Brambleton

Brambleton Knee Socks by Christina Loman

What Is Being Made

Brambleton is an advanced-level knee sock pattern designed specifically for boot weather. These are showpiece socks meant to be visible above boot cuffs, allowing knitters to display their hand-knit work even during cold-weather months. The knee socks feature a calf length of 13 inches from the ankle, making them tall enough to peek out from standard boot openings. Available in three sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—with finished foot circumferences of 8, 9.25, and 11 inches respectively, and calf circumferences of 15, 16.25, and 18 inches.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques appropriate for experienced crafters. The construction utilizes double-point needles for seamless circular knitting, a hallmark of traditional sock construction. The pattern incorporates cable work as a decorative element, requiring the use of a cable needle to create textured, twisted stitches. Knitters will work with stitch markers to track pattern repeats and maintain structural integrity throughout the sock. The combination of stockinette stitch sections with Celtic cable patterning creates visual interest and demonstrates advanced stitch manipulation skills.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Brambleton pattern features two primary stitch patterns:

• Stockinette stitch — the foundational smooth fabric used in portions of the sock, worked at a gauge of 26 stitches and 38 rows over 4 inches
• Celtic cable — a decorative patterned section worked at a gauge of 32 stitches and 38 rows over 4 inches, creating the distinctive textured design that makes these socks showworthy

The cable work requires understanding how to slip stitches onto a cable needle, hold them to the front or back of the work, and knit subsequent stitches before working the held stitches, creating the characteristic twisted rope effect of Celtic-inspired cable patterns.

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for Herrschners Sock Yarn Solids in the colorway Twilight, a blend of 75% wool and 25% polyester. This fiber content provides durability and elasticity essential for sock wear, while the polyester adds strength and helps maintain shape through repeated washing and wearing. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small and Medium sizes require 2 skeins each (874 yards/800 meters total), while the Large size requires 3 skeins (1,311 yards/1,200 meters total). Each skein contains 437 yards over 100 grams.

Needle requirements include two sets of US #1/2.25 mm double-point needles and one set of US #2/2.75 mm double-point needles. The two different needle sizes allow for ribbing or cuff work on the smaller needles, with a size increase for the main sock body to achieve proper gauge and fit. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a cable needle for executing the Celtic cable sections.

Gauge Considerations

Achieving proper gauge is critical for sock fit. The stockinette sections should measure 26 stitches and 38 rows per 4 inches, while the Celtic cable sections are worked at a slightly tighter gauge of 32 stitches and 38 rows per 4 inches. This gauge differential is typical when working cables, as the twisted stitches naturally compress the fabric. Knitters should swatch both stitch patterns before beginning to ensure their finished socks will fit comfortably.