Auseklis Socks

Meet the Auseklis Socks, a colourwork experiment that turned into a pattern.

Here's the backstory: I boldly claimed in an interview that I had developed a sock construction that could work with any colourwork motif. Naturally, I had to prove it. Fast forward to a long road trip with no other portable project at hand, I decided to prove my claim and cast on a new pair of socks.

I found a cute colourwork motif and the corresponding pattern, and I just went for it. And it worked! Well, because a bit of math was involved to ensure the motif lined up symmetrically, and that's why this pattern exists: I've done the math part for you.

The construction differs from the typical handknit sock: gusset increases are placed under the foot instead of the sides, the heel is shaped with short rows and finished with a classic slip-stitch flap, and the leg continues the colourwork.

I finished mine with an i-cord bind-off, which looks cool, but as it's quite tricky to get the tension right, many people have opted to swap it for a ribbed cuff, which is very easy to do. The best part is that, since it's knit from the toe-up, you can easily adjust the foot and leg length to achieve the perfect fit and style you like.

You can also check out this detailed tutorial made for the original pattern. It uses a different colorwork motif, but all the techniques and concepts are basically the same.

If you're ready for a cute colourwork project that fits great, Auseklis Socks is ready for your needles.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3)

Finished foot circumference:

• 17.5 (20, 22.5) cm

• 7 (8, 9)”

Intended ease: 0 cm / 0”

Gauge

Colourwork stockinette in the round, blocked.

Yardage

Fingering or sock weight, allow approximately:

Main colour:

• 130 (165, 205) m

• 145 (185, 220) yds

Contrast colour:

• 70 (90, 105) m

• 75 (95, 115) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarn used in sample (size 2) is 1 ball of Knit&Note Merino (100% Merino; 230 m / 50 g) in colourway Tasty Chocolate as main colour (MC) and 1 mini-skein of Ainsworth & Prin Alpaca + Silk 4-ply (70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Silk; 80 m / 20 g) in colourway Mistle as contrast colour (CC).

Needles

• 2-2.25 mm (US 0-1), choose the size that achieves the required gauge. These should be circulars or DPNs for small circumference knitting.

Notions

Stitch markers, row counter, tape measure, removable stitch markers or bobby pins, tapestry needle.

Techniques

Judy's Magic Cast-on, Japanese short rows, lifted increases, stranded colourwork, i-cord bind-off.

Notes

These socks start from the toe using Judy's magic cast-on. We shape the toe with lifted increases. When you reach the instep, join the contrast colour and follow the colourwork chart. Rather than the sides, the gusset increases are at the bottom of the sole. The bottom of the heel is shaped using short rows, then a slip-stitch heel flap is worked back and forth in the main colour. Follow the colourwork chart again for the leg until you reach your preferred length. Finish with an i-cord bind-off.