Twist and shout: the Contorto socks are live!

One of my favourite ways of showcasing stitch patterns is to knit them into socks; by the time you've got to grips with the stitch pattern you are ready to tackle the heel, so socks always have something interesting going on, even if the pattern is the same throughout the sock. I found this stitch pattern in a stitch dictionary while looking for something else entirely and couldn't get it out of my head! I've named the socks ‘Contorto’, which is Italian for twisted, after the beautiful twisted cables in the stitch pattern.

The Contorto socks are knitted from the toe up and use a gusset and heel flap construction, shaped with short rows, and with a slipped stitch pattern on the heel flap for reinforcement. The gusset length is affected by your row/round gauge, so a table of gauge-dependent lengths is included to help you achieve the perfect fit. Toe-up with a heel-flap and gusset is my favourite sock construction, but it's been a while since I've made any socks from the toe-up. I know that a lot of people shy away from toe-up socks as they're concerned about the fit; I'm confident that if you follow the instructions in the Contorto pattern you'll finish up with a beautifully fitting pair of socks - there are plenty of hints and tips throughout, and links to helpful tutorials for the cast on and cast off, the wrap and turn technique and on choosing what size socks to knit.

This pattern was originally published in Knit Now, but I've added an extra size, and additional options for knitting your socks, so you can now choose between:
•  Having the Contorto pattern on top of the foot and round the leg, with either cabled or 2 x 2 rib for the cuff
•  Having the Contorto pattern on the top of the foot and the front of the leg only, finished with 2 x 2 rib for the cuff
•  Either fully matching-socks, or mirrored, fraternal socks

The pattern is needle-neutral and the socks can be knitted using DPNs, short circulars, or long circulars using the magic loop technique.

The Contorto pattern is available now, and until 11.59pm GMT Wednesday 12th February 2020 you can have 20% off with the code TWISTED. Until the end of February 2020, I will also be donating £1 from each copy sold to Down Syndrome International as part of the #LotsOfSocksKAL.

********

Full pattern details can be found on the Ravelry pattern page, but here are the essentials.

Sizes
S (M, L, XL)

Finished sock foot circumferences: 15.5 (19, 23, 26.5) cm [6.25 (7.75, 9, 10.5) in] designed to fit with 2.5 cm [1 in] negative ease. These are the sizes of the finished socks; for the best fit, choose a size that is approximately 2.5 cm [1 in] smaller than your foot circumference.

Finished sock leg circumferences:
•  Fully-cabled: 15 (19, 22.5, 26.5) cm [6 (7.5, 9, 10.5) in]
•  Simplified: 15.5 (19, 23, 26.5) cm [6.25 (7.75, 9, 10.5) in]

The stitch counts for the cabled portions are modified so that the cabled panels are the same width as the stocking stitch sole, this results in the socks fitting the same as a regular stocking stitch socks with a stitch count of 52 (64, 76, 88) sts.

Yarn
Dedicated 4 ply sock yarn in the following amounts:
•  Fully-cabled version: 260 (390, 550, 740) m [290 (430, 610, 810) yds]
•  Simplified leg version: 220 (330, 460, 620) m [250 (370, 510, 680) yds]

Needles
•  2.5 mm DPNs
•  or a 2.5 mm circular needle at least 80 cm [32 in] in length
•  or a 2.5 mm 20 cm [9 in] circular needle

Notions
•  Stitch markers x 4
•  Cable needle
•  Tapestry needle

This pattern was first published in Knit Now magazine, issue 84.

This pattern was tech edited by Jo Torr.

Remember, you can get 20% off the Contorto pattern until 11.59pm GMT Wednesday 12th February 2020 with the code TWISTED. Until the end of February 2020, I will also be donating £1 from each copy sold to Down Syndrome International as part of the #LotsOfSocksKAL.

New designs: Contorto socks and Love cushion

There's a new issue of Knit Now magazine out today, and I have not one, but two new patterns in it!

First we have my Contorto socks. 

One of my favourite ways of showcasing stitch patterns is to knit them into socks; by the time you have got to grips with the stitch pattern you are ready to tackle the heel, so socks always have something interesting going on, even if the pattern is the same throughout the sock. I found this stitch pattern in a stitch dictionary while looking for something else entirely and couldn't get it out of my head! I've named them Contorto, which is Italian for twisted, after the beautiful twisted cables in the stitch pattern.

The socks are knitted from the toe up with a heel flap and gusset construction. The heel flap features a slipped stitch pattern for reinforcement, while the sock features a heavily cabled pattern on the top of the foot and around the leg. The socks are finished with a cabled rib pattern.

The socks are written for three sizes and finish at long-ankle to mid-calf length. The foot length is adjustable to fit. 

My Contorto socks are knitted in Debbie Bliss Botany Lace,* a high-twist merino yarn that comes in a variety of semi-solid and variegated shades. The socks would also look amazing in a solid shade of yarn, which would really let the cables pop. You can knit the first two sizes using a single skein of the yarn (the largest size may require a third skein if the recipient has long feet).

********

The second pattern is my Love cushion.

My 'love' cushion is a bright and bold cushion featuring the slogan 'love' across the middle. This pattern is perfect for Valentine's Day.

The pillow is knitted in a single strip, starting with a section of 2 x 2 ribbing, then some stocking stitch for the back, the front is knitted in stocking stitch with the word 'love' incorporated using intarsia. The back is then knitted, finishing with a section of 2 x 2 ribbing featuring buttonholes to fasten the pillow cover. The side seams are joined using mattress stitch. The cushion cover is the perfect size for a standard IKEA long cushion.

The cushion is knitted in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted,** which is beautiful to work with and very hard-wearing, as well as being machine washable. If the colours used in the sample aren't quite to your taste, why not try some of the other shades available? There are plenty!

********

If you want to knit either of these patterns, you'll need a copy of Issue 84 of Knit Now magazine. The magazine is available in supermarkets and newsagents, or you can order a copy online.

*This yarn is listed by some stockists as Araucania Botany Lace.**

**Affiliate link.