A person wearing black and beige patterned socks and rolled-up gray jeans standing on a wooden floor surrounded by crystals, stones, and a lit candle.
A pair of Christmas stockings with patterned designs are held by a person's hands. The background features a black cloth, small skull figurines, a lit candle, and Christmas-themed items scattered around.
Autumn-themed hand knit colorwork socks on a wooden floor surrounded by a coyote skull, lit candle, and assorted rocks, sticks, and bones.
Person sitting on black fabric surface wearing hand knit colorwork socks featuring autumn-themed motifs, surrounded by crystals, candles, a deck of cards with festive design, shells, and small ornaments.
A hand holding a hand knit colorwork socks featuring owls, bats, skulls, and spider webs against a dark background decorated with candles, rocks, and bones.

Folk Spells Socks

AFTER DESIGNING THE Folk Rabbit Sweater earlier this year, I wanted to explore that same folksy, nature-inspired aesthetic through a new lens—this time, through the shadowy stillness of autumn. These socks blend bats, skulls, owls, and trailing vines in a way that feels more woodland witch than kitschy Halloween. Whether you wear them in October or all year long, I hope these socks bring a little mystery and magic to your needles.

P.S. Sweater knitters, you might also like the Folk Spells Sweater!

  • Design & Construction: The Folk Spells Socks are knit top down with a shadow wrap heel. The cuff is knit in twisted ribbing, and the leg and foot feature autumn-themed motifs worked in stranded colorwork.

    Fit: These socks are designed to fit with approximately 0.25 to 1 in. (1 to 2.5 cm) of negative ease for a snug, comfortable fit. To choose your size, measure the circumference of your foot at its fullest point—typically around the ankle where it meets the foot. Then subtract 0.25 to 1 in. (1 to 2.5 cm) from that measurement. Select the size with a finished circumference closest to the result.

    Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch patterns in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!

  • SIZES
    (1, 2, 3)

    FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
    The circumference as measured around the foot is as follows.
    (7, 8, 9) in.
    (17.5, 20, 22.5) cm

    These socks are designed to be worn with approximately 0.25 to 1 in. (1 to 2.5 cm) of negative ease. The sample is shown in Size 2 with 1 in. (2.5 cm) of negative ease.

  • YARN
    Light fingering weight
    The listed totals below assume a light fingering weight yarn of 100 g/445 yds or 407 m.
    MC: (55, 65, 75) g/(245, 290, 335) yds or (225, 265, 305) m
    CC1 (vine motifs): 15 g/60 yds or 55 m (all sizes)
    If you knit each vine motif in a different color, as in the cream socks pictured in this pattern, you will only need 5 g/20 yds or 20 m of each color.
    CC2 (bat, owl, and skull motifs): (10, 10, 15) g/(45, 45, 65) yds or (40, 40, 60) m

    SUGGESTED YARN
    Your stash!

    While I’ve listed the specific yarns I used at the end of this pattern, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive into your stash and create a color palette that’s uniquely yours. This design is a perfect opportunity to play with leftovers, mini skeins, or those souvenir skeins you’ve been saving for something special.

  • US 1 (2.25 mm)

    You will need 32 in. (80 cm) circular needles to work in the round using the magic loop method, or your preferred needles for smaller circumference knitting, such as short circular or double-pointed needles.

  • Measure gauge knit in the round, after blocking.

    32 sts and 42 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stockinette on Needle A
    32 sts and 38 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork on Needle B

  • German twisted cast-on, twisted ribbing, chart reading, twin and triplet stitches, grafting stitches together

Purchase the Folk Spells Socks pattern on Ravelry