New Pattern: Hulst Socks

My blue socks are finally finished, and the pattern is now in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy pattern stores.

Pattern: Hulst, by Bonnie Sennott

Yarn: Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in the Atlantic colorway

Named after a road in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hulst is a women's sock with a bit of lace (to keep the knitting interesting) and a bit of stockinette (to make it go quickly). Through midnight EST June 20, you can get $1.00 off the pattern on Ravelry, using the coupon code HULSTKAL.

Hulst is the third pattern in my All You Need Is One collection of designs that use just one skein of yarn (On the Other Hand and Conklaree were the first two). Two more patterns will be added to the collection between now and fall; when you purchase the ebook, it's automatically updated in your Ravelry library each time a new pattern is added. At $16 for five patterns, it's a great deal!

Starting June 21 (first day of summer), we're having a Hulst Socks KAL in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. It's going to be a celebration of sock knitting and the summer growing season. Along with knitting the socks, we'll be sharing photos and stories about our local farms, farmers markets, summer produce and flowers, our gardens, and even recipes.

My sister Jackie and I have split a share at the Brookfield Farm, located on Hulst Road in Amherst, for many years—in fact, we've just started our 19th season as shareholders. It is my favorite place in my hometown, very near and dear to my heart. We had a great time taking the photos there early in the morning last Sunday—no one was about except us and the birds.

The pattern is written for fingering weight yarn. I used the stunning Atlantic colorway of Watercolors sock yarn from the Periwinkle Sheep. Karin has really hit a home run with this color, don't you think? She's also got some other colors perfect for Hulst in her Etsy shop right now, including a rich Cayenne and a summery green called Antidote. 

This sock is worked top down, from the cuff, and features a heel flap with a garter stitch edge. I have to admit, I really fell in love with the heel—it might become my default method from now on. Instructions are given for two sizes, and stitch patterns are provided in both line-by-line written form as well as charts. 

No pattern ever comes about only through my own efforts. My heartfelt thanks go to Karin of the Periwinkle Sheep, for dyeing such gorgeous yarn; my sister Jenny, for her expert tech editing; and my sister Jackie, for her patient modeling (and especially for getting up bright and early, so we could take advantage of the lovely morning light). I'd also like to thank the test knitters who provided helpful feedback about the pattern—Heather and Brenda (take a look at her bright green socks in a colorway she calls My Favorite Martian).

Thank you very much for reading. I hope you'll join us in the KAL!