Everyone needs a little sweetness and these cute socks are just the thing! Inspired by Valentine’s Day candy conversation hearts, these socks are a compelling-to-knit treat especially for you. They’re knit top-down with a short row heel and colourwork that’s easy to remember and hard to quit.

This project was a 2025 Valentine’s Day collaboration between Andrea and Catherine of Gauge Dye Works. Get the Candy Hearts Yarn from Gauge starting at 9am Wednesday, February 12! Yarn and pattern will be sold separately.

Like my designs? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get updates, exclusive sales, and recommendations, plus the Mill Hill Toque pattern free!

Sizes
Finished Foot Circumference:
6.5(7.5, 8.5, 9.5) in/16.5(19, 21.5, 24) cm

Yarn
Yarn quantities are approximate.

250(292, 334, 380) yd/229(267, 305, 347) m fingering weight yarn in two colours:

MC: 180(207, 233, 257) yd/165(189, 213, 235) m
CC: 70 (85, 101, 123) yd/64(78, 92, 112) m

Shown in:
Gauge Dye Works Trifecta Fingering (80% superwash Merino wool, 20% nylon; 100g Skein (MC): 352 yd/322 m; 50g Skein (CC): 176 yd/161 m)

Colours:
MC: Black Light; 1 100g skein
CC: Candy Hearts; 1 50g skein

Blocked Gauge
34 sts/36 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in stranded colourwork with larger needle

34 sts/48 rounds = 4 in/10 cm in Stockinette stitch with smaller needle

Needles
Use set double pointed needles, long circular needle for magic loop method, or other preferred small circumference knitting method.

Ribbing & single-colour Stockinette Stitch:
Suggested Size US 1/2.25 mm needles

Stranded Colourwork:
Suggested Size US 3/3.25 mm needles

Notions
• tapestry needle
• stitch markers

Skills
I consider this an intermediate level pattern. Techniques used include working colourwork from charted instructions, working short row heel shaping, and decreasing.