This is the NINTH pattern in a year-long journey of knitted sock patterns, twelve in all, a new one each month, beginning January 2018. The patterns are inspired by streets, homes, and places of interest from my little town in Southeastern Connecticut.

Each month a new sock pattern will feature a part of the town and the theme will be repeated in various stitches, colors and techniques. There will be a varied assortment of lace, eyelet, cables, decorative ribs, slip stitches, color work and maybe even some bobbles. Every month will be different, either top down or toe up with various heel techniques, and some months will even feature two separate designs for a fraternal pair. There will also be a descriptive essay sharing my thought process and inspiration: Stonington through the eyes of a knitter!

There were a few different owners of The Yellow House coffee shop on Water Street. It was a favorite place for weekend mornings, to linger over the Sunday paper or meet up with a buddy for a nice leisurely chat over lattes and scones. It was a tiny little place that somehow accommodated everyone comfortably. On nice days you could sit at a little café table outside with the dog. Each owner had a little different menu, but the coffee and the lemon cake were a constant and my children still reminisce about visiting after church on Sunday mornings. Their hot chocolate was also the best.

Lots of new shops open (and close), bringing new energy to our sleepy little town. Sadly, The Yellow House closed after being open for decades. But they carry with them a legacy of memories, and will surely never be forgotten.

This design showcases a lovely hand dyed yarn that is a joy to work with. A cream base is sprinkled with coffee-bean speckles, and cappuccino froth with lemon cake accents, a perfectly appropriate color combination for The Yellow House socks. There is a seed stitch base on the leg with a lace insert that copies the Victorian-style tin ceiling.*

A GROUP FORUM IS LIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSCRIBERS AND THE DESIGNER.

Stonington Borough is the quintessential New England village, complete with old sea captain placards on centuries-old homes and gossip galore. Filled with seafaring history, fishermen and multi-generations of working-class families, it is a quirky and sought-after seaside village that, as everything, has changed through time - not always to everyone’s agreement.

A train viaduct is the only entrance and egress to this tiny 18th century village, and the feisty dwellers are happy it is so. Here is where you can walk your dog, get your mail, go to church (there are three), stop at the library, the newsstand, the barber, the florist, board your boat and sail to three states within site. No car required. There is a nice inn, a bank, a boatyard, cute boutiques, antiques and tasty restaurants, all of which echo the surrounding sentiment.

With one road in and out, beginning with Alpha Avenue and ending with Omega Street, the flora, fauna, and historical house color combinations of this rough and craggy New England coastline community date back to the 1700’s. Some of these houses are still standing in all their originality for a lost time. Many have been lovingly restored but thanks to a terrific historical society, retain their original character and charm. Planning and zoning battles rival TV reality shows, but it seems to work as the village is strongly hanging on to its original message. Each street boasts some color that identifies it: Wall Street is just that - a rock wall at water’s edge. Water Street follows the coast as the main road in, while Main Street with its magnificent tree-lined sidewalks, guide the motorists out past Church Street, Union Street, the post office, and library.

I hope you come along for the ride!