven't heard about the Lots Of Socks KAL, you can read all about it here.

As a child, I used to love reading vintage boarding-school stories, and always imagined that the girls in them would wear cute little ruffled socks while eating their midnight feasts and drinking ginger beer. The Bobby socks are the first in a series of sock patterns: the Midnight feasts collection, which pays homage to these books with a series of cute ankle socks, all featuring a frill around the cuff: show them off by wearing them with circle skirts and Mary-Jane shoes, or let the cuff peep out of the top of a pair of ankle boots for a really cute look. All the socks in the collection are knitted from the top down using a standard heel flap and gusset construction. The ruffled frill and first half of the turned-back cuff are knitted first, then inverted using a short row before knitting the rest of the sock. The foot length of the socks is adjustable to fit.

The Bobby socks are perfect for summer and early autumn: the lace allows your feet to air so they're nice and cool, but as autumn approaches the socks can be worn with shoes, letting the lace frill detail peep out over the top of your shoes.

Instructions are given for both two-colour and single-colour versions. The lace stitch pattern is given as both a chart and written instructions. Tutorials are included for the inversion round and blocking the ruffle.

The pattern is written to be needle-neutral and can be knitted using either the magic-loop technique, short circulars or DPNs, depending on your individual preference. The pattern also features helpful hints for beginners.

Click here to buy the pattern now! Use the code LOTSOFSOCKS to get 50% off until 11.59pm EST, Thursday 13th February 2020, and remember, all proceeds from sales from now until the end of Thursday 13th February (EST time) go to Down Syndrome International.

Reading this and it's not February 13th any more? You can get 20% off with the code FRILLS until 11.59pm GMT, Thursday 20th February 2020, and I'll dontate £1 to Down Syndrome International for each copy sold until the end of February 2020.

If you buy any of my other sock patterns in February 2020, I'll donate £1 per sale to Down Syndrome International. You can find all my sock patterns here.

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Sizes
S (M, L)

Finished sock circumferences: 16 (20, 24) cm \[6.5 (8, 9.5) in]; for the best fit, choose a size that is approximately 2.5 cm [1 in] smaller than your foot circumference.

Leg length to heel: 9 (10, 11) cm [3.5 (4, 4.25) in].

Foot length is adjustable.

Tension
30 sts and 44 rnds = 10 cm [4 in] in both stocking stitch and lace patt worked in the rnd on 2.5 mm (US 1.5) needle(s) after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn
4ply-weight sock yarn in the following colours and amounts (yardages are approximate as the amount of yarn used will depend on the length of the foot, which is adjustable):

Single-colour version
•    260 (325, 390) m [285 (355, 425) yds]

Two-colour version
•    MC: 235 (295, 355) m [260 (320, 385) yds]
•    CC: 25 (30, 40) m [30 (35, 40) yds]

I would recommend using a dedicated sock yarn that is tightly plied wool and has some nylon content for durability.

Needles
•    2.5 mm (US 1.5) DPNs, 15 cm [6 in], set of 5, or
•    2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, at least 80 cm [32 in] in length to work magic loop, or
•    2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, 22.5 cm [9 in] in length

Notions
•    Stitch markers x 5

Pattern notes
The instructions are for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses: S (M, L).

If you are using a multi-coloured or self-striping yarn:
•    You can make two matching socks by starting both at the same point in the colour repeat of the yarn.
•    To avoid the colour jog that may occur at the transition between the leg and the foot, work the heel flap and heel turn from the opposite end of the ball of yarn.

The sample details are as follows:

1. Multi-coloured, single-yarn pair: Stylecraft Head Over Heels (4-ply, 400 m per 100 g ball, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon) in 3102 Olympus. Knitted in size M.

2. Blue pair with white ruffle: West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply (4-ply, 400 m per 100 g ball, 75% wool, 25% nylon) in 325 Cornflower (MC) and Drops Fabel (4-ply, 205 m per 50 g ball, 75% wool, 25% polyamide) in 100 Off-white (CC). Knitted in size L.

The version in Knit Now contains the pattern, but not the tutorials.

The Midnight Feast Collection will be released over the course of 2020. The Bobby socks pattern is the first pattern in the collection.

This pattern was first published in Knit Now issue 90.

Pattern edited by Jo Torr.

New designs: Peter Rabbit jumper and Bobby socks

For anyone who was starting to think that my publication schedule was slowing down, have no fear, over the next few weeks there will be new designs coming along much like buses!

First I have two designs in the latest issue (issue 90) of Knit Now magazine: a children's jumper and a pair of socks.

The jumper design is a pretty special one as it features Peter Rabbit! Published as a Peter Rabbit movie tie-in, this jumper is written for five sizes to fit ages 2–10 years, and features the rather cheeky-looking rabbit surrounded by beautiful embroidered flowers. You can make the embroidery as simple or as complicated as you wish; don't worry about using the exact colours or shapes used in the sample, work freehand and see what you come up with!

The jumper is knitted in King Cole Merino Blend DK,* an excellent value hard-wearing superwash wool yarn that comes in a variety of pastel and bright shades. I've used this yarn a few times now, and really love the slightly woolly texture of it.

The Peter Rabbit jumper is knitted flat in pieces and seamed at the end. The neckband is knitted on using a circular needle once the shoulder seams have been joined.

The second pattern I have in this issue of Knit Now is for my Bobby socks. I love to wear hand-knitted socks all year round, but I tend to put solid socks away in the summer months as they can be too warm. These lace socks allow your feet to air so they're nice and cool, but as autumn approaches they can be worn with boots, and they have a lace frill detail that would be really cute peeping out over the top of the boots.

These socks are knitted from the top down, starting with the lace frill detail, then the twisted rib cuff (which is inverted half way through with a non-ribbed row so that it sits flat). The sock is knitted with a slipped stitch heel and gusset construction, and the toe is designed such that you don't have to work any Kitchener stitch at the end – this type of toe is quickly becoming my go-to!

The pattern is written for four sizes, and the foot length is fully adjustable, so you can make perfectly-fitting socks. The sample socks are knitted in Stylecraft Head Over Heels* in the colourway Olympus; the colours make me think of summer sunsets, and the yarn composition (75% wool and 25% nylon) means these socks should stand up well to being washed and worn over and over again.

As an extra bonus, as well as many other gorgeous baby knits, the King Cole supplement also features a reprint of my Hedgehog and Hoglets blanket!

Image copyright Vikki Bird

If you fancy knitting any of these patterns, you'll need to get your hands on a copy of issue 90 of Knit Now magazine. The magazine goes on sale in the U.K. today (June 28th 2018), or can be ordered online from the MoreMags website. You can also purchase the issue digitally. Once again, Kate and the team have put together a beautiful issue, so it's definitely worth a look.

*Affiliate link.

All images are copyright Practical Publishing unless otherwsie stated, and are reproduced with permission.