In Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, Queen Kettricken endears herself to the Six Duchies people by her bold and courageous acts. The guards, both men and women, are so impressed with their new queen that a group of them forms to become the Queen’s Guard. They wear Queen Kettricken’s colors of purple and white, but these warm socks will look good in any color you choose to knit them. The subtle lace pattern forms shields embossed with a mountain representing the Mountain Kingdom from whence the Queen came.

Pattern is both written and charted so knitters can choose which is most comfortable for them. Written for five double-pointed needles, these socks also can be worked with two circular needles or with Magic Loop.

Handspinners: as a guide to quantity to spin, a woman’s size 9US socks took 270 yards of yarn.