Noro Faux Cable Socks Knitting Pattern

Noro Faux Cable Socks

What is Being Made

The Noro Faux Cable Socks are an intermediate-level knitting project designed to create a pair of seamless socks sized for an adult woman. These socks feature a decorative faux cable stitch pattern worked from the top down and are crafted using the round knitting method. The finished socks measure 7½ inches (19cm) in foot circumference, with a length from toe to heel of 9¾ inches (24.5cm) and a length from heel to cuff of 9 inches (23cm).

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic appeal:

• Seamless, top-down construction: The socks are worked from the cuff down to the toe without seaming, creating a smooth, comfortable fit.
• Worked in the round: Using five double-pointed needles (dpn), the socks are knitted continuously in circular rows, which is the traditional method for sock construction and eliminates the need for seaming.
• Cable twisting: The faux cable effect is achieved through the 2-st LT (left twist) stitch, which involves knitting the second stitch on the left-hand needle through the back loop, then slipping the first stitch purlwise, creating a twisted cable appearance without the bulk of traditional cables.
• Increases and decreases: The pattern utilizes M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) techniques for shaping, as well as slip, slip, knit/purl decreases (ssk/ssp) to maintain stitch count and create proper sock shaping.

Stitches Used

The Noro Faux Cable Socks incorporate a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch used throughout the socks, creating a smooth, classic fabric.
• 2-st LT (left twist): A two-stitch cable twist that creates the faux cable pattern without requiring a cable needle, adding visual interest while maintaining ease of construction.
• M1R and M1L (make one right and left): Increase stitches worked by inserting the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches and knitting into the front or back loop to twist the new stitch, used for shaping the sock.
• Slip, slip, knit/purl (ssk/ssp): A decrease technique where two stitches are slipped knitwise one at a time, then worked together through the front loops, maintaining a neat decrease line.
• Yarn over (yo): Creates new stitches and decorative eyelet holes by placing yarn over the right-hand needle.
• Slip stitch: Passes a stitch from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without working it, used for edge stitches and pattern transitions.
• Selvage stitch: An edge stitch that facilitates seaming, though minimal seaming is required in this seamless design.

Materials

The Noro Faux Cable Socks are crafted using high-quality materials specified for optimal drape, durability, and the signature color variations:

• Yarn: 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock in colorway #304. The pattern notes that socks may be completed with 1 skein; however, 2 skeins are required to match the striping pattern as shown. To ensure color matching between the pair, the second sock should begin at the same place in the colorway as the first sock.
• Needles: One set of five size 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles (dpn), or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers in different colors to track pattern repeats and round beginnings.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 38 rounds measured over 4 inches (10cm) of stockinette stitch using size 2 (2.75mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper sock fit and sizing.