These top-down socks are super fun to knit with slip stitches forming the hot air balloon shapes. Choose eight mini skeins of fingering weight sock yarn or dive into your yarn pile to knit a stashbusting pair of Balloon Festival Socks. The cuff begins with a German Twisted Cast On and 2x2 ribbing followed by the color pop slip stitch pattern in the leg and top foot. A garter stitch heel flap curves around the heel for a cozy fit. Choose between four sizes and customize the leg and foot length to perfectly fit your foot. These socks can be knitted in as many colors as you like, so let your imagination run free!

Finished Measurements
6 7, 9, 10″ / 15 18, 23, 25cm leg and foot circumference. Measurements taken after blocking.
These are the measurements of the sock. Size 3 shown on a US 13 / EU 47 size foot with an actual foot circumference of 10″ / 25cm.
Socks are designed to fit an actual foot circumference of 7 8, 10, 11″ / 18 20, 25, 28cm. The socks are designed to fit with negative ease. Choose a size with a finished foot circumference measurement that is approximately 1″ / 2.5cm smaller than your actual foot circumference, so that the sock will fit nice and snug on your foot. The lengths of the cuff, leg, and foot are easily customizable by knitting more pattern repeats for a longer leg or foot or fewer pattern repeats for a shorter leg or foot.

Yarn
Fingering weight

Yardage
Approximately 360 420, 540, 600yds / 329 384, 494, 549m total

MC’s - 80 100, 120, 140yds / 73 91, 110, 128m
CC’s - 280 320, 420, 460yds / 256 293, 384, 421m total

Size 3 Sample
MC - I used about 26g yarn (2 mini skein color in dark blue and light grey) for the MC cuff, heel, & toe.
CC - I used about 15g (6 colors, 1 mini skein each color) for the CC balloon stripes.

The MC’s are used for the Cuff, Heel, and Toe.
The CC’s are used for the slip stitch stripes in the leg and foot of the sock.

Yardage amounts may vary depending on the length of your leg and foot. I overestimated the yardage amounts to make sure you have enough yarn if you have a longer foot or if you knit the leg a bit longer.

Shown In
Walk Collection Tough Sock Mini (75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 93yds / 85m per 20g skein)
MC’s - Marine & Stone
CC’s - Lime Soda, Fern, Manhattan Beach Wave, Envy, Propolis, Robin Hood

Needles
US 1 / 2.25mm circular in 40′′ / 100cm length or size needed to obtain gauge
Magic loop method is used for knitting in the rnd. Watch this Westknits video to assist with the Magic Loop technique. https://youtu.be/hpFHbHmrCcc

You can use DPNs if you prefer. Watch this Westknits video to assist with knitting with DPNs. https://youtu.be/y9bvVy08PeE

Notions
3 stitch markers, tapestry needle

Gauge
44 sts & 64 rnds = 4″ / 10cm in slip stitch pattern after blocking
32 sts & 52 rnds = 4″ / 10cm in stockinette stitch after blocking

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