Serpent's Head socks

These socks get their name from the chart of the stitch pattern which resembles a snake’s head.  The socks are worked toe-up. A gusset is worked before a short-row heel using the German short-row technique. Once the heel is completed and the gusset stitches decreased away, the Serpent’s Head pattern is added to the back as well as the front of the sock leg. The sock is finished with a classic ribbed cuff.

You will need: up to 400 yards (360m) of fingering weight sock yarn, 2mm (US 0) needles for knitting in the round (or size needed to achieve correct tension), and a darning needle for weaving in ends.

You need to be able to: work in the round, work an appropriate cast-on for a toe-up sock, work from a chart (the Serpent’s Head pattern is charted only). Experience with German short rows will help, although there are plenty of tutorials online if you are unfamiliar with the technique.