Dornroeschen - sleeping beauty

Dornroeschen Sleeping Beauty Socks by Beate Zaech

What is Being Made

The Dornroeschen (Sleeping Beauty) socks are a pair of women's socks designed by Beate Zaech, available in multiple European sizes (38/39, 40/41) with corresponding UK and US sizing. This is a downloadable knitting pattern featuring intarsia colorwork that tells a visual story through the sock construction.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft with intarsia technique as the primary decorative method. Intarsia knitting allows for detailed colorwork by working with separate yarn colors in different sections of the fabric. Because intarsia is more comfortable to execute when working flat rather than in the round, the designer has cleverly split the sock construction into front and back sections. The front portion features the intarsia colorwork and is knitted flat, while the back of the sock is knitted top down using traditional sock construction methods.

Stitches and Construction Methods

The socks feature stockinette stitch as the base fabric, which provides a smooth, classic appearance ideal for showcasing the intarsia pattern. The sock construction employs a heel flap and turned heel method for the back section, a traditional technique that creates a durable, well-fitting heel. The pattern is worked top down, beginning at the cuff and progressing toward the toe. Two separate charts are provided—one for the left sock and a mirrored version for the right sock—ensuring proper pattern placement on each foot.

Materials and Yarn Weight

The pattern calls for 4-ply fingering weight yarn, which is ideal for detailed sock knitting. The designer used Zitron Trekking XXL yarn that was hand-dyed for this project, though any fingering weight sock yarn meeting the specified gauge is suitable. You will need approximately 100 grams of light green yarn as the primary color, plus small amounts of red and dark green yarn (about 15 grams of each) for the intarsia colorwork details.

Gauge and Needle Requirements

The pattern requires a gauge of 32 stitches and 48 rows over a 4-inch (10 centimeter) square when worked in plain stockinette stitch. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished size. You will need 1 circular needle appropriate for your yarn weight, 1 tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any finishing work, and 3 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction sections.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, reflecting the skills required to work intarsia colorwork while managing the structural elements of sock knitting. Knitters should be comfortable with basic sock construction, reading charts, and managing multiple yarn colors before attempting this project.