When my Father passed away in October 2011, yarn became a big part of my life. Learning a new craft was so therapeutic and helpful through a very difficult time, giving me much needed headspace to process what had happened.

i constantly come across people who use knitting and yarn related crafts to help them through times of crisis, and it happened during the testing process of this design. Gemma was test knitting the pattern, and shared her story with me. She gave me permission to share it with you too.

Gemma’s daughter Lara was born prematurely in February 2018, and defied the odds for almost a month. Sadly, Lara only lived for a few weeks leaving Gemma and her husband heartbroken.

Gemma told me how knitting the sock was bringing her comfort through the grieving process, and I the more Gemma told me about her daughter, the more I felt that the socks should be named in Laras honour. Gemma sent me a photo of her tiny baby snuggled up next to a crochet octopus, and the tentacles reminded me of the twists in the sock pattern. It was a perfect fit for a beautiful girl.

These socks are dedicated to Lara, and a donation was made to the families charity in her honour. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laras-legacy

The cables are simple to memorise and make for a really classic sock design. Available in two widths (9’’ and 10’’ circumference, measured at the ball of the foot) they can be knitted to the desired length.

First published in The Second Drawer Down, printed copies are available from www.trulyhooked.com