Clarissa

• Description
• Pattern Information
• Techniques

• The Clarissa socks are part of a series of sock patterns designed by Tess Young, inspired by the novel ‘Mrs Dalloway’ written by Virginia Woolf.

  The Clarissa socks are named after the title character of this book, in which we first meet Clarissa going to buy the flowers for what has become perhaps the most famous party in modernist literature. As the novel proceeds we are increasingly immersed in Clarissa’s world, her memories and the decisions that have taken her from her country garden childhood at Bourton to becoming the wife of a Member of Parliament and at the heart of the British establishment in London.

  Throughout the novel, Clarissa is a character portrayed with a certain delicate feminine beauty. She is seen, and remembered, as most alive in the gardens of her childhood home now lost to her through the tradition of inheritance through the male line.

  The Clarissa socks aim to reflect both the delicacy of Clarissa’s nature, but also the strong pathways of her life. They combine twisted stitches and organic lace motifs to capture this combination of elements. The lace pattern is intuitive once set, and the toe is designed so the pattern continues fully through the foot. These are the perfect socks for wearing with or without shoes or with your opened toed summer best.

  We have used Susan Crawford Lock, in the colourway Chemise, a most delicate shade of palest pink. Lock Sock yarn is spun from the fibre of local Lonk sheep, which are now identified as a rare breed, blended with nylon, to create a hardwearing yet fine yarn, perfect for socks.

  The Clarissa socks shown are for the 2nd size to fit UK size 7 (US9) (EU40) foot and are shown in the shade Chemise

  The pattern includes both charted and written instructions for four different foot circumferences and has adjustable foot length to achieve the perfect fit.

• Yarn
  Susan Crawford Lock, 75% Lonk, 25% Nylon, fingering-weight sock yarn (378 m / 414 yds per 100 g approx)

  1 skein, shade Chemise

  Suggested needles
  Set of 2.25mm (US 1) DPNs or 2.25mm (US 1) circular needle (80–100 cm in length) for magic loop

  Gauge
  31½ sts & 50 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over stocking stitch knitted in the round, after blocking. 32½ sts & 48 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over unstretched lace pattern knitted in the round, after blocking.

  We obtained these gauges using 2.25mm needles.

  If necessary, use an alternative needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

  Notions
  Stitch markers
  Waste yarn

• Knitting in the round
  Heel flap and gusset sock construction
  Grafting a toe
  Decreasing
  Twisted stitches
  

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