Clarissa Socks

The Clarissa socks are part of a series of sock patterns designed by Tess Young, inspired by the novel ‘Mrs Dalloway’ written by Virginia Woolf.

The Clarissa socks are named after the title character of this book, in which we first meet Clarissa going to buy the flowers for what has become perhaps the most famous party in modernist literature. As the novel proceeds we are increasingly immersed in Clarissa’s world, her memories and the decisions that have taken her from her country garden childhood at Bourton to becoming the wife of a Member of Parliament and at the heart of the British establishment in London.

Throughout the novel, Clarissa is a character portrayed with a certain delicate feminine beauty. She is seen, and remembered, as most alive in the gardens of her childhood home now lost to her through the tradition of inheritance through the male line.

The Clarissa socks aim to reflect both the delicacy of Clarissa’s nature, but also the strong pathways of her life. They combine twisted stitches and organic lace motifs to capture this combination of elements. The lace pattern isintuitive once set, and the toe is designed so the pattern continues fully through the foot. These are the perfect socks for wearing with or without shoes or with your opened toed summer best.

The Clarissa socks are knitted using Susan Crawford Lock Sock, shown here in Chemise, a most delicate shade of palest pink. Lock Sock yarn is spun from the fibre of local Lonk sheep, which are now identified as a rare breed, blended with nylon, to create a hardwearing yet fine yarn, perfect for socks.

The Clarissa socks are a top down all over lace pattern sock with a standard heel flap and gusset construction and the foot lengths can be adjusted for the perfect fit.

The pattern includes both charted and written instructions for four different foot circumferences and has adjustable foot length to achieve the perfect fit.

Size - 4 sizes (see schematic bottom left)

Leg/foot circumference:

Small - 17 cm / 6 3/4 in

Medium - 20 cm / 8 in

Large - 23 cm / 9 1/4 in

Extra Large - 16 cm / 10 1/2 in 

Leg & foot length customisable

Yarn

1 x 100g Susan Crawford Lock Sock Yarn – 75% pure Lonk shearling* wool / 25% nylon

378m / 414yds per 100g skein

Gauge

31. sts & 50 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over stocking stitch knitted in the round, after blocking.

32. sts & 48 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over unstretched lace pattern knitted in the round, after blocking

Needles & Materials

Set of 2.25mm (US 1) DPNs or 2.25mm (US 1) circular needle (80–100 cm in length) for magic loop

Tapestry needle

Stitchmarkers (optional)

Format - The pattern is supplied as a 21 page English Language PDF downloadable richly illustrated pattern booklet