These socks are called the “Party As a Verb” socks for one reason - they’re like the party socks I had as a girl. Fancier than your everyday sock, but not so showy that your ankles are overdressed, they’re perfect for when your feet need a little lift. And they’d make a great gift for anyone who likes their simple pleasures to be a little less simple and a little more pleasing.

The all over lace pattern and picot cast-off add a fancy edge to the design. Quite literally. The socks work best in semi-solid yarn to really show off the delicate lace detail, as variegated yarns can bring too much party to the sock and overwhelm the design.

Key information
The Party As a Verb socks are knitted toe-up, using fingering weight yarn. They can be knitted on circular needles using the magic loop method, or on DPNs depending on your preference. The pattern is written so that either can be used.

The socks use German short rows for the heel turn. If you’re not familiar with them, German short rows will change your knitting game; they’re deceptively easy and look fantastic. Liz Corke has an excellent tutorial on how to work German short rows which I recommend you look at before getting started.

This pattern has the instructions for 3 sizes – small, medium, and large. Where numbers vary, instructions are written as “small (medium, large)”, so be sure you’re looking at the correct number for the size you’re knitting. The simple lace pattern is fully charted.

Suggested yarn: 100g/400m of fingering weight yarn. Sample uses Old Maiden Aunt superwash merino/nylon/stellina 4ply in Bluebells for shorter length, and West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply in Blue Raspberry for the longer length.
Suggested needles (and notions): 2.25mm (US 1) needles (or size needed to match gauge) – long circular for magic loop or set of double pointed, 2 stitch markers, optional sock blockers.
Gauge: 32 st and 42 rows to 10cm (4in) square, measured over pattern in the round. Finished size: Diameter of 9.25 (10.5, 11.75)cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5)in after blocking. Length varies according to how long you decide to knit your sock.