As I have a 4ply/fingering weight version of my new yarn, Yorkshire Warmth, I’ve been itching to try some sock knitting with it. Earlier this year I designed some socks based on my research about the Yorkshire Dales stocking industry, and I decided I need to make these in my new yarn. The purist in me loves the idea of knitting socks inspired by Yorkshire’s knitting heritage with a Yorkshire-made yarn!
The 4ply version of Yorkshire Warmth is a little thinner than average sock yarns, so I have adapted my original design for knitting with more stitches in the round on smaller needles than I used previously. This is important because tension is the most significant factor in how hardwearing socks are. The yarn label for Yorkshire Warmth suggests 2.75mm/US 2 needles and a tension of 34 sts per 10cm/4″, but that’s not for socks. Instead I’m knitting the socks on 2mm/US 0 needles, on which I’m getting a tension of 38 sts per 10cm/4″. It’s a beautifully dense fabric, so I’m confident the socks will last well.
