The Walk Without Rhythm Socks are inspired by the novel Dune by Frank Herbert. In this story, moving in tune with the natural sounds of the desert sands, or “walking without rhythm”, is the way that people from the planet Arrakis avoid attracting the monstrous “sandworm” creatures that live there. Roll the die and make your stitches also form a pattern without rhythm!

Pattern Description

These socks use elongated slipped stitches and cables to create a stitch pattern that will be unique to every sock you make. Both toe-up and cuff-down instructions are provided. They have an afterthought heel and a twisted-rib cuff. They also have full instructions for optional afterthought short-row gusset shaping, to help the heel style fit a wider range of foot shapes and sizes comfortably.

There are no charts for this pattern, since you make the pattern yourself!

This pattern is sock-knitting-method-neutral in its instructions and clearly explains all techniques required. All cables are done without a cable needle. Within the pattern you will find links to useful video tutorials as well, so the pattern is easily accessible to an intermediate knitter who is just getting started knitting socks.

Yarn Requirements and Sizing

Sizes available: Adult Small (Medium, Large) for foot circumferences of 18 (20.5, 23) cm / 7 (8, 9) inches — 56 (64, 72) st — with completely adjustable foot lengths and leg heights.

The socks are highly adjustable; for average foot lengths and leg heights, you will need approximately 250 (275, 300) m / 275 (300, 325) yards of fingering weight yarn.

This pattern works well with most dye styles and colourways. To highlight the texture, stick with solids, tonals, gradients, and semi-solids; to highlight the colour distortions caused by the slipped stitches, try a speckled, variegated, or self-striping colourway.

These socks are rated 2/5 — Easy — on my sock pattern difficulty scale. This is because they require very few stitches and the patterning is worked consistently throughout the sock.

These socks were originally designed for Super Sock Scarefest 2021.