Winter Wheat

This pattern is based on the Wheat Sheaves stitch from Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (p. 138). Knit and purl stitch columns create wheat stalks that are “bundled” into sheaves with slipped stitches. Moss stitch diamonds and seed stitch columns accentuate the wheat sheave pattern.

The negative ease of this stitch pattern makes it a perfect choice for cotton based sock yarns, but may not have enough elasticity for those who need a wider leg. Therefore, directions are also provided for a wider cuff. Any medium weight sock yarn will work; solid or semi-solid yarns in “wheat” colors are suggested. Directions for a fitted heel and simple arch shaping are provided along with directions for increasing the width of the cuff.

This pattern contains directions to knit top-down socks suitable for a women’s size medium (sizes 8-9). Smaller and larger sizes may be obtained by using smaller or larger needles and adjusting the length of the foot accordingly.