Vikki Bird Designs: Voices from the Deep Socks

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Applies to Siren Song, Three Sirens and Voices from the Deep (Ravelry,* PayHip)

Expires 11.59pm GMT, Wednesday 30th November 2022

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Cables often disappear into variegated yarns, but if you introduce slipped stitches into the cables, the cables sit on top of the background, making the cables pop against the yarn. These socks feature a cable that flows intuitively from the ribbing, and the emergence of the cable against the background makes this a moreish ‘just one more row’ pattern, hence the name Voices from the Deep, after the Sirens who were said to call sailors irresistibly to the rocks just below the surface of the water.

The Voices from the Deep Socks are knitted from the toe up. The socks are knitted as far as the heel, then a row is knitted in waste yarn so the socks can be opened up and an afterthought heel added at the end. Both socks feature a cable up the side of the foot; this cable is mirrored between the two socks.

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Sizes
A (B, C // D, E, F // G)

Finished circumference:
12.5 (15, 17.5 // 20, 22.5, 25 // 27.5) cm
[5 (6, 7 // 8, 9, 10 // 11) in]

Designed to be worn with approximately 10% negative ease. Choose a sock with a finished circumference approximately 10% smaller than the measured circumference of your foot around the widest part.

Normally knit plain socks? The stitch counts for the patterned panel 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 regular stocking stitch socks with a stitch count of 40 (48, 56 // 64, 72, 80 // 88) sts.

Tension
32 sts and 47 rnds = 10 cm (4 in) in stocking stitch worked in the round on 2.5 mm (US 1.5) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn
170 (195, 260 // 330, 405, 495 // 590) m [190 (215, 285 // 365, 445, 545 // 650) yds] of 4ply-weight yarn.

Want to use a contrast yarn for the heel? You’ll need 25 (35, 40 // 50, 60, 70 // 85) m [30 (40, 45 // 55, 70, 80 // 95) yds] for the heels.

Yardages are approximate as the amount of yarn used will depend on the length of the foot, which is adjustable.

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

Needles
This pattern is written to be needle-neutral. You can use your preferred method for knitting in the round.

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 (note that if you are using a short circular, you will need to switch to DPNs or magic loop to work the toe)

Notions
Fixed/removable stitch markers x 4; waste yarn x 2; tapestry needle; cable needle; sock blockers (optional)

Pattern notes
The instructions are for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses: A (B, C // D, E, F // G). If only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

The sample is knitted in Castleview Yarns Sock (4-ply, 425 m per 100 g skein, 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon) in Agnes.

If you are knitting the socks in hand-dyed yarn and are making a size the requires more than one skein, you may wish to alternate skeins throughout to avoid a colour jog when you start a new skein.

This pattern was tech edited by Jo Torr.

A version of this pattern was published in Knit Now issue 139 of Knit Now magazine.