Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Día de los Muertos

Hi November! Are you seriously here already? As I sit in a puffy vest waiting for the kettle to boil I must admit the truth. There is no denying it. The fall has returned. I have to re-negotiate an arrangement with the thermostat. I have to do something about the damp windows. I also get to reflect on the things I've lost...

Plus, socks!

Day of the Dead Socks

Can I tell you about a pair of socks that are associated with this season of change?

These socks here are in honor of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). It's a holiday to be spent gathered with family and friends to remember loved ones who have died. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

We can gather online if we can't gather in person. This year I am remembering. I am also letting go.

Day of the Dead Socks


Traditions connected with the Day of the Dead include building altars honoring the deceased using decorated sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. The Day of the Dead is not necessarily a time for mourning, so knit and decorate these socks using bright, festive colors and wear them to party!

This here pattern is written for multiple gauges and you can knit the sock as they are, or add embroidery when done! What a great use for bright scraps of sock yarn leftover from other projects.

Paper Craft Skull

At the end of the pattern you will find a sugar skull paper craft pattern. Decorate that too! These socks give the knitter options. A simple sock can be decorated by embroidering marigolds along the eyelets. A skeleton can be embroidered along the side if desired.

Sizes: This pattern is written for four sizes: (See foot circumference chart to determine appropriate size) 1. Women’s Small (2. Women’s Medium/Men’s Small, 3. Women’s Large/Men’s Medium, 4. Women’s X-L/Men’s Large)

Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9, 10) inches 17.5 (20, 23, 25.5 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 8 (9, 10, 11) inches 20 (23, 25.5, 28 cm).

Yarn: This pattern is written for four gauges: (See yardage requirement chart to determine yarn selection) Sample shown: sport-weight: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight [100% SUPERWASH Wool; 380yd per 155 gram skein]; color: Pallas Athena: 1 skein.

Day of the Dead Socks

Needles: 1 set of 32” circular needles (magic loop), 2 sets of 24” circulars or double pointed needles in size to get gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, scrap yarn or embroidery floss, tapestry needle.

Because of the large file size, this time the "extra" is in a separate pdf file. Both the pattern and paper craft are available to you through the link.

Day of the Dead Socks

The pattern is $3.99
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The Socks For All Seasons e-book is $15.99 (limited time only) and provides you with a year's worth of sock patterns:
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Day of the Dead Socks

5 comments:

Grant said...

An interesting coincidence occurred this morning during breakfast. Milo was neglecting to eat his cereal, being quite focused on drawing little stylized skeletons with lovely curved limbs. As I was cleaning up later, I came across the paper he was copying from -- the page of sketches you and I made while discussing the embroidery pattern for these socks! Can you believe it was still floating around? I'm glad you reposted these socks, it's nice to see them again and remember how much fun it was watching you pull them together.

Natalie Rush said...

These socks are so awesome! I had to share them on my blog today!! So cool!!

Star said...

Thanks Gnat!

Star said...

Hey Grant - thanks for sharing that story. I could picture the whole scene. Can you believe it's been a year? Anyway, you definitely helped me pull these together. I remember! Of course, the paper craft is ALL you.

KNIT IT IS said...

Wow, pretty socks!