Choose a size with approximately 1 inch/2.5 cm negative ease in the foot circumference.

Although I love the results, I’m not keen on the process to work a stranded colourwork sock. I find that they can be challenging to knit, and to fit. Slipped stitch colourwork provides an excellent solution: you only work with one colour at a time, reducing the yarn management issues and the tightness of the fabric.

This slipped stitch pattern reminded me a bit of a classic argyle motif, and allowed me to combine two excellent yarns. With the cold weather approaching, I’ve used both an alpaca blend sock yarn, and a silk-blend, for extra warmth.

Because the stitch pattern is a large repeat, and doesn’t lend itself easily to grading, I’ve created four sizes from two stitch counts by using different needle sizes for the legs. For all sizes, the heel flap, heel turn and foot are worked on the same size (smaller) needle to create a long-wearing sock-appropriate fabric.

I’ve worked the heel flap and turn in a two-color version of the classic Eye of Partridge pattern, which I found in a 1970s vintage French stitch dictionary. It’s handsome, cozy and reinforced. My heel turn of choice, the square heel, allows you to easily continue the reinforcement down into the turn.

As always, the sock uses my particular favorite no-graft toe. If you really feel that you need to close the toe with grafting, stop decreasing when about a third of the stitches remain – ensuring you have the same number of stitches on both instep and sole.