The Vanilla Bean Layer Cake Socks are inspired by one of my other creative loves: baking! I love the flavour of vanilla bean a lot, so I add it to this fabulous and simple recipe from a baking blogger I’ve been following for many years: Baking Bites. But who can resist also adding a rainbow flair to the batter? I definitely can’t, so I always keep a large stash of bright gel food colouring to brighten up my desserts. Why not?

Pattern Description

This pattern is also a recipe — for well-fitted toe-up socks! Perfect for self-striping, gradient, and self-patterning yarns, they have two afterthought heel options and a unisex 2x2-rib cuff. They also have full instructions for optional afterthought gusset shaping, to help add that extra fabric to the heel corners that you might need for your high instep… all with just a few easy German short rows and with no changes to the foot stitch count!

These socks are available in five foot circumferences and the pattern provides formulas to assist you in figuring out exactly when to place the heel to ensure a perfect fit, no matter what your row gauge or foot size. It also provides guidelines for calculating calf increases to accommodate any leg shape or sock height.

This pattern requires the knitter to be able to knit a small circumference in the round and is method-neutral, so it is easy to use whichever sock knitting technique you prefer. It clearly explains all techniques required and provides links to useful video tutorials, so the pattern is easily accessible to a beginner sock knitter.

Yarn Requirements and Sizing

Sizes available: XS (S, M, L, XL) — 48 (56, 64, 72, 80) st — 15.5 (18, 20.5, 23, 25.5) cm / 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) inch foot circumferences with completely customizable foot lengths and leg heights.

Yarn usage will vary widely depending on your sizing and gauge. I recommend having at least 225 (250, 275, 300, 325) m / 250 (275, 300, 325, 350) yards available. The heels alone require up to 40 m / 45 yards of yarn.

Since it is a plain sock, this pattern can accommodate a wide variety of colourway types. With this heel style, gradient, self-striping, and self-patterning yarns in particular can run uninterrupted around the heel.

If you’re looking for an easy sock pattern that has gusset shaping instead, check out my Vanilla Bean Cupcake Socks; if you want undisturbed striping on your socks, but you need more room in the heel, try my Chinstrap Heel Socks.

These socks are rated 1/5 — Beginner — on my sock pattern difficulty scale. This is because they are written specifically for first-time toe-up sock knitters with very flexible sizing, no patterning, and lots of helpful resources.