The Persicaria Socks draw inspiration from pink knotweed, Persicaria capitata. While visiting Japan last spring, I photographed these flowers against a rusty background. The image has since lingered in my thoughts, inspiring me to encapsulate that beauty in a sock.

These socks are worked cuff down with a ribbed cuff, a heel flap, a sole gusset and a wedge toe. A two-color stranded colorwork motif is worked in the round on the leg and the foot, and back and forth on the heel flap. The pattern offers the option to work a sock with a regular or a high instep. The sample is shown in size 3 with the high instep.

Sizing
Sizes 1 (2, 3) (4, 5) correspond to a sock of 60 (64, 68) (72, 76) stitches and are designed to fit a leg/foot circumference of approx. 19.5 (21, 22) (23, 24) cm / 7.75 (8.5, 8.75) (9.25, 9.5)“.

Finished measurements:
• Leg/foot circumference: 17 (18.5, 19.5) (20.5, 21.5) cm / 6.75 (7.5, 7.75) (8.25, 8.5)“.
• Cuff length: 3 cm / 1.25” – adjustable based on your preference.
• Leg length (including cuff): 12.5 cm / 5”.
• Foot length: adjustable based on your foot length.

For a comfortable fit, choose a size with a leg/foot circumference that will give you a negative ease of approx. 1.5-3 cm / 0.5-1.25”

Yarn
The sample is worked in Retrosaria Rosa Pomar Mondim in colorway C582 as the main color (100% fine Portuguese wool; 385 m / 421 yds – 100 g) and Forests and Meadows fingering-weight yarn (100% wool; 175 m / 191 yds – 50 g) in the colorways Peach Dust as contrast color 1, and Warm Honey as contrast color 2.

Main color: One 100 g skein of fingering-weight sock yarn is sufficient for all sizes. The exact quantity of yarn needed will vary based on your desired leg and foot lengths.

Contrast color 1 (flower motif): 15 g of fingering-weight sock yarn is sufficient for all sizes.

Contrast color 2 (leaf motif): 50 g of fingering-weight sock yarn is sufficient for all sizes. The exact quantity of yarn needed will vary based on your desired leg and foot lengths.

Gauge
• 35 stitches x 40 rounds = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” on 2.5 mm / US 1.5 needles in colorwork in the round after blocking.
• 35 stitches x 48 rounds = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” on 2.5 mm / US 1.5 needles in stockinette stitch in the round after blocking.

Needles
• 2.5 mm / US 1.5 circular needles of 23 cm / 9” and 80 cm / 32”. Or needle size needed to reach gauge.

Notions
• Two stitch markers (including a distinct beginning of round stitch marker)
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Skill level: 3/5
Techniques used: Long tail cast-on, following colorwork charts, two-color stranded colorwork in the round & back and forth (a video tutorial is available to catch the yarn at the sides of the work when working back and forth), simple decreases, picking up stitches, Kitchener stitch grafting.

Happy knitting :)

This pattern has been tech edited by Agnes Kroner and test knitted by a wonderful group of testers!