First Days

First Days Socks by Verena Cohrs

What Is Being Made

First Days is a toe-up sock pattern designed by Verena Cohrs. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a pair of socks with a finished foot circumference available in five sizes: 17.5 cm (7"), 18.75 cm (7.5"), 20 cm (8"), 21.25 cm (8.5"), and 22.5 cm (9"). The pattern is recommended to be worn with 0–2.5 cm (0–1") of negative ease for an optimal fit.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level sock pattern employs several specialized knitting techniques to construct the garment from the ground up:

• Judy's Magic Cast-On: A technique used to begin the toe section, creating two working edges simultaneously for seamless toe construction
• Magic Loop: A method for working small circumferences in the round using a single long circular needle
• Short Rows: Shaping technique used to customize the fit and contour of the sock
• Toe-up Construction: The socks are knitted beginning at the toe and progressing toward the cuff, allowing for easy adjustments to leg length

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates three distinct stitch patterns to create visual interest and structural elements:

• Stockinette Stitch (worked in the round): The primary stitch pattern, created by knitting every round to produce a smooth, V-textured fabric
• 1x1 Half-Twisted Rib (worked in the round): A ribbed pattern worked over a multiple of 2 stitches, alternating knit-through-the-back-loop with purl stitches for a twisted, textured appearance
• 1x1 Slip-Stitch Rib (worked flat): A flat-worked rib pattern that alternates knit stitches with slipped stitches worked with yarn in back, used for specific sections of the sock construction

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The First Days pattern calls for fingering-weight yarn, specifically Tukuwool fingering, a 4-ply yarn composed of 75% Finnsheep and 25% Texel fiber. This yarn yields 195 metres (213 yards) per 50-gram skein. Knitters will need 1–3 skeins of main color (MC) and approximately 20–30 grams of contrasting color (CC), depending on desired foot and leg length. The pattern shown uses Ujo for the main color and Rae for the contrasting color.

Knitting needles should be 2.25 mm (US 1) for working the pattern. The recommended gauge is 32 stitches by 44 rounds over 10 by 10 centimeters, measured in the main stitch pattern when worked in the round and after blocking.