These unisex socks designed by my friend Mary Berghammer were inspired by Eugen Beugler’s Little Wave stitch in Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting. Mary named the design, gave me her notes, and asked me to write up the pattern. It was the Chinese Year of the Snake, and I was intrigued with snakes as a symbol for life, dealth, and rebirth. So I knit and wrote.

The snakes are knit stitches that wind back and forth across purled stitches from the cuff to the toe on these close-fitting socks. The rib repeats across 6 stitches and 12 rounds and is easily memorized. A Dutch Heel is combined with heel stitch to continue that while the heel is turned.

Since this rib repeats regularly, it shows off the beauty of solid and multi-colored fingering yarns.

Skills Required
Knitting in the round and grafting stitches

Size
Fits legs 6 to 9.5” (15.5 to 24 cm) around

Yarn
Fingering weight sock yarn (16–17 wpi)
Sample Socks: 86g (375 yds/343 m) Cascade Heritage Sock fingering weight yarn (17 wpi), 75% wool and 25% nylon, Color #5635