Silent Fireworks Socks – Knitting pattern

To be honest: I do not like fireworks, not at all! Yes, it is true, and there is a lot of reasons why: pets and wildlife suffer from the noise and light, fireworks are horrendous for the environment (massive emissions of polluants and carbon dioxide), people can get hurt using them and the explosions can call up war trauma. There is only one thing I have to admit: they look quite pretty. But how to get the positive aspect without the negative? Simply knit these colourful socks! Their silent, friendly fireworks will cause no harm, but only bring you joy!

You will start with a cuff in simple half-twisted rib. After that, a fun colourwork section lets twinkling fireworks lighten up the night sky as rockets rise into the air and explode – silently, of course –, leaving a dancing shower of colourful sparks. And the special "knit by numbers" charts spare you the effort of counting stitches. The leg is followed by a heel flap and gusset with an optional slip stitch pattern. Then it is time to relax and work the simple stockinette foot before you let some small sparklers gleam merrily, right at the beginning of the toe. You can use one colour for the fireworks or create a colour gradient with many small scraps – whatever sparks your creativity!

Sizes

2 sizes, corresponding to shoe size EU 37–39 (40–43)

Recommended yarn:

Fingering weight sock yarn in one main colour and one (or more) contrast colour(s), e.g. Seehawer Naturfasern Turin or Woollentwine Ovis Sock

Yarn estimates:

• Main colour: approx. 260 (290) m / 285 (320) yds
• Contrast colour: approx. 60 (60) m / 65 (65) yds 

Needles and notions needed:

• DPNs (5 needles per set) OR circular needles with minimum length of 80 cm (32”) (if you prefer to knit socks with the Magic Loop method), sizes 2 mm (US 0) and 2.5 mm (US 1.5)
• stitch markers, tapestry needle

Gauge:

• Stockinette: 32 stitches x 42 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” on 2 mm (US 0) needles in the round, blocked
• Colourwork: 31 stitches x 34 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” on 2.5 mm (US 1.5) needles in the round, blocked

Level of difficulty:

advanced beginner to intermediate (not suitable for a first colourwork knit, but definitely easier than it looks)

Techniques (explanation/tutorial included):

• stranded colourwork
• increases
• decreases