I have been fortunate enough to attend the Knitting with Company retreat, hosted by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas, on Bainbridge Island twice: both last spring, and again just last month. Both times I have left feeling insanely inspired, motivated to grow my business in the direction that makes me happiest, and ready to make only beautiful things, because life is too short for anything less.

These socks are a reflection of the beauty and simplicity of this retreat. They make my heart supremely happy, are made from quality materials (seriously, that yarn... wow!) and are made by my own two hands. That's pretty much all I'm looking for these days.

Island Wood Socks

These socks are all about texture - highlighting the beauty we find in each stitch of our project. And these socks feature a yarn dyed right here in my home-state, Oregon, by Knitted Wit. Her Victory Sock base is magical: it's hearty and strong like the trees that are so bountiful here in the PNW. Wax poetic, much? I know... it's hard not to love days like this where I get to share things made by me and the other talented women I'm lucky enough to know. But onward... to the socks!

DETAILS

THE STORY

Island Wood is a gorgeous retreat center on Bainbridge Island in Washington. It has such a special place in my heart that I had to create a simple, relaxing pattern to reflect the joy of my time at the retreat, mixed with beautiful yarns!

MATERIALS

Knitted Wit Victory Sock (sock weight; 80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 420 yds / 384 m per 4 oz / 113g), 1 skein: ‘Acadia National Park’
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 32” / 81 cm circular needle
Row counter (optional)
Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZES

6.75 (7.5, 8.5)” / 17 (19, 21.5) cm circumference (unstretched).

Fit: 1” / 2.5 cm of negative ease is recommended

PROJECT GAUGE

34 sts and 48 rows = 4” / 10 cm over stockinette stitch in the round, taken after blocking

NOTES

These socks are worked from the cuff-down and feature a Fleegle heel. These socks are identical to one another; make 2 to complete a pair.
In the case of using double-pointed needles, the Front Needle is synonymous with Needles 1 & 2 and the Back Needle is synonymous with Needles 3 & 4.
Instructions are given for smallest size with additional sizes in parentheses. When only one set of instructions is given, it applies to all sizes.
Adjust needle size as necessary to match gauge.
This pattern is written for the Magic Loop technique. There are no charts.

Bring Island Wood into your home, too!

While I know we can't go on retreats every weekend, we CAN knit ourselves happy thinking about the possibility of retreats and what it means for our mental and emotional health. I humbly recommend getting lost in the stitches of the Island Wood socks this weekend. You can download a copy of the pattern here or on Ravelry.

PLUS! This weekend only, until 11:59 pm PST, Sunday, May 20th, the pattern is 10% off at checkout, no coupon code required.

And if you REALLY want to treat yourself, I highly recommend snagging a skein of Knitted Wit's Victory Sock, either in the Acadia National Park colorway used in the modeled socks, or any one of her other amazing, forward-thinking colorways. Her names are enough to make you laugh so hard you snort!

Happy knitting, my lovelies!

New Pattern: Island Wood Socks