Fluff Socks

Marshmallow fluff is a sticky, nostalgic treat that was first sold in the early 20th century by a resident of Somerville, Massachusetts. Somerville has very enthusiastically embraced this bit of local food history and holds an annual festival to celebrate all things fluff. Fluff Fest features local restaurant specials incorporating fluff, wacky activities like fluff jousting and fluff limbo, live music, and lots and lots of fluff-themed art created by local artists and makers. In 2024, a local artist named Sarah Dudek created the Marshmallow Fluff Micro-Museum; her call for submissions inspired me to create this pattern. These socks are a small celebration of my sweet adopted hometown’s obsession with fluff. They are whimsical and silly and almost guaranteed to bring a smile to any Somervillian who spots them. I recommend wearing them to Fluff Fest for maximum fun! The pattern is worked cuff-down and features colorwork at the leg and toe and a heel flap and gusset. The colorwork charts are fairly straightforward and you'll only need to catch your floats a couple of times. The instructions include links to tutorials for all techniques used in the pattern, as well as a link to a very helpful blog post with tons of tips for maintaining stretchiness in colorwork socks. The pattern comes with two PDFs: a full-color version and a printer-friendly black & white version with condensed text and fewer pages. **Sizes**: S (M, L) corresponding to foot circumference of 7-8, 8-9, and 9-10.5” Small: finished foot circumference of ~6.5”, casts on with 56 stitches Medium: finished foot circumference of ~7.5”, casts on with 64 stitches Large: finished foot circumference of ~8.5”, casts on with 72 stitches *Additional sizes can be achieved by adjusting your main needle size. Note on choosing a size: socks are best worn with a bit of negative ease, so aim for a finished sock with a circumference that is 1-1.5” smaller than your foot.* **Gauge**: 34 sts in 4 inches, or 8.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch on smaller needles **Needles**: US 1 (2.25mm) and US 2 (2.75mm) needles suitable for sock knitting, or sizes needed to achieve gauge; US 1 double-pointed needles for toe, or size needed to achieve gauge. You may also want US 0 (2.0mm) needles for the Italian Cast-On. **Suggested yarn**: Cascade Heritage is a soft, sturdy, and affordable yarn that comes in a wide range of colors. Please use any sock yarn that is accessible to you! The suggested colors mimic the colors on a jar of fluff, but these socks would look just as sweet with only one contrast color. These suggestions are rounded up to ensure you have enough yarn. If you use different CCs than I have recommended for the various charts, you will need more or less yarn accordingly. Main color: Cascade Heritage in White. 195 (240, 285) yards, 178 (220, 260) meters. CC1, red: Cascade Heritage in Christmas Red. 35 (40, 45) yards, 32 (37, 41) meters. CC2, light blue: Cascade Heritage in Turquoise. 20 (25, 30) yards, 18 (23, 27) meters. CC3, dark blue: Cascade Heritage in Vintage Indigo. 10 (12, 15) yards, 9 (11, 14) meters.