"Sunset Socks" - Free Socks Knitting Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Socks

Sunset Socks – Free Knitting Pattern by Jane Burns for Paintbox Yarns

The Sunset Socks is a free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by Jane Burns and published by Paintbox Yarns (pattern reference PB-SOCKS-003). Rated as intermediate in difficulty, this pattern produces a pair of striped socks with a polished, structured finish thanks to a distinctive twisted rib construction. The design is an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with double-pointed needles and are ready to refine their sock-making skills.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a pair of knitted socks in three size options. Completed socks measure 18.5 [20: 21.5] cm (7¼ [8: 8¼] inches) around the foot. The striped colourwork gives the socks their signature sunset aesthetic, achieved by alternating two carefully chosen shades of yarn.

Design Details and Colourway

The socks feature a two-colour stripe pattern, using:

• Colour A – Cappuccino (a warm, neutral tone)
• Colour B – Summer Vacation (a vibrant, contrasting shade)

Together, these two shades from the Paintbox Yarns Socks range create the warm, gradient-inspired striped effect that gives the pattern its name. Each colour is used in 1 × 100g ball, making this a relatively economical project in terms of yarn quantity.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Socks – a 4-ply (fingering weight) yarn, used in shades Cappuccino (A) and Summer Vacation (B)
• Needles: A set of 5 × 2.5mm (UK 12 / US 1/2) double-pointed needles (DPNs)
• Notions: Stitch markers

The use of double-pointed needles is central to sock construction, allowing knitters to work seamlessly in the round across the leg, heel, and foot sections of the sock.

Tension (Gauge)

The pattern specifies a tension of 32 stitches and 44 rows to 10 cm (4 inches). Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in sock knitting, as even small variations can significantly affect the fit around the foot and leg.

Techniques Used

This pattern combines two construction approaches:

• Worked in the round – the primary method for knitting the leg and foot of the sock, using double-pointed needles to create a seamless tube
• Worked flat – used in specific sections of the sock construction, such as the heel

Working socks on double-pointed needles is a classic and highly practical technique. Stitches are distributed across four needles, with the fifth used as the working needle, allowing the knitter to rotate around the work continuously without creating seams.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Sunset Socks pattern makes use of several key stitches and techniques:

• Twisted Rib – the defining feature of this pattern's ribbed sections. Stitches are knitted through the back loop (tbl), which twists each knit stitch and creates a noticeably crisper, sharper rib than a standard 1×1 or 2×2 rib. The pattern notes that knitters who prefer a more relaxed look may substitute a standard rib by omitting the tbl instruction.
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the foundational stitches used throughout
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches individually knitwise, then knitting them together through the back loops; used for shaping