Meet Wanderly

I’d like to introduce you to my newest sock pattern, Wanderly.

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Some people travel with a destination in mind, and others like to get outdoors and follow where the path leads. These sport-weight, unisex hiking socks are inspired by the wandering type of adventure ­– the kind that surprises and delights, even if you don’t always know what’s around the next bend. 

We cast on at the toe, then take an unexpected turn by introducing a new color. We knit straightforwardly for a bit, then allow the stitches to begin to twist to form charming little offset cables that wander in opposite directions on each sock. We detour into color at the heel and then take a long run up the leg before diverting back into our contrast color at the top of the cuff.

In the end, we wind up with socks that are tall enough to be worn under boots, extra-cushiony for long treks, and long-wearing, thanks to the high twist in Morehouse Farm’s Gator yarn and the firm gauge to which they are knit.

The sample socks were knit in size Large, in the colorways Pebble and Mineral Red. They fit my husband’s size 11 feet perfectly and are tall enough to extend past the tops of his favorite hiking boots.

You can purchase the pattern from my Ravelry or Payhip shops, and as a complete kit from Morehouse Farm.

As with all my paid patterns, I tried to consider what knitters might find challenging about the pattern and provided detailed written instructions, photos, and links to video tutorials within the pattern. Someone who’s never knit socks before, never worked toe-up socks, or never tried cabling should still find it easy to follow my instructions for Wanderly.

The pattern is chock-full of techniques and tips. I’ve included instructions for working an improved version of Judy’s Magic Cast On, knitting 1/1 left and right cross cable twists with and without a cable needle, inserting and picking up stitches from scrap yarn for an afterthought heel, Kitchener stitch, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sewn bind-off, and a quick method for cinching any holes that might develop at the gussets. I think it’s the next best thing to attending one of my sock classes, and I hope you’ll think so, too.