Fair Isle Sock MKALendar

With the Fair Isle Sock MKALendar you'll create a pair of mid-calf or knee-high socks in 25 days. The socks are worked from the toe up in stranded colorwork using all sorts of fingering-weight sock yarn leftovers, scraps, half-a skeins, unicorn tails, or advent calendar minis. Toes, ribbed cuffs, and forethought peasant heels with short-row mini gussets are worked in one color.

Each day is presented as a stranded colorwork chart. All charts can be worked with just two colors but you can use as many as you wish! Your color choices determine whether your socks feature classic or modern interpretations of traditional Fair Isle motifs. Regardless of how many colors you pick, all colorwork rounds are knit with just two colors and short floats. Tips for choosing and using colors are provided.

The pattern comes in five sizes for foot circumference and two options for leg length. Foot length, leg length, and leg circumference can be adjusted within pattern. Calf shaping instructions are also provided. 

The pattern is written with both metric and US terminology. Only charted instructions are given for the colorwork patterns.

In addition to instructions to knit the socks, the pattern also includes

• 28 colorwork charts in two variations: one for a light and another for a dark background color — that's 56 charts total!

• guidance and tips for adjusting sock fit to your measurements

• tips for choosing colors with seven illustrated color scheme examples

• links to technique tutorials on colorwork

This pattern was originally released as a 25-part advent calendar mystery knitalong in December 2023.

Sizing

• XS [S, M, L, XL]

• 56 [64, 72, 80, 88] sts in foot

• To fit shoe size approx. EU 30/31 [36/37, 39/40, 43/44, 47/48] / US kids' 12–13 [adults' 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, 11–12]

Finished Measurements

• Foot circumference: approx. 16.5 [19, 21, 23.5, 26] cm / 6½ [7½, 8¼, 9¼, 10¼]"

• Foot length: approx. 18.5 [22, 23, 25.5, 27.5] cm / 7¼ [8½, 9, 10, 10¾]" or adjustable within pattern

• Leg circumference: approx. 16.5 [19, 21, 23.5, 26] cm / 6½ [7½, 8¼, 9¼, 10¼]" or adjustable within pattern

• Leg length, mid-calf: approx. 18.5 [17.5, 17.5, 19, 21] cm / 7¼ [7, 7, 8¼, 10]" or adjustable within pattern

• Leg length, knee-high: approx. 44 [43, 43, 44, 46] cm / 17¼ [16¾, 16¾, 17½, 18¼]" or adjustable within pattern

As colorwork is not very stretchy, start with a size with approx. 0–5% of negative ease in foot circumference. Leg circumference can be adjusted as the sock progresses.

Yardage

Fingering-weight yarn leftovers, scraps, half-a skeins, unicorn tails, or advent calendar minis in as many colors as you want (at least 2)

• for mid-calf socks: approx. 300 [350, 400, 470, 560] m / 320 [380, 440, 510, 610] yd in total

• for knee-high socks: approx. 570 [620, 700, 780, 890] m / 620 [680, 760, 850, 980] yd in total

Gauge

• 34 sts × 42 rnds = 10 cm / 4"

Needles

• 2.5 mm / US #1½