Waggledance

Waggledance Socks by Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren

What is Being Made

Waggledance is a downloadable knitting pattern for socks inspired by the waggle dance that honey bees perform to communicate the location of the best flowers to their hive. These are top-down socks featuring a heel flap and gusset construction, available in multiple sizes from small through extra large.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques to create its distinctive patterning:

• Cabling: Cable techniques form the primary decorative element, creating textured patterns that echo the intricate movements of the bee dance
• Twisted stitches: Twisted stitch techniques add additional texture and visual interest to the sock design
• Knitting in the round: The socks are worked circularly using either double pointed needles or circular needles
• Heel flap and gusset construction: A traditional heel flap with gusset shaping provides a well-fitted heel
• Picking up stitches: Required for transitioning from the heel flap to the leg portion
• Decreasing stitches: Used for shaping and gusset decreases
• Grafting stitches: Kitchener stitch or similar grafting technique creates a seamless toe closure

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations including:

• k: Knit stitch
• Purl: Purl stitch
• C3L: Three stitch left cable
• C3R: Three stitch right cable
• C4: Knit cable (four stitch cable)
• kfbf: Knit into front, back and front for increase stitches

Stocking stitch forms the base fabric, providing a smooth background for the cable and twisted stitch patterning.

Materials Required

Yarn: The pattern requires 100g of 4 ply sock yarn. The sample shown uses A Little Bit Sheepish sock yarn in the colorway "Perhaps I could borrow some honey?"

Needles: 2.5mm needles are required, with the option to work on either double pointed needles or circular needles (one or two) for working in the round.

Notions: Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, and a cable needle for working the cable stitches.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 32 stitches and 44 rows over 10 centimeters in stocking stitch. Stitch counts are provided for small, medium, large, and extra large sizes, allowing for customization to fit different foot dimensions.

Required Knitting Skills

This pattern is suitable for knitters with intermediate experience who are comfortable with the following skills: casting on, knit and purl stitches, knitting in the round, working cables, picking up stitches, decreasing stitches, grafting stitches together, and weaving in ends.