I designed these socks because I wanted to use some pretty sock yarn containing 30% cotton. Cotton is not as elastic as fibers such as wool and tends to stretch out over time, so I decided to play with some cable patterns to help counteract this. Cables pull the knitted fabric in widthwise, so they work against the cottons’ natural tendency to “grow” and thereby help the socks keep their shape.

Method: These cable socks are knit in the round from the cuff down with a round heel and a heel flap. They 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).

They feature a pretty crossing cables pattern that looks a lot more complicated than it really is to knit! They also contain the Ribbed Heel Stitch Heel flap (developed by Winwick Mum and used with her kind permission).

The cable pattern used is both charted and written out.

Size: Foot circumference - 8.75” (22 cm) Ladies UK 7.
This is a stretchy pattern. When knit at specified gauge the leg stretches to fit a calf circumference of 12.25” (31cm).

Although these socks are written for one size this is adjustable to a certain degree. If you wish to increase or decrease the foot circumference you can change the needle size (and therefore the tension) that you knit these socks at. It is also easy to adjust the length of your sock by knitting more or less rounds as required, please note this will affect the amount of yarn required to knit these socks.

Yarn: Pair pictured knitted in Opal Cotton Premium colorway 9715 Blossoms – 320m (350 yards)

Although I designed these socks specifically for this yarn you can use any 4 ply (fingering) sock yarn that you like and with which you can get tension/ gauge.