Cromwell

Cromwell Socks by Corrine Walcher

What is Being Made

Cromwell is a pair of knitted socks designed by Corrine Walcher and named after the Cromwell neighborhood in Baltimore County. These socks are crafted for everyday wear and feature a distinctive cable pattern that runs continuously along the front of the foot and down the back, including through the heel flap. The pattern is available in three sizes: Small (7" around unstretched), Medium (8" around unstretched), and Large (9" around unstretched).

Knitting Techniques Used

Cromwell employs several fundamental sock knitting techniques to create a well-fitted, durable garment. The socks are knit in the round, a method that creates seamless fabric ideal for comfortable footwear. This technique is accomplished using either a set of five double-pointed needles or two circular needles, both of which allow for continuous circular knitting. The heel flap construction is a traditional sock-making method that creates reinforcement in a high-wear area. Cable techniques are integrated throughout the design, running both down the front and through the heel flap, which requires careful stitch manipulation and cable needle work to achieve the twisted, textured appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The pattern utilizes essential knitting stitches and abbreviations including:

• K (Knit) – the fundamental knit stitch
• P (Purl) – the reverse of the knit stitch, used for texture variation
• Sl (Slip as if to purl with yarn in back) – a technique for moving stitches without working them
• PM (Place marker) – marking specific points in the pattern for reference
• SM (Slip marker) – moving markers forward as you knit
• K2tog (Knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease
• P2tog (Purl two together) – a purl decrease
• SSK (Slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease created by slipping two stitches individually as if to knit, then knitting them together
• 3/1 LPC (3/1 Left Purl Cable) – a cable stitch that involves slipping stitches to a cable needle and holding them to the front

These stitches work together to create the cable motifs and shaping necessary for the sock structure.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The recommended yarn for Cromwell is Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Sock, a high-quality sock yarn composed of 80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon. This blend provides elasticity, durability, and easy care – the nylon content strengthens the yarn for the repeated wear and friction that socks endure, while the merino wool offers warmth and breathability. The yarn is provided in 100-gram skeins with 400 yards of yardage, sufficient for completing a pair of socks. The sample shown was knit in the Patterson Park colorway.

Needles required are US size 1 (2.5 mm), chosen to achieve a gauge of 8 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch when knit in the round. Knitters may select either a set of 5 double-pointed needles or two circular needles based on personal preference, as both methods produce identical results for circular sock knitting.

Difficulty Level

Cromwell is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While the basic techniques of knit and purl stitches are fundamental, the cable work – particularly the 3/1 left purl cable that defines the pattern – requires intermediate-level skill and attention to stitch manipulation. Knitters should be comfortable working decreases (K2tog, SSK, P2tog) and managing stitches on cable needles before beginning this project.