SSAL 2026: Chameleonic Socks

This year's SSAL design, called Chameleonic Socks, is all about self-striping yarn combined with a striking solid. Surprise your toes with a brand new pair of handknit socks for the fourth annual Westknits Surprise Sock Along. For this year's design, all you need is one ball of color-changing yarn like Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy with a contrasting solid yarn like West Wool HEX. The self-striping yarn colors will change and flow throughout the fabric like a chameleon crawling through the rainforest foliage. Are you going to blend into the shadows with a low-contrast color combo or burst into the sunshine with vivid color pops? Prepare for this year's Chameleonic Socks to transform how you think socks can be constructed. **When does the SSAL start?** Clue 1 - July 28 (cast on) Clue 2 - August 4 Clue 3 - August 11 Clue 4 - August 18 (final design revealed!) **SSAL Kits** Check out this year's Surprise Sock Along kits available in a spectacular range of color combinations! Each of these SSAL 2026 kits includes a ball of Zauberball Crazy from Schoppel-Wolle, introducing two new colorways dyed exclusively for Stephen & Penelope and specially for SSAL, as well as one skein of West Wool Hand-dyed HEX. To top it all off, each kit comes with our signature goodies designed especially for this launch! https://www.stephenandpenelope.com/pages/westknits-surprise-sock-along **Color Relationship** These socks are designed to highlight color changing and self-striping yarns (color B) combined with a solid contrast color (color A). If you do not have a color changing sock yarn, the design will also look absolutely stunning in 2 solid colors for a bold contrast effect. Want to use a variegated sock yarn or splashy speckled yarn? Multi-colored variegated or speckled yarns would look fabulous as color B paired with a contrasting solid for color A. Think about color B as the statement color, perfect for eye-catching multi-colored yarns. Think about color A as the solid contrast/accent color. Color A will pop out if it’s a much lighter or darker than color B. If color A is closer in contrast to your multi-color/color changing color B, then you will achieve a more subtle shadow effect. **FAQ** Check out our FAQ page at Stephen & Penelope for answers to everything knit along and kit related! https://www.stephenandpenelope.com/pages/faq-surprise-sock-along?hcUrl=%2Fen-GB **Sizes** 1 (2, 3, 4) **Finished Measurements** 6 (7.5, 9, 10.5)″ / 15 (19, 23, 27)cm leg and foot circumference. Measurements taken after blocking. These are the measurements of the sock. Socks are designed to fit an actual foot circumference of 7 (8.5, 10, 11.5)″ / 18 (22, 25, 29)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 length of the foot is easily customizable. **Yarn** Fingering weight **Yardage** Color A - 140 (180, 220, 260)yds / 128 (165, 201, 238)m Color B - 220 (280, 320, 360)yds / 201 (256, 293, 329)m These yardage amounts are approximate based on my sample knits and test knits. Color A = solid or semi-solid sock yarn Color B = self-striping sock yarn **Recommended Yarn** Color A - West Wool HEX (85% Superwash Superfine Merino Wool, 15% Nylon; 437yds / 400m per 100g skein) Color B - Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy (75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 459yds / 420m per 100g ball) You can use any fingering weight sock yarn to participate. Get two contrasting colorways and cast on! **Needles** US 0 / 2mm DPNs or size needed to obtain gauge If you want to knit both socks simultaneously, then you will need two sets of needles. You can use a circular needle if you prefer. US 0 / 2mm circular needle in 40″ / 100cm length or size needed to obtain gauge. If you are using the Magic Loop method, then you will also need 1 spare double pointed needle in the same size or smaller for holding sts or you could use 1 spare circular needle in the same size or smaller for holding sts. If you want to knit both socks simultaneously, then you will need two sets of DPNs or circular needles. **Notions** 2 stitch markers, spare needle or waste yarn, cable needle, tapestry needle **Gauge** 32 sts & 50 rnds = 4″ / 10cm in stockinette stitch after blocking The socks are knit with a firm tidy gauge. Westknits Workshops Looking for some more inspiration while you wait to knit the Chameleonic Socks? Check out my online workshops where you can learn about working with color, sock knitting, and designing your own shawls! https://www.westknits.com/collections/workshops **Westknits Kits** Kits may sell out quickly, but we have lots of sock yarn to inspire your Chameleonic Socks. Shop our selection of Sock Yarn at Stephen & Penelope or collect a color combo at your LYS! https://www.stephenandpenelope.com/collections/sock-weight **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 **Ravelry Group** There will be lots of fun chat in the Ravelry group. Share your SSAL 2026 color combo in the group and share your knitting progress each week during the KAL! https://www.ravelry.com/groups/westknits-surprise-sock-along-2026 #SSAL2026