Setu Socks to Knit

Women’s stockings from the southern part of Estonia, an area called Setumaa, or land of the Setus, inspired my decorative Setu Socks to Knit. The original sock, dating from the nineteenth century, depicted in Kalju Konsin’s book Koekirjalised Kindad ja Sukad (Tartu, Estonia: Eesti NSV Riiklik Etnograafiamuuseum, 1969), is a long stocking with openwork diamond patterns on the leg only. I chose to place the diamond patterns around the upper part of the sock and then run them down the front of the leg and onto the foot.

A version of this pattern previously appeared in PieceWork September/October 2008.

MATERIALS
Yarn The Woolly Thistle Rambler (80% white Dorset wool, 10% white Corriedale wool, 10% grey Romney wool; 420 yd [384 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]; fingering), Winter Sky, 1 (2, 2) skeins.
Needles Size 1 (2.5 mm), set of 5 double pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.
Notions Stitch holders or scrap yarn (optional); tapestry needle.
Finished Size Foot circumference 8 (8¾, 9½)" (20.5 [22, 24] cm); leg length 8¼ (9½, 9½)" (21 [24, 24] cm) from top of leg to start of heel flap; foot length 9 (9¾, 10¼)" (23 [25, 26] cm) from back of heel to tip of toe (adjustable); to fit women’s U.S. shoe sizes 6½–7½ (8–9, 9½–10½). Gauge 16 sts and 24 rnds = 2" (5.1 cm) in stockinette stitch and chart patterns worked in the round, before blocking.

Nancy Bush is the author of books including Folk Socks, Knitting Vintage Socks, and Folk Knitting in Estonia. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she operated the Wooly West mail order source for knitters.