July Featured Pattern and Knit-Along: Gauntlet Socks

Welcome to July! The Featured Pattern for this month is the newly republished Gauntlet Socks, first published in Cast On Magazine.

Don't worry, if you don't have the pattern from Cast On, it's 50% off through the month of July!

Photography: TKGA

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This pattern started years ago when I was first really starting to experiment with both sock design and using self-striping and gradient yarns. I liked how the various gradients worked up when knit on the bias, rather than just plain gradients and stripes, but it never quite came together in a way I really wanted.

After dusting off my notes a few years later, I came up with the rough construction of what I ended up calling Gauntlet Socks because of how they looked at the top of the cuff; that is, shaped—to my mind—like a gauntlet out of something like Lord of the Rings. (And yes, I am that much of a nerd)! I also decided that instead of working them in a gradient (although that is absolutely an option), I wanted to see how they would work up in a solid or semi-solid. And when I got the chance to try out Lichen and Lace’s 80/20 Sock, well, yes please!

These socks are knit from the cuff down, worked on the bias for the leg and instep. The heel is knit in short rows with garter stitch, and the toe is seamed with grafting (Kitchener Stitch). Since these socks are knit on the bias, when you begin the leg, the ribbing pattern will begin to distort - please don't worry, this is an expected part of the pattern!

The sample was knit in Lichen and Lace’s 80/20 Sock, which is 80% Superwash Merino, and 20% Recycled nylon, and it's in the colourway "Beach Glass".  In 2024, Lichen and Lace updated their sock yarn to an Organic Superwash Merino base, but, the brilliant colours and and sturdy sock base are still exactly the same.

You can buy the pattern through Etsy,  in my Web Shop, or, on my Patreon Shop, the discount is available on all platforms for the month of July! (Psst, Featured Pattern Subscribers and above on Patreon can just download the pattern for free from the Patreon Shop!)

 Now, onto the Knit-Along!

 For the month of July every finished pair of socks has a chance to win a $25 Gift Card from Knit Picks (US/Canada only at the moment, sorry!) or, 4 patterns of the winner's choice from my Web Shop!  To enter on the blog, simply post a link to a picture of your completed socks by July 31, 2024. Please note that the socks don't have been started in July, just finished in July. -- so it's a good reason to pull out any WIPs!

Please note, due to the seizure/migraine risks, you may not post links to Ravelry.com in the comments of this blog. Such links will be removed and will not count as entries to the Knit-Along.  IG posts, public Facebook posts, blog posts, or even direct image links are all acceptable alternatives.

You can also enter to win by posting to the giveaway on Facebook, Instagram, and, Discord, giving 4 chances to win in total!

I always look forward to seeing your Finished Objects! Please post them to various social media with #SarahDawnsDesigns, and #SarahDawnsDesignsJuly2024 and/or share them to the Facebook Group or to the Discord! That way, I can see the awesome that you folks make!

**One entry per person for each project per platform (four possible entries total for each completed project). One Winner will be drawn at random using random number generation. Prize will be distributed by e-mail, Participants may enter the same project on more then one platform, but may only enter each project once per platform. Not sponsored or endorsed by Knit Picks/WeCrochet.