Save 20% off The Frosty Penguin Collection, (socks, mittens, hat, and cowl) from my website (compared to buying all patterns individually at full price).

Who can resist these adorable penguin partners? Under snowy skies the penguins look after each other while the icy winter winds rage around them. Featuring cute penguins, hearts and snowflakes, this fun-to-knit design will keep your feet warm and cosy throughout the winter!

Method: These stranded colorwork socks are knit in the round from the cuff down with a round heel and gusset decreases placed on the sole. The colorwork bands are charted to minimize pattern jog and the start of the round is placed at the back of the leg and the center of the sole. There is an accompanying photo tutorial to aid in correct placement of the heel.

These socks can be knitted on dpns, by magic loop, or on a short circular (in which case you will still need dpns for the heel and toe decreases).

The colorwork design in this pattern is both charted and written out. You do not need to be comfortable working from charts in order to enjoy knitting this design! This pattern contains two pdfs. The written instructions for the colorwork are in a separate pdf named “Frosty Penguin Socks Chart Alternative”, you will need this pdf and the main pdf if you do not want to work from the charts.

Size: This pattern is written in 4 sizes referred to throughout the pattern as S, M, L, and XL. All instructions that differ depending on the size you are knitting are color coded.

Yarn: You can use any 4 ply sock yarn that you like and with which you can get gauge to knit these socks. Please note I do not recommend using yarns with a high cotton content as cotton doesn’t stretch as much as other fibers and this will affect the fit of your socks.

This pattern works well with either two solid colors or a solid and a long gradient yarn. This is a great pattern to experiment with color and use mini skeins or any leftovers lurking in your stash. Be creative, have fun, but keep in mind changes will affect yardage and number of ends to weave in. The amounts of each color required will depend on how many colors you pick, where you choose to use them in the sock, and which size you are knitting. As a guide:

Two color socks
MC – Approx. 220 (260, 308, -) metres, 241 (285, 337, -) yards
CC1 – Approx. 75 (84, 164, -) metres, 82 (92, 180, -) yards