Time to explore some different patterns and textures! Sometimes I get tired of 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 ribbing and plain vanilla stockinette stitch on a sock. I love fancy pattern stitches and how they look, but at the same time, following a huge sock chart that lays out the whole leg and foot is just not something I am up for very often--just too complicated! These top down socks are a result of those conflicting impulses: interesting small patterns that are easy to follow without getting too crazy and requiring a huge overall chart. While the patterns may be small and pretty simple on their own, they add up to a much more complicated looking sock as a whole. I had such a fun time test knitting the individual patterns and then the socks themselves. The main pattern stitch was especially cool: pulling up and looking like tightly overlapping dragon teeth or scales when relaxed and then having a quite different appearance when stretched out. I would not block these socks too vigorously: I think they are they are quite charming when they contract. This pattern is appropriate for the advanced beginner or intermediate knitter. I provide both charts and written instruction for all patterns.

Yarn selection: Solid colors or only slight tonals are appropriate here. Speckled or other multiple color dyed yarn will obscure the pattern