Arete Sock Sets with Alitzah Grant Designs #7

My lovely friend Alitzah has designed a gorgeous new ankle sock with a lacy cuff and optional helical stripes and I have dyed these special sets of BFL and Bamboo sock yarn in delicate shell-like colours to tie in with the inspiration behind Alitzah's design.

In each kit you will receive

• 2 x 50g co-ordinating skeins of delicate shell-like BFL/bamboo 4ply (400m)
• Colour printed pattern booklet
• shell stitch marker
• in an organza bag

“Walk quickly through the great hall ‘til you reach my mother, who sits in the firelight by the hearth, spinning yarn dyed with sea-purple – a marvellous sight.”

Homer, The Odyssey V1:304-306 (translated by E.V Rieu)

Arete, the queen of the Phaeacians, has always been one of my favourite Homeric characters. A descendent of Poseidon she was given respect and status due to the “outstanding skill in beautiful crafts and such a fine intelligence” given to her by Athene. Arete is an ankle sock, with a neat, turn-over, lace cuff; just perfect for when one is sat by the firelight spinning yarn.

The pattern gives the instructions for a two-colour version with contrasting cuffs, heels and toes as well as how to set up helical stripes if you fancied a bit more detail.
When I decided to name these socks Arete, Lucy immediately came up with the idea of dyeing a Sea-Shell Collection in a gorgeous BFL and bamboo mix that showed off the sutble shell-like colours to perfection. We decided on a set of 2 x 50g which would be enough for either the two colour or helical striped versions and are available from lucylocketland.co.uk.

We used commercial sock yarn on the sample helical pair to show how they would look in an alternative yarn – again two 50g balls would be enough to make a two-coloured helical version.
A huge, heart-felt thank you to my wonderfully patient test knitters; Mara and Penny and to my collaboratix Lucy: editor, dyer and shop keeper extraordinaire.

Alitzah, London – August 2020