September Socks
I have always felt that September feels like a time for starting something new. The summer is over, the autumn equinox is approaching and in the last days of warmth before the trees start to drop their leaves there’s a kind of magic that feels just right for new beginnings and new intentions. There’s a point where the air smells different and you can’t fail to notice that things are changing … and why not us too? When September arrives, I’m always ready for something new.
This year, I’m marking the change with a sock pattern so let me introduce the … September Socks!
The twisted stitches of the September Socks create a pattern that represents both new and familiar; circles enclosed in soft diamonds that are carried down the sock by transitional stitches to start a new circle – we take a step on from what we know to learn something new. There’s always something new to learn, but nothing we have learnt is left behind even if it doesn’t quite work out the way we thought it might.
The yarn I’ve chosen for these socks is Yarnsmiths Merino Sock, a 4ply blend of merino and nylon which comes in a huge range of colours. This is shade Dusky Mauve (2K332) and it was just perfect for what I wanted for my socks. I’ve knitted with this yarn before but not used it in a design so I thought it was time I put that right! There are 50 solid shades and lots of prints to choose from; I chose this solid shade so that you can see the pattern clearly, but as you’ll see below, my test knitters chose a wide range of colours and all the socks look so good!
The September Socks pattern is perfect for building on something that you’ve learnt before, especially if you’ve learnt to knit socks using the Basic 4ply Socks pattern. The sock construction is based on that pattern (which means you can use the Sockalong tutorials for help if you need to) and whilst the pattern block might look complicated, it’s created using twisted stitches – two stitches twisted around each other without need for a cable needle, to create “cable” rows and the central panel. It’s one of those patterns that looks much hard to knit than it is … although you do still need to concentrate! I wouldn’t be doing my job in encouraging you further out into the deeper sock knitting water properly if it was too easy to touch the bottom of the pool, now would I?
The back of the sock is different to the front so there are two distinct panels or sections to these socks; a front and a back. This is so that every size has the same pattern on the front and the adjustments occur on the back – that way, you could knit for any other size of foot and your socks would look the same if you stood next to each other. As well as matching yarns, I love matching patterns too!
The sock size knitted in these photos is 60sts. The central rib will look different if you knit a bigger size.
The heel flap is created using the Ribbed Heel Flap which I designed a long time ago now to make a stretchier heel flap for those with wider heels (traditional heel flaps don’t always sit right for them), but as you can see, it looks good on any foot, and it works well with the twisted stitch pattern. I like the way the knit ribs stand out so well against the stitches between them.
The September Socks are constructed as top down socks so you end at the toes with seam-free grafting. My preference is to use Kitchener Stitch but other grafting options are available and you can search for those online. I chose to end the pattern so that I could have plain toes but there’s no reason why you couldn’t continue to the end if you like the twisted stitch pattern.
My fabulous test knitter group have been through the pattern with a fine-tooth comb again and the instructions are set out to fit on one page per size whether you’re using charts or the written instructions. I’ve included charts for the cuff with this sock, too, as I thought they would help to get the pattern set for each of the sections.
Let me show you some of their photos:
L-R Top: Elizabeth, Jane, Sue; 2nd row: Helen, Julia, Pat; 3rd row: Claire, Sandra, Angela; Bottom: Lenore – a full sock and a shortie in progress, Karen, Christine – yes, that’s my next pair!
I really appreciated that my test knitters were able to cast on over the summer when there are competing distractions of the garden, holidays and this year, the heat. Still, I’ve always said that socks are excellent on-the-go projects and although Pat wasn’t going anywhere with her supervisor on the case (I’ll be sending the cheque later 🤣), Angela had a lovely time on her cruise and Sandra spent her knitting time out in the garden …
L-R: Angela (out at sea), Pat (with Ms Peake), Sandra (in a cosy garden chair)
Don’t they look fantastic? There’s a wide range of yarn choices here – Elizabeth, Jan, Sue and Karen have used Yarnsmiths Merino Sock (shades Dusky Mauve, Parchment and Delft Blue, another blue), Sandra and Angela have used West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply (English Rose and Mulled Wine), Julia has used Lana Grossa, and Pat, Claire, Lenore and I have used hand-dyed yarn. Claire’s yarn label states that it contains “25% mohair yarn from my goat, Jilly” (not her goat, the dyer’s goat!) and she felt a responsibility not to let Jilly down with the sock. I think Jilly would be very impressed!
So what do you think? Do you fancy having a go for yourself? The pattern is written for four sizes for a foot circumference from 8-9½” (20-24cm), the length can be adjusted for any length of foot, and there are both charts and written instructions for each size.
If you’re ready to get started straight away, you can buy the pattern through these links – but there’s more to tell you!
The September socks pattern isn’t just another pattern that I’ve released. Oh no, it’s far more exciting than that! 🙂
During September 2026, this pattern is part of Socktember 2026 – a month-long celebration of Winwick Mum socks with a prize KAL (Knit-along) – come and join in the fun! You can read more about Socktember and how to take part in the KAL which will be run via Ravelry here: Socktember 2026 Don’t worry if you don’t use Ravelry, you can still take part!
There’s a 15% discount on this pattern from today (Tuesday 1 September 2026) until Tuesday 8 September 2026 using the code SEPTEMBER. If you’re an email subscriber, you’ll have an email with your special discount code which you can use for 48 hours from today. The codes cannot be used at Wool Warehouse.
If you’re getting back into sock knitting after the summer and fancy a pair for yourself or you’ve started your end of year gift knitting, the September Socks pattern is perfect for that! It’s one of those patterns that looks harder than it actually is so works really well for impressive-looking gifts! If you’ve never knitted socks before or if you feel you might get stuck, you can use the Winwick Mum Sockalong tutorials to help as all of my sock patterns are based on the Basic 4ply Socks pattern. Never let not having knitted socks before or for a while stop you if a pattern calls to you!
If you would like to buy a copy of the September Socks pattern, I would be delighted, thank you! It’s a big pattern – 17 pages – but you don’t have to print them all out (I’ve given you the breakdown of which pages are pattern and which are info pages). If you read your patterns through a tablet or computer the pattern length is not a problem, but I didn’t want you to use up all your printer ink if you didn’t have to!
You can find the Ravelry project page for the September Socks here: September Socks Even if you’re not ready to buy the pattern at the moment, favouriting or queuing the pattern on Ravelry really helps me so I would appreciate it if you want to do that – thank you!
Here’s where to buy a copy of the pattern!
The Ravelry link adds the pattern to a cart so if you want to add more patterns, just keep adding them in – no need to check out for each one! 🙂
I hope you enjoy knitting the socks, and do let me see your photos either by email or on social media even if you don’t join in with the KAL as I would love to see how you get on with your very own pair of September Socks!
Thank you so much for supporting me! xx
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These were great to knit, glad you think Jilly would be impressed 😁
Jilly most certainly would, and thank you for knitting the socks! 🙂 xx
Morning Chris, ‘white rabbits’ !! Have bought the pattern and really like the look and idea of twisted stitches, but won’t be able to join in a sockalong as we’re away for a couple of weeks exploring Italy by train and I doubt much knitting will happen certainly not enough to ‘keep up’. Twisted stitches reminds me of my late Aunts knitting – she delighted in a 4ply cardigan with a bit of ‘interest’ – living near Todmorden a cardigan was necessary all year – I think you’ll understand that one!
After quite a few showers over the past week our garden is reviving again and there’s a distinct autumnal feel to the air this morning. This summer will be remembered as a hot one on a par with 1976.
I hope everyone enjoys the new pattern and thanks for the blog
Lizx
White rabbits! (bit late now 🙂 ) Oh wow, that sounds like a wonderful holiday – thank you very much for buying the pattern but yes, you’re right, not necessarily one to take on whilst you’re travelling! I think this summer has overtaken the 1976 one in pretty much every way, and I can imagine that even your Todmorden Aunt would have taken her cardigan off this year! 🙂 xx
Oh Christine they are LOVELY! Just purchased the pattern on Ravelry – I would’ve preferred to purchase from the blog but I am not all that computer-savvy to save the pattern to Ravelry afterwards! I will definitely do them very soon, can I swap the mock cables for real cables with a cable tool? I just feel more comfortable with cable tools. Thank you again for such a lovely pattern ❤️
Thank you so much, Selma! The twisted stitches are only 2 stitches so if you want to use a cable needle you can do, but you might find it faster to knit them without. See how you feel when you start! 🙂 xx
I enjoyed knitting the pattern, it is simple but do pay attention. The foot is much quicker as you only have one fancy panel to follow.
Yes, it’s definitely faster on the foot! Your socks are lovely! 🙂 xx
This pattern looks lovely, I will definitely be buying this one. I won’t be able to join the sockalong as I have really bad RSI in my left wrist and hand at the moment so need to do my exercises but once it’s better I will be doing these.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear about your wrist and hand and I hope they’re better soon. Thank you for buying the pattern! xx
These are lovely, especially cable looks which are not cables! I’ve bought the pattern on Ravelry and it will be a solid colour for me when I decide which one 🙂 Thank you for another amazing pattern X