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# OWL SOCKS
## Knitted Wool Socks with Owl Colorwork Motif

A pair of cozy worsted-weight socks featuring a charming owl colorwork design on the leg. These top-down socks use traditional heel flap and gusset construction, perfect for the advanced knitter ready to tackle colorwork in the round.

**Finished Measurements:**
- Foot circumference: 8" (20 cm)
- Leg length: 7" (18 cm) from cast-on to heel (adjustable)
- Foot length: adjustable to fit

**Size:** 
Medium adult (to fit women's US shoe size 7-9 or men's 6-8)

---

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** 
- Main Color (MC): 200 yards (183 m) worsted weight wool sock yarn
- Contrast Color (CC): 50 yards (46 m) worsted weight wool sock yarn in coordinating color
- Suggested: washable wool or wool/nylon blend for durability

**Needles:**
- US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5) OR one 32-40" circular needle for magic loop
- Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge

**Notions:**
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Waste yarn or stitch holder (optional)

**Gauge:**
20 sts and 28 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round
**Gauge is critical for proper fit - please swatch!**

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

- CC: contrast color
- k: knit
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- MC: main color
- p: purl
- pm: place marker
- rs: right side
- sl: slip stitch
- sm: slip marker
- ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- wyif: with yarn in front

---

## PATTERN NOTES

- Socks are worked from the cuff down with a traditional heel flap and gusset construction.
- The owl colorwork chart is worked in stranded colorwork (Fair Isle technique). Carry floats loosely across the back of work to maintain elasticity.
- When working colorwork, twist yarns every 3-5 stitches to prevent long floats.
- Stitch count is indicated in parentheses at the end of key sections.
- For a longer or shorter leg, work additional or fewer plain rounds before beginning heel.
- For a longer or shorter foot, adjust the length of the foot section before beginning toe decreases.

---

## OWL COLORWORK CHART

The owl motif is 16 stitches wide and 21 rounds tall. Work the chart 4 times around the leg (64 total stitches).

**Chart Key:**
- □ = MC (main color)
- ■ = CC (contrast color)

```
Round 21: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Round 20: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Round 19: □□■■■■■■■■■■■■□□
Round 18: □■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□
Round 17: □■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□
Round 16: □■■□□■■■■□□■■■□
Round 15: □■■□□■■■■□□■■■□
Round 14: □■■□□■■■■□□■■■□
Round 13: □■■■■■■■■■■■■■□
Round 12: □■■■□□□□□□■■■■□
Round 11: □■■■■□□□□■■■■■□
Round 10: □□■■■■□□■■■■■□□
Round 9:  □□■■■■■■■■■■■□□
Round 8:  □□□■■■■■■■■■□□□
Round 7:  □□□□■■■■■■□□□□
Round 6:  □□□□□■■■■□□□□□
Round 5:  □□□□□■■■■□□□□□
Round 4:  □□□□■■■■■■□□□□
Round 3:  □□□■■■■■■■■□□□
Round 2:  □□■■■■■■■■■■□□
Round 1:  □■■■■■■■■■■■■■□
```

Read chart from bottom to top, right to left. Each square represents one stitch.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### CUFF

With MC and using your preferred cast-on method (long-tail recommended), cast on 64 sts.

Divide sts evenly across needles:
- For DPNs: 16 sts on each of 4 needles
- For magic loop: 32 sts on each side

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker (pm) for beginning of round.

**Ribbing:**
Rounds 1-12: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end of round.

(64 sts)

### LEG

**Setup Round:** Knit all sts with MC.

**Begin Owl Chart:**
Rounds 1-21: Work Rounds 1-21 of Owl Chart 4 times around (each repeat is 16 sts).

**Plain Rounds:**
Work 8 rounds in stockinette st (knit all sts) with MC only.

Leg measures approximately 7" (18 cm) from cast-on edge.

(64 sts)

### HEEL FLAP

The heel flap is worked back and forth over half the stitches.

**Setup:** 
K16, turn work. The next 32 sts will form the heel flap. Place remaining 32 sts on waste yarn or leave on needles to be worked later for instep.

**Heel Flap (worked flat over 32 sts):**

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, p31.
Row 2 (RS): *Sl 1, k1; repeat from * to end.

Repeat Rows 1-2 a total of 16 times (32 rows total). Heel flap should measure approximately 2.25" (5.5 cm).

(32 heel sts)

### TURN HEEL

Continue working back and forth on heel sts only:

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, p17, p2tog, p1, turn. (31 sts)
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn. (30 sts)
Row 3: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn. (29 sts)
Row 4: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn. (28 sts)
Row 5: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn. (27 sts)
Row 6: Sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, turn. (26 sts)
Row 7: Sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn. (25 sts)
Row 8: Sl 1, k11, ssk, k1, turn. (24 sts)
Row 9: Sl 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn. (23 sts)
Row 10: Sl 1, k13, ssk, k1, turn. (22 sts)
Row 11: Sl 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn. (21 sts)
Row 12: Sl 1, k15, ssk, k1, turn. (20 sts)
Row 13: Sl 1, p16, p2tog, turn. (19 sts)
Row 14: Sl 1, k16, ssk. (18 sts remain)

(18 heel sts)

### GUSSET

**Setup for picking up stitches:**
With RS facing and working with needle holding heel sts:

Knit across 18 heel sts. Pick up and knit 16 sts along the edge of the heel flap (pick up 1 st in each slipped st). Pm for side of foot.

Knit across 32 held instep sts. Pm for side of foot.

Pick up and knit 16 sts along the other edge of heel flap. Knit to end of heel sts (9 sts). Pm for new beginning of round (this marker is now at the center back of heel).

You should now have:
- Needle 1: 25 sts (9 heel + 16 picked up)
- Needle 2-3: 32 instep sts
- Needle 4: 25 sts (16 picked up + 9 heel)

(82 sts total)

**Gusset Decreases:**

Round 1: 
- Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Needles 2-3: Knit across instep.
- Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end.
(80 sts)

Round 2: Knit all sts.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 eight more times. (64 sts remain: 16 sts on Needle 1, 32 sts on instep, 16 sts on Needle 4)

(64 sts)

### FOOT

Continue working in stockinette st (knit all sts every round) until foot measures 2" (5 cm) less than desired total foot length from back of heel.

For average medium adult: work approximately 6.5" (16.5 cm) from back of heel for a 8.5" total foot length.

(64 sts)

### TOE

**Toe Decreases:**

Round 1:
- Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end.
- Needle 3: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end.
(60 sts)

Round 2: Knit all sts.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 nine more times. (24 sts remain)

Then repeat Round 1 only (decrease round) three more times. (12 sts remain)

Knit sts from Needle 1 onto Needle 4. (6 sts on each of 2 needles)

(12 sts)

---

## FINISHING

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail. 

Using tapestry needle, graft toe closed using Kitchener stitch.

**Kitchener Stitch Instructions:**
1. Thread tail onto tapestry needle.
2. Hold needles parallel with wrong sides together.
3. *Insert tapestry needle through first st on front needle as if to purl, leave st on needle.
4. Insert through first st on back needle as if to knit, leave st on needle.
5. Insert through first st on front needle as if to knit, slip st off needle.
6. Insert through next st on front needle as if to purl, leave st on needle.
7. Insert through first st on back needle as if to purl, slip st off needle.
8. Insert through next st on back needle as if to knit, leave st on needle.
9. Repeat from * until all sts are grafted.

Weave in all ends on the inside of sock. Block if desired.

Make second sock to match.

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**Congratulations on completing your Owl Socks!**

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## DESIGN NOTES

This sock pattern combines the warmth of worsted-weight yarn with the charm of an owl motif. The traditional heel flap and gusset construction provides excellent fit and durability. The slipped stitch heel creates a dense, cushioned fabric that wears well.

For variation, you could:
- Work both socks in plain MC without the colorwork
- Substitute a different 16-stitch colorwork motif
- Add additional owl repeats down the leg
- Work the foot in a contrasting color

**Pattern designed for advanced knitters comfortable with colorwork, heel construction, and working in the round.**