These socks represent an homage to the American poet Miss Emily Dickinson who wrote elegantly simple (or simply elegant, your choice) during her quiet life (1830-1886) in Amherst, Massachusetts.

These socks start with an uncomplicated little stranded vine pattern that surrounds these socks from the toe to the cuff, organically expanding and then contracting to encompass the heel along the way. The result is a visually satisfying design that rewards close inspection. The socks are worked from the top down and feature what I am calling a double wedge heel (I’m sure there are likely other names for this heel configuration; this is what I’m calling it). The toe is a standard wide toe. The colorwork patterns (main, heel increase and heel decrease) are given as charts only and are easy to memorize.

Three sizes are given: S/M with a cast on of 64 ST, L with 72 ST and XL (pictured socks) with 80 ST. This pattern is appropriate for intermediate or advance knitters with some experience with stranded colorwork knitting.

Yarn suggestions: solid colors with a good contrast to each other are recommended. If you choose a variegated yarn for one or both colors, I suggest you choose yarns that still contrast and have a long color gradient rather than short blotches of color.

I knit socks on 4/5 DPNs at a time, I have attempted to generalize my instructions for folks who use other needle set-ups.