Fraternal Socks

Fraternal Socks by Kristen TenDyke

Project Overview

Fraternal Socks is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Kristen TenDyke for creating a pair of colorful, patterned socks. This downloadable PDF pattern produces finished socks with a foot circumference of 8 to 9 inches (20.5 to 23 centimeters) and an adjustable foot length of approximately 10 inches (25 centimeters) or to your desired fit.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a complete pair of knitted socks featuring a multi-color design. The socks are constructed using circular knitting techniques and incorporate Fair Isle colorwork, a traditional method of stranding multiple yarn colors to create intricate patterns. The finished socks are designed to fit a range of foot sizes with two size options provided in the pattern.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Circular Knitting: The socks are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, allowing for seamless construction and even fabric development.
• Fair Isle Colorwork: This technique involves stranding yarn colors across the back of the work to create patterned designs on the sock surface. The pattern specifically uses Fair Isle Stockinette Stitch worked in the round with the larger needles.
• Stockinette Stitch: The foundational stitch structure used throughout the socks, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric with characteristic V-shaped stitches on the right side.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern employs Circular Fair Isle Stockinette Stitch as the primary stitch pattern, worked with the larger US 2 / 2.75 mm needles. Standard knitting abbreviations are used throughout the pattern, including cast on (CO), rounds (rnds), continue (cont), right side (RS), decrease/decreased (dec/dec'd), and slip/slipped (sl). The gauge is set at 32 stitches and 40 rounds per 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working Circular Fair Isle Stockinette Stitch with the larger needles, and a different gauge applies when using the smaller needles for Circular Stockinette Stitch sections.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, classified as CYCA #1 Super Fine. Four distinct yarn colors are required, with approximately 90 to 100 yards (82 to 91 meters) of each color needed depending on the size being knitted. The sample socks shown in the pattern were created using ShibuiKnits Sock yarn, a premium yarn composed of 100% superwash merino wool. Each 50-gram hank yields approximately 191 yards of yarn. The four colors used in the sample are Honey (S1395), Pebble (S3001), ManBlue (S350), and Tweed (S51304).

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires US 1 / 2.25 mm and US 2 / 2.75 mm knitting needles in a set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles (dpns), or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and a stitch marker for tracking rounds during circular knitting. Proper gauge checking is emphasized as essential before beginning the project to ensure the finished socks fit correctly.