Cameo Socks

Cameo Socks by Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren

What is Being Made

Cameo Socks is a downloadable knitting pattern for a pair of socks featuring striking two-colour colourwork. The pattern is designed to be worked from the top down and includes sizing options for extra small, small, medium, large, and extra large feet. The socks showcase a distinctive visual effect created through the interaction of twisted stitches and colour changes.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques. The primary construction method is knitting in the round, which creates seamless socks without the need for seaming. The pattern utilizes twisted stitches as a central design element—these stitches cause the colourwork to zig-zag between vertical strands, creating the striking visual effect that defines the Cameo design. Additional techniques include two-colour colourwork, which requires managing two yarn colours simultaneously throughout the pattern. The pattern also incorporates short rows for shaping, decreasing stitches for tapering the leg and foot, and grafting stitches (also known as Kitchener stitch) to close the toe seamlessly. Finishing involves weaving in ends to hide yarn tails.

Stitches Used

The foundation stitches for this pattern are knit and purl stitches, which form the basis of the stocking stitch used for the gauge measurement. The pattern relies heavily on twisted stitches, which are the signature design feature that creates the zig-zagging colourwork effect. These twisted stitches reduce the natural stretch of the fabric compared to standard sock knitting, which is why the cast-on stitch count is considerably higher than for plain socks of the same size.

Materials

The pattern requires 200g of 4 ply sock yarn in total, divided equally between two colours at 100g each. The yardage is approximately 400 metres per 100 grams, providing roughly 800 metres of working yarn. The pattern is shown knitted in Artesano Definition sock yarn in the colourways Night (used as the main colour) and Cream cake (used as the contrast colour).

For needles, knitters should use 2.5mm and 2.75mm needles sized appropriately for the chosen yarn. The pattern accommodates different needle preferences, allowing knitters to work with either double pointed needles or circular needles for working in the round. Additional notions required include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and round beginnings, and a tapestry needle for grafting the toe closed and weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 40 stitches and 32 rows over 10 centimetres worked in stocking stitch. This gauge measurement is essential for achieving the correct finished sock size. Because both the colourwork and twisted stitches reduce the natural stretch and elasticity of the fabric, the cast-on stitch count for Cameo Socks will be significantly higher than for a standard plain sock pattern of the same size.

Required Skills

This pattern is suitable for knitters with intermediate to advanced skills. Required competencies include casting on, basic knit and purl stitches, knitting in the round, working with twisted stitches, managing two-colour colourwork, executing short rows, decreasing stitches for shaping, grafting stitches to close the toe, and weaving in ends neatly.