from the designer: “When I pulled my nephew’s name in the family gift exchange this past holiday, I knew immediately what I would make him. This is a man who, in his mid-twenties, dropped his entire life in the US where he’d always lived to run off to China and discover a whole new way of life. He’s been there more than four years now, speaks fluent Mandarin, and is engaged to a Chinese girl. His only complaint? There’s no central heating and Guilin winters are cold.

“Clearly, this is a man who needs cozy socks. Nice, thick socks to pad around the apartment, but also rugged socks for an adventurous spirit who goes on lengthy train trips and gets his shoes stolen. The solution comes in the form of a soft DK-weight sock yarn which I’ve dyed in what his mother assures me are his favorite colors, of plain design but sporting a linen stitch toe, sole, and heel for an extra thick and sturdy fabric that’s sure to last for many years of trekking across the exotic Orient.

“Inspired by Cat Bordhi’s brilliant book ‘New Pathways for Sock Knitters’ to seek a new pathway of my own, I’ve designed these socks with an upside-down heel flap and inverted gusset, so look out for the unexpected!”

SIZE:
To fit an average adult foot

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Foot circumference: 8.5 inches
Leg length: 6.25 inches

MATERIALS:
The Verdant Gryphon ‘Traveller’ 100% superwash merino wool; 280yd/255m per 4 oz skein; color: An American in China; 1 skein

Note: One skein of Traveller is enough to make a pair of socks for a normally sized foot. If the wearer is particularly sasquatchean, you may want a second skein. Either way, I recommend halving your skein before beginning so you can be sure to have enough for socks of equal height.“

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #4/3.5 mm double-point needles

always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter’s gauge is unique

Stitch markers

Tapestry needle

GAUGE:
25 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st
28 sts/52 rows = 4 inches in Linen Stitch

ERRATA:
On the toe right after the every row increases: when you start to increase every other row, it should go like this:

rnd 1: K1 (k1, sl1) to last 2, k2.
rnd 2: Inc 1, (sl1, k1) to last 2, sl1, inc 1.
rnd 3: (K1, sl1) to last st, k1.
rnd 4: Inc 1, (k1, sl1) to last 2, k1, inc 1.