Lykke Socks

Skill Level: Intermediate

Style: Cuff-down; Forethought heel

LYKKE ~ The Danish word for happiness

And almost nothing makes me happier than a pair of colorful, hand-knit socks! In deep winter, when the world outside is looking rather gray, and light is scarce and fleeting, a pair of warm, wool socks bursting with colors and patterns is pure medicine - a prescription for Lykke!

These socks are deceptively simple. You never knit with more than two colors at once, and the simple 2, 4, or 8-stitch repeating charts are easy to follow. I’ve included instructions to knit the original multi-color socks using all fourteen charts, as well as recipe cards to knit a few more variations. It’s quite easy to take the original sock pattern and create your own magic by combining the charts in whichever ways you please! Use two colors or twenty - it’s entirely up to you.

I’ve included a handy reference sheet for you to write out the yarns and colors you are using, along with the order of the charts you prefer. I’ve also included a picture tutorial for working an Afterthought Heel.

Glad Strikning!

Note: This listing is for the digital PDF knitting pattern, not the finished socks.

SIZES
(Measured around the circumference of the ball of your foot. The numbers below refer to this measurement, not the size of the finished sock).
S (7”/18cm) M (8”/20cm) L (9”/23cm) XL (10”/25cm) 2X (11” / 28cm)

GAUGE
36 sts = 4”/10cm knit with US Size 2 (2.75mm) needles in the rnd, in colorwork pattern, and blocked.

MATERIALS

Yarn

Multi-color socks

Approximately 306 (360, 412, 468, 508) yards / 280 (329, 376, 428, 465) meters
TOTAL of fingering weight yarn.

Note: Sadly, Brooklyn Tweed Peerie is now discontinued 😭. I recommend using Knit Picks Stroll, or Cascade Heritage Sock yarn instead!

Knitting the size M, I used Brooklyn Tweed Peerie in the following colors and amounts:

Hammock 20 grams / 84 yards / 76 meters
Seaglass 6 grams / 26 yards / 24 meters
Butternut 10 grams / 42 yards / 38 meters
Norway 4 grams / 17 yards / 16 meters
Marigolds 8 grams / 34 yards / 31 meters
Firebrush 12 grams / 50 yards / 46 meters
Peony 10 grams / 42 yards / 38 meters
Treehouse 2 grams / 8 yards / 7 meters
Humpback 2 grams / 8 yards / 7 meters
Klimt 6 grams / 26 yards / 24 meters
Vintner 6 grams / 26 yards / 24 meters

Two-color socks
Approximately 228 (260, 297, 334, 372) yards / 208 (238, 271, 305, 340) meters TOTAL of fingering weight yarn.

Knitting the size M, I used Brooklyn Tweed Peerie in the following colors and amounts:

Vintner 30 grams / 126 yards / 115 meters
Peony 22 grams / 92.5 yards / 84 meters
Firebrush 10 grams / 42 yards / 38 meters

Shorty Socks
Approximately 168 (196, 227, 254, 286) yards / 153 (179, 207, 232, 261) meters TOTAL of fingering weight yarn.

Knitting the size M, I used the following colors and amounts:

Madeline Tosh Fluoro Rose (cuffs, heels, toes): 14 grams / 56 yards / 51 meters
Less Traveled Yarn Coy Coral: 17.5 grams / 70 yards / 64 meters
Goosey Fibers Clementine 17.5 grams / 70 yards / 64 meters

Needles

US Size 2 (2.75mm)

Optional: US Size 1 (2.25mm) - You can knit your cuffs, heels, and toes with the US 2
needles if you prefer

Notions

Tapestry needle, snips, stitch markers, and a tape measure