Piecework

Inspired by a handmade Great Depression-era quilt, these socks are an homage to the tradition of piecework quilting, and saving the smallest scraps of fabric or yarn to create something new.  SIZES 1 (2, 3)Recommended ease: 0–0.25" / 0–0.5 cm of negative ease. FINISHED MEASUREMENTS **Foot Circumference:** 7 (8, 9)" / 18 (20, 23) cm. **Foot Length:** Approx. 9 (10, 11)" / 23 (25, 28) cm (adjustable). MATERIALS **Yarn:** MC: Approx. 20 (25, 40) g / 80 (100, 150) yds / 74 (92, 110) m of fingering-weight yarn. **CC:** Fingering-weight yarn scraps, at least 15 yds / 14 m of each (this is the yardage for approx. one repeat on one sock). You should have 70–100 scraps, but may need less if you plan to use the same colour multiple times. As an example, if you plan to use each colour twice in each sock, you would need at least 60 yds / 55 m of each and only need 19–25 scraps. The sample pair was knitted in Coast to Coast Yarn Co Classic Sock (MC), a hand-dyed fingering-weight superwash merino sock yarn. For the scrap yarn, various leftovers were used, including The Wandering Flock, Plies and Hellhounds, Little Lionhead Knits, Tiny Human Knits and Wobble Gobble Yarn. Needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm 9" / 23 cm circular needles (translatable to DPNs or Magic Loop method) and US 1 / 2.25 mm 32" / 80 cm circular needles (for toe decreases and heel insert). *Note!* You may choose to size up to US 1.5 / 2.5 mm needles if your colourwork is tight. Use the US 1 / 2.25 mm needles for the cuff, heel and toe and change to the US 1.5 / 2.5 mm needles for the colourwork sections. Notions: Removable stitch markers, snips. GAUGE 32 sts x 48 rnds to 4" / 10 cm in St St, after blocking. CONSTRUCTION These top-down socks are knitted in the round in stranded colourwork using two colours at a time. The main colour is used to knit an insert where the heel will later be cut in and added. The rest of the foot is knitted straight and finished with a contrasting flat toe.