Whale of a Tail Socks

Maui, Hawaii brings my memories back to the time I spent with my mom on the island after I had attended a sales meeting many years ago. We spent the week exploring every inch of the island.

One of my fondest memories was whale watching for the first time. I was terrified and excited at the same time, to see this enormous creature come so close to the boat! Watching it rise up from the water and flip around to dive back into the ocean, splashing us with the cool water was something I had never seen before this trip. After hearing of the fires that devastated parts of the island, Lauren, of Lolodidit, dyed up a special skein of yarn, Helping Hippos Maui, to raise money for a charity. I was inspired by this speckled yarn to re-create the cherished memories of the time my mom and I spent together on this beautiful island. The cables rising up from the garter stitch textured pattern looks like whale tails to me and reminds me of our whale watching time together.

This top-down sock design features a twisted ribbed cuff in the first contrasting color that flows into a textured cable pattern worked in the main color. The sock is then continued in pattern around the leg of the sock until the heel flap. The heel flap and turn of the heel are worked in a contrasting color. The main color is then used again to work the gusset and continued for the foot, keeping the instep in the set pattern and stockinette stitch for the sole until  the beginning of the toe. Finally, the contrasting color is used to finish the toe.