Full Moon Sock of the Month

Full moon folklore is a legacy of many cultures and persists today. These sock of the month patterns celebrate the Celtic themes surrounding the full moon. Many of the Celtic full moon names are shared by the Anglo Saxons and Native Americans. As the monthly patterns unfold, you will see how I was inspired by each moon’s theme and was also inspired by the incredible color range of Exmoor Sock yarn which I used exclusively for each month’s sample pair of socks. So inspired, in fact, that there are three bonus patterns to be released later in the year so I could continue to play with Exmoor’s luminous and nature-inspired palette, and you get more sock patterns!

As a designer who specializes in cabled knitting designs, most of these socks feature cables in some form. Designing an Aran at the miniature scale of socks is no easy task and I found that simpler is better to save myself from frustration and allowing me to offer more than one size of sock each month. Each month’s theme allowed me to really distill my ideas to a spare but emotive design. To offer a bit of respite, there are gansey inspired socks as well that are only knit and purl patterns to offer us a bit of a break throughout the year. I hope you enjoy knitting these socks as much as I have enjoyed designing them.

November
Mourning Moon
Here in North America, November’s full moon is commonly called the Beaver Moon. But the Celts also called it the Mourning Moon--the end of a seasonal cycle, and the last moon before the cold winter. This is meant to be symbolic mourning, letting go of things that happened during the year that one wishes to be rid of, but at the same time acknowledging growth. A fitting, moody moon to prepare to close out the year. And wow, these cables tell a story of complexity, just like mourning anything, symbolic or otherwise. They require concentration, but the result will be worth it, with a gorgeous sock that you will be proud of.

Finished size
Medium (Large) 8”/20 cm (8 ½”/22 cm) circumference after blocking

Yarn
John Arbon Textiles Exmoor Sock 4 ply
60% Exmoor Blueface Superwash 20% Corriedale Superwash 10% Zwartbles 10% Nylon
50 grams 200 meters per skein (218 yards)
2 (2) skeins or 385 (410) yards or 350 (375) meters of fingering weight
Shown in Blooth in size Medium
Yarn usage will vary depending on length of leg and foot.

Gauge
36 stitches over 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette, blocked

Needles
US 1 (2.25 mm) or size to obtain gauge, double pointed, set of 5

Notions
Two unique stitch markers
Cable needle (5” DP US 1/2.25 mm sock needles work great)
Tapestry needle