Welcome to the Sock Knitters Anonymous March 2024 Mystery Sock KnitAlong! I am so excited to be here with you, and really hope you decide to join in.

These mystery socks are based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) theme and are knit top-down with a heel flap & short-row heel. The instructions are written and use charts to guide you in the knitting of the design.

I will be releasing a total of FOUR (4) clues through the month of March 2024; the release plan is as follows:

Clue 1 – Friday March 1st
Clue 2 – Friday March 8th
Clue 3 – Friday March 15th
Clue 4 – Friday March 22nd

I work full time in the UK and plan on uploading the clues on the Friday morning my time, but please understand that I won’t have an opportunity to check and respond to questions until the evenings on the weekdays. Throughout the weekends I will check more frequently.

Since this is a mystery knitalong, instructions, charts and a description of the required stitches for each clue will be included as the clues are released each week through the month of March. Each Clue will be released as an updated version of the pattern so that all Clues issued up to that point are included in a single document. The stitch “glossary” will grow every week as new symbols are used, so if you are printing each Clue, make sure you print the glossary along with it. I am still finding my way in the world of Knit Companion, but have done my best to ensure that the charts can be set up in the app.

The pattern involves various simple cables, an option to work a small amount of colourwork and/or do some beading, increases and decreases. The design has been tested using solid colour yarns. Tonal and/or gradient yarns will most likely work well too, but I can’t guarantee that all the elements of the design will work well. I don’t recommend using highly variegated or self-striping yarns.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes Small, Medium and Large which correspond to a leg circumference of approximately 15.5cm (16.5cm, 17.5cm)/ 6” (6 ½” ”, 6 ¾”) unstretched and a foot circumference of approximately 17cm (18cm, 19cm)/6 ½” (7”, 7 ½”) unstretched. The fabric of this sock is similar in stretchiness to a plain vanilla sock – this may help you to decide which size you are going to knit.

MATERIALS
• Main Colour (MC): 400m/435 yds fingering weight/sock yarn, in a solid or tonal colourway.
• 2m/2 yds of smooth waste yarn in a colour that contrasts with the MC – I recommend cotton yarn
• 3.0mm or 3.25mm/D Crochet hook for provisional cast on
• (Optional) Contrast Colour (CC): 100m/110 yds of highly contrasting, preferably dark-coloured fingering weight/sock yarn – you will be deciding on whether to use this yarn in Clue 2.
• (Optional) 500 to 600 No. 8 beads that are a high contrast colour to your yarn; my recommendation is that you choose a dark colour for the beads – you will be deciding on whether to use beads in Clue 2.
• (Optional) Crochet hook for adding beads (other methods of adding beads to stitches as they are knit are acceptable as well, but pre-strung beads are not) – may be used in Clue 2
• Cable needle (optional – if you are adept at cabling without one, you should be fine).
• Two stitch markers (optional)
• Tapestry needle for grafting & weaving in ends

RECOMMENDED NEEDLES:

• 2.25mm/US 1 needles, either one or two circular or a set of 5 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN) per your preference.
• Spare circular needle in the same size as your working needle or slightly smaller

No matter what your choice in needle, always use the size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter’s gauge is unique and can be different with different techniques.

I have written this pattern for knitting with one or two circular needles, however it can be adjusted to using five double-pointed needles (DPN’s)

GAUGE: 7 sts/11 rows = 2.5cm/1 inch in stockinette st
KNITTING LEVEL: Advanced/adventurous beginner.