Orkney Socks Knitting Pattern

The Orkney socks include motifs from the Neolithic sites found all over Orkney, including standing stones and runes, plus more contemporary motifs in stranded knitting: the bold stripes of the lighthouse on North Ronaldsay, the triangular shape of the modern wind-generating mills on all of the islands, and rock walls that divide the agricultural fields and keep the sheep on the beaches: The socks are mostly gray, gray being the predominant color of the sky in any season on Orkney!

Finished Sizes: 13 inches (33.0 cm) circumference at the knee; 7¾ inches (19.7 cm) foot circumference; 9 inches (22.9 cm) foot length; 16 inches (40.6 cm) long from top of folded cuff to bottom of heel.

Yarn: North Ronaldsay Wool, 100% wool yarn, 2 ply, 440 yards (402.3 m)/ 120 gram (4.2 oz) hank; 2 hanks of Light Gray (A) and 1 hank each of White (B), Dark Gray (C), Light Brown (D), and Dark Brown (E);

Needles: Set of 4 double pointed, sizes 0 (2 mm), 00 (1.5 mm), and 000 (1.25 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Stitch holder; Tapestry needle.

Gauge: 32 sts and 36 rnds = 4 inches (10.2 cm) in charted patt on size 0 needles; 36 sts and 44 rnds = 4 inches (10.2 cm) in St st on size 00 needles.

Originally Published: Knitting Traditions, Spring 2015.

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