I’m excited to introduce two new knitting patterns for the sock knitters out there – Resolutions and Resolutions Lite Socks. Choose between knitting with worsted weight or fingering weight yarn to create the cosy cabled socks you’ve been been dreaming of!
These special patterns are helping to raise money for AIDS/ Lifecycle (see below for all the details) and $2 from each sale will be donated to the charity.
All The Details
The honeycomb cables remind me of a favourite pair of socks I had as a child. I wanted to wear them all the time because they were so squishy! There’s just something about colder weather and knitted cables. It’s such a perfect combination! Even in fingering weight yarn, this pattern has enough texture to create the feeling of extra warmth.
You can knit these socks as long as you would like them to be too – that’s the great thing about knitting, we can customise patterns to suit our own needs. If you have extra yarn you can change the length as much as you want to.
Did you know that Second Sock Syndrome is an actual thing? When you excitedly finish that sock you’ve been working on and sew in the ends only to remember you have to knit the whole thing over again for the second one. Second Sock Syndrome is the worst!
The cables follow a different path on each foot here, starting with lots of chunky cables at the top cuff and tapering down to finish with a single cable running towards your littlest toe. The pattern repeat is very small so you’ll always want to knit just one more row… You’ll have both socks on your feet before you know it!
Materials Required for Knitting Patterns
For Fingering weight socks:
YARN
Fingering weight yarn; 400m (437yds)/ 100g
Sample used: 100g Stewart Yarns Pitter Patter Fingering; 85% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon in “Glacier”.
NEEDLES
US 1.5 (2.5mm) needles and your preferred method of knitting small circumference.
GAUGE AND SIZE
30 sts and 45 rows in Stocking Stitch over 4” (10cm), knitted in the round, after blocking.
For Worsted Weight socks:
YARN
Worsted weight yarn; 200m (220yds)/ 100g
Sample used: 120g Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heathers, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool in colour 4011
NEEDLES
US 5 (3.75mm) needles and your preferred method of knitting small circumference.
GAUGE AND SIZE
24 sts and 30 rows in Stocking Stitch over 4” (10cm), knitted in the round after blocking.
Just remember the cables will best suit a tonal or solid colour yarn, as the texture of the cables may be hidden with a highly speckled yarn.
End AIDS/ Lifecycle
Resolutions Socks and Resolutions Lite are the official patterns for the End AIDS Sock KAL Winter 2023 hosted by Gary Boston of Gary_Knits_Gary_Rides on Instagram.
Gary has been riding in the AIDS/Lifecycle since 2019. In the mid-1990’s he participated in several AIDS Rides across the country, riding his bike from Boston to New York, across Texas and even across Alaska raising money for HIV/AIDS services and research. It had been 20 years since he had been on a bike, when a friend asked him to join her on AIDS/Lifecycle. After a successful and fun first year in 2019, he pledged to try to do the ride 10 more times with a goal of raising $200,000 for the charities. This year will be the fifth time he has participated and he is, so far, on track to meet that goal! He is aiming for $32,000 in 2023, let’s help him get there!
Gary is also the host of the Gary Knits, Gary Rides – A Craftivism Podcast on YouTube.
What is AIDS/Lifecycle?
Each year, thousands of cyclists and hundred of volunteers take part in a 545 mile, 7-day bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. They raise critical funds for the lifesaving work of San Francisco AIDS Foundation and The Los Angeles LGBT Center. These are two of the largest providers of healthcare and other services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the US. They also provide education, prevention and treatment programs which are modelled by many groups across the globe in the fight against and work towards a cure for the disease.
How Is The Money Used?
The money raised by AIDS/Lifecycle is put immediately to work by these two organisations. For example, at San Francisco AIDS Foundation, $1,000 could provide rapid HIV antibody test kits for 40 individuals at any one of our multiple testing sites. At the Center, $5,000 supports the annual cost of comprehensive HIV medical treatment services for 4 patients. Gary is aiming to raise $32,000 in 2023, let’s help him get there and support these amazing healthcare providers.
What is a Sock KAL?
KAL is short for Knit Along. It’s a fun event where groups of knitters get together, virtually, to knit the same pattern or a themed pattern. These events are held over a set period of time and often involve prizes for participation and finished objects.
For this KAL, we are knitting socks! (You gathered that from the title, didn’t you…) Specifically, the Resolutions or Resolutions Lite Socks. The KAL runs from the 1st of January until the 28th February, 2023. That gives you plenty of time to grab your pattern, yarn and needles and come and knit with us for a while.
And the best thing in all of this (beyond raising money for the most deserving causes!) is your feet will be happy and warm as toast when you are done!
Unless you knit the socks for someone else…