Ajao is a design inspired by a neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria where I was lucky enough to spend a month. The colorwork pays homage to the multitude of different window shutters and jumble of metal grilles all stacked on top of each other that I encountered on my daily walk to the bus stop. The metal of these shutters was glistening mirage-like in the iridescent, hazy light of the West African sky, and the strong contrast of the colors in this sock pattern seeks to captivate this intangible memory.

These socks are knit top-down with a twisted rib cuff and a traditional slip-stitch heel flap and gusset. The design features easy colorwork in the middle section. Using only about 60 yds of each contrast color and 220 yds of the main color, this pattern is also ideal to use up scrap yarn.