Sunday 26 June 2016

Battenburg Ankle Socks


My latest knitted socks just make me smile every time I look at them. If you've seen my last two knitted socks, which were first yellow and then pink, I mentioned that the wool reminded me of Battenburg cake. Then I realised that I had enough left over for a pair of Battenburg ankle socks. 


I knitted these without a pattern. They are toe up (again because I was worried about my small supply of wool). The only tricky part was to make sure that the check pattern repeats the whole way around the foot. These socks definitely need blocking, as although they look great on my daughter's feet, the carried wool behind meant that they are very cosy, and they looked very puckered when I had first finished knitting them. This also means there is not much stretch in them, and in fact my first attempt had to be undone, because they wouldn't fit even on her little feet. I used a short row heel, and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off


I think they are the sort of socks to relax in with a slice of Battenburg cake.


Is Battenburg cake an English thing? I hadn't really thought about it. In case you have never seen one here is a photo. It is always made in pink and yellow, with a outer case of marzipan. Perhaps I will have a go at baking one from the recipe on this link? 

17 comments:

  1. Brilliant. You knitted them up quickly and they look great. Despite the fact that I love Fair Isle knitting I've been hesitant about stranded knitting for socks. I really should just get stuck in and give it a try.

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  2. They look fabulous, and definitely a good excuse for a slice of cake to match!!

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  3. I love the colors! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  4. My daughter just walked past as I was looking at those lovely socks and said "They look like Battenburg cake, can I have a pair please?" Praise indeed as at 14 she is hard to impress!

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    1. My daughter, whose feet are in the picture, is 13 years old. I am going to write up how I knitted them (not sure I can call it a pattern) and put it for free on ravelry

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  5. Cute! I love yellow and pink. I'm not sure what Battenburg cake is, but I suspect I might want a lot of it.

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  6. I love the colors, you sure did a great job! Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned!

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  7. I am not a fan of sock knitting, but socks that look like cake? Count me in!! Yours are just perfect.

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  8. These look great, I love the colours, really cute.
    I haven't had battenburg for years, I really need to remedy that :)

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  9. Seriously impressive squares -great socks:)

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  10. I love the idea of knitting socks but I'm a very slow knitter. I love these though, cake themed socks! Yay!

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  11. They are fantastic, you are so incredibly clever! Xx

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  12. They are gorgeous and very very cute

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  13. Oh wow I love your socks and very aptly named too! thank you for sharing with the stash party. :) xx

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