Thetis Socks

In Greek legend, the Goddess Thetis was the mother of Achilles, who was born mortal. In order to give him magical protection, Thetis picked up her baby by his ankle and dipped him into the River Styx. Achilles grew up to be a fearsome and successful warrior, but he was killed when an arrow hit his heel, where his mother had held him, the only place not protected. The heart and shield motif on the back of these socks symbolise Thetis’s attempts to protect her son and to defy his destiny.

Knitted from the toe up, they start with Judy’s Magic Cast-on, then after the toe shaping, continue in st st to the short row heel.

The heart and shield panel (worked from the chart or written instructions) is then placed at the back of the leg, before a k2, p2 cuff, cast off with a larger needle or Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off to maintain elasticity.