The giant Pacific octopus is a creature with an incredible ability to camouflage, changing the colour and texture of their skin at will. This sock pattern is meant to invoke that changeable, underwater glory. I see suckers fading into the surroundings of bull kelp and seawater, though it can’t quite be pinned down.

This is the July pattern for the Summer 2023 Gauge Dye Works Yarn + Pattern Club. Signups for the full club and the June and July instalments are closed, but August signups are open now! Sign up here. Registration will close on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Club patterns and yarn will be exclusive to the club until summer of 2024.

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Sizes & Finished Dimensions
Sizes: A(B, C, D)
Finished Foot Circumference: 6.25(7.5, 8.25, 9) in/16(19, 21, 23) cm
Finished Foot Length (adjustable): 7(8.25, 9.5, 10.25) in/18(21, 24, 26) cm
Intended to be worn with about 1 in/2.5 cm of negative ease. Choose a size slightly smaller than the desired foot circumference at the ball of the foot.
Shown in size B.

Yarn
Yarn quantities are approximate.

Fingering weight yarn:
288(333, 366, 399) yd /263(304, 335, 365) m

If substituting:
Main Colour (Yarn for Stripes):
193(223, 245, 267) yd/88(110, 119, 119) m

Contrast Colour (Beige Yarn for Toes, Heels, and Cuffs):
77(89, 98, 107) yd/70(82, 90, 98) m

Shown in:
Gauge Dye Works Merino Twist Classic (80% superwash Merino wool, 20% nylon; 443 yd/405 m per 4 oz/115 g skein); Colour: Kelp Forest; 1 skein

Blocked Gauge
34 sts/54 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Reverse Stockinette stitch
38 sts/50 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Textured Lace

Needles
Needle Sizes are recommendations only. Always use needle size necessary to obtain gauge.

Suggested Size US 0/2 mm needles

Notions
tapestry needle
stitch markers
cable needle (optional)

Skills
I consider this an intermediate level pattern. Techniques used include working a twisted stitch/double yarn-over lace motif from charted or written instructions, wrap-and-turn short row shaping, decreasing, and grafting purl wise.