Pern Socks

Anne McCaffrey's Pern books were the first “grown-up” novels I read. In Grade 5 the librarian showed us a variety of novels that might pique the interest of kids in our age bracket. She included Dragonsong set on the world of Pern. Our librarian was perhaps more clever than I gave credit for her at the time, she said the book was likely above our reading level but she was going to mention it anyways, of course that was a huge incentive for me to read the book. The cover showed a young woman surrounded by tiny dragons known as fire lizards. I was entranced. These socks are inspired by the deadly rain of Thread (an organism that rains down on the surface from an errant planet that swings near Pern in a predictable pattern), and the fire produced by Dragons from chewing a phosphine bearing rock. The cuff is the destructive Thread raining down, the cable motif is the Dragon flame that chars the destructive organism to ash.

Notes
The Pern Socks are a top down heel flap sock with a twisted rib cuff and a twisted cable motif on a reverse stockinette background. The heel, bottom of the foot and toe are knit in stockinette. This pattern is suitable for tonals, speckled, and low and mid contrast variegated yarns.

Sizes
Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4) 5
Finished foot circumference: 6”/15cm (7”/18cm, 8”/20cm,
9”/23cm,) 10”/25.5cm) and 9”/23cm (10.5”/27cm,
12”/30.5cm, 13.5”/34cm) 15”/38cm stretched.

Materials
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks That Rocks Lightweight
(100% Superwash Merino; 405 yds/370m
in each 5.15oz/146g skein).
Shown in colourway Heckley Speckley.
Actual yardage per size is difficult to calculate in socks because
everyone knits them different lengths and widths. Sample shown is
size 3 for a size “Women's” US10/EU41 foot and used
310 yds/283m.

Equipment
One set size US2/2.5mm DPNs,
or size to achieve gauge.
Note: magic loop could be used, however you will
need to make some modifications to the pattern
instructions after the heel; stitch markers could be
used to mark where each DPN would be.
Cable Needle
Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle

Gauge
32 sts/44 rnds = 4”/10cm in Stockinette/
Reverse Stockinette.