Hunky Chunky Cables Socks

Hunky Chunky Cables Socks by Terry Morris

What is Being Made

Hunky Chunky Cables Socks are a knitted sock design featuring bold, chunky cable patterns that run down both the front and back of the foot. Designed by Terry Morris (SailingKnitter), this project offers three size options to fit Women's Medium, Women's Large/Men's Medium, and Men's Large feet. The socks showcase a striking two-color construction with cables in one color contrasting against a background color, creating visual depth and texture.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques. The primary method is intarsia-in-the-round, a two-color technique that allows knitters to work with contrasting colors without leaving stranded yarns on the wrong side of the fabric. This results in a cleaner interior finish compared to traditional stranding methods. The heel is constructed using the traditional flap and gusset method, a time-tested approach that provides durability and a comfortable fit. Knitters have the option to either create a plain heel or extend the cable pattern all the way down to the heel end, allowing the cables to be visible when wearing open-backed shoes.

Stitches Used

The socks are primarily worked in stockinette stitch, which provides a smooth, classic fabric base. The defining feature is the cable stitch, specifically a C8B (Cable 8 Back) cable, which is a 4/4 right cross cable that creates the chunky, dimensional cable patterns. The pattern notes that the wide cables create a less stretchy fabric, which is an important consideration for fit and construction.

Materials and Tools

This project requires 380 to 500 yards of sock or fingering weight yarn, depending on size selected. The yardage is divided equally between two contrasting colors: 190 to 250 yards each of the cable color and background color. Knitters will need a set of US Size 1 (2.25mm) double point needles or the appropriate size to achieve the required gauge, along with a cable needle for manipulating the cable stitches. The recommended gauge is 8.5 stitches per 1 inch over stockinette stitch.

Pattern Format and Instructions

The Hunky Chunky Cables Socks pattern is provided in a downloadable PDF format with comprehensive instructions presented in two ways: detailed line-by-line written instructions and charted instructions. This dual-format approach accommodates different learning preferences and allows knitters to follow either method based on their comfort level with reading charts versus written directions.