Balloon Festival Socks

*These top-down socks are super fun to knit with slip stitches forming the hot air balloon shapes. Choose eight mini skeins of fingering weight sock yarn or dive into your yarn pile to knit a stashbusting pair of Balloon Festival Socks. The cuff begins with a German Twisted Cast On and 2x2 ribbing followed by the color pop slip stitch pattern in the leg and top foot. A garter stitch heel flap curves around the heel for a cozy fit. Choose between four sizes and customize the leg and foot length to perfectly fit your foot. These socks can be knitted in as many colors as you like, so let your imagination run free!* **Finished Measurements** 6 [7, 9, 10]″ / 15 [18, 23, 25]cm leg and foot circumference. Measurements taken after blocking. These are the measurements of the sock. Size 3 shown on a US 13 / EU 47 size foot with an actual foot circumference of 10″ / 25cm. Socks are designed to fit an actual foot circumference of 7 [8, 10, 11]″ / 18 [20, 25, 28]cm. The socks are designed to fit with negative ease. Choose a size with a finished foot circumference measurement that is approximately 1″ / 2.5cm smaller than your actual foot circumference, so that the sock will fit nice and snug on your foot. The lengths of the cuff, leg, and foot are easily customizable by knitting more pattern repeats for a longer leg or foot or fewer pattern repeats for a shorter leg or foot. **Yarn** Fingering weight **Yardage** Approximately 360 [420, 540, 600]yds / 329 [384, 494, 549]m total MC’s - 80 [100, 120, 140]yds / 73 [91, 110, 128]m CC’s - 280 [320, 420, 460]yds / 256 [293, 384, 421]m total **Size 3 Sample** MC - I used about 26g yarn (2 mini skein color in dark blue and light grey) for the MC cuff, heel, & toe. CC - I used about 15g (6 colors, 1 mini skein each color) for the CC balloon stripes. The MC’s are used for the Cuff, Heel, and Toe. The CC’s are used for the slip stitch stripes in the leg and foot of the sock. Yardage amounts may vary depending on the length of your leg and foot. I overestimated the yardage amounts to make sure you have enough yarn if you have a longer foot or if you knit the leg a bit longer. **Shown In** Walk Collection Tough Sock Mini (75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 93yds / 85m per 20g skein) MC’s - Marine & Stone CC’s - Lime Soda, Fern, Manhattan Beach Wave, Envy, Propolis, Robin Hood **Needles** US 1 / 2.25mm circular in 40′′ / 100cm length or size needed to obtain gauge Magic loop method is used for knitting in the rnd. Watch this Westknits video to assist with the Magic Loop technique. https://youtu.be/hpFHbHmrCcc You can use DPNs if you prefer. Watch this Westknits video to assist with knitting with DPNs. https://youtu.be/y9bvVy08PeE Notions 3 stitch markers, tapestry needle **Gauge** 44 sts & 64 rnds = 4″ / 10cm in slip stitch pattern after blocking 32 sts & 52 rnds = 4″ / 10cm in stockinette stitch after blocking **Westknits Workshops** Venture into the world of Westknits with my series of online workshops. Westknits Workshops can be watched as many times as you like and at your own pace as you learn new knitting skills. Sign up here! https://www.westknits.com/collections/workshops **Westknits Kits** We have dozens of curated color palettes to inspire your next Westknits project. Collect a Westknits kit at Stephen & Penelope! We ship worldwide! https://www.stephenandpenelope.com/pages/westknits-kits **Westknits on YouTube** Check out my videos on YouTube for some helpful tutorials and an exciting insight into the woolly world of Westknits! https://www.youtube.com/@StephenWest