The Linkages Socks are inspired by simple DIY wind catchers made from upcycled materials that spin in the wind in gardens and yards. A little bit of quirky and fun outdoor décor that offer a great opportunity to give empty plastic bottles a new life as twisting, spiralling art!

This toe-up sock with a gusset and heel flap construction uses twisted-stitch cables for a clean and beautiful finished product. Coordinated twisted ribbing in the gussets and adjustable foot lengths makes these socks fit any foot comfortably! Thoughtful details such as a patterned toe and heel flap, as well as a smooth transition to cuff ribbing that extends from the cables offer a cohesive final look. Both charts and written instructions are provided for the cable patterning.

Sizes available: Adult Small (Medium, Large) to fit foot circumferences of 18 (20.5, 23) cm / 7 (8, 9) inches — 58 (66, 74) stitches. The foot length and leg height are both adjustable to your desired fit.

Fingering-weight yarn appropriate for socks is recommended for this pattern. To achieve an effect like the sample pair, a solid or near-solid colourway is ideal. Busy colourways will obscure the cable details.
You will need approximately 275 (300, 325) m / 300 (325, 350) yards (assuming an average foot length and equal leg height).

Required tools:

• knitting needles appropriate for socks (the pattern is method-neutral and both double-pointed needles or circular needles will work),
• a small cable needle, and
• finishing tools such as a tapestry/yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Required techniques:

• basic knitting techniques (knit, purl, yarn over, knit through back loop, etc.),
• seamless cast on for toe-up socks,
• small-width cables (2x2 and 1x1) with twisted stitches,
• mirrored increases and decreases (knit and purl),
• German short rows (for the heel turn), and
• stretchy bind off.

These socks are rated 4/5 — Adventurous — on my sock pattern difficulty scale. This is because they use several different types of cables incorporating twisted stitches, as well as following several charts that span the majority of the sock, including the toe, heel flap, and cuff.

This pattern was originally published in Knit Now magazine in May 2024. Digital copies of that issue can be purchased via Pocketmags here.