Yarn & Pattern Ideas For Socktober + Clare Devine

Munlochy image courtesy of Clare Devine

The Socktober campaign started in the US to donate socks for the homeless. It didn't take long before it was embraced by the knitting community as an opportunity to focus on sock knitting in October. Today, let the sock knitting begin!

The internet is awash with sock knitting tutorials from experts such as Winwick Mum and ACKnitwear, and that all important technique for toe grafting - Kitchener stitch.

To celebrate Socktober sock designer extraordinaire Clare Devine has released her latest pattern on Ravelry, Munlochy, costing approx £4.76.

She's used the nylon-free yarn Killen by Black Isle Yarns, a Scottish blend of Bluefaced Leicester and Mohair.

Wanting to take part in Socktober? Here's our pick of other patterns:

Top 5 Socktober Patterns

Rye from Tin Can Knits is a free pattern aimed at newbie sock knitters. It uses DK yarn and has sizes from baby up to large adult.

Rye image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

Elgin is another Clare Devine pattern and it costs approx £4.76 on Ravelry. These cute bed/slipper socks are knitted in aran weight yarn and they knit up easily - so easily in fact that I've knitted a pair myself!

Elgin image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

Dave is a basic sock pattern from Rachel Coopey, who has written two volumes of sock knitting patterns. Master Dave and you'll be able to move on to her more complicated designs. Download Dave as part of the Socks Yeah! Volume One ebook for £17.

Dave image courtesy of Rachel Cooper

Brixham, by Katya Frankel, costing £3, is a pair of socks for intermediate level sock knitters. The pattern is gainsay-inspired and uses DK yarn.

Brixham image courtesy of The Knitter

Cascading Vine by West Yorkshire Spinners costs £2.40 and is great for sock knitters who want an extra challenge. The design features an intertwining effect inspired by the vines and leaves of a Willow tree.

Cascading Vine image courtesy of West Yorkshire Spinners

Top 5 Socktober Yarns

Socks Yeah! is Rachel Coopey's own brand sock yarn, which comes in traditional colours and bright neon shades. Each 4ply or DK 50g ball costs £6 plus P&P.

Socks Yeah! image courtesy of Rachel Coopey

West Yorkshire Spinners' Signature 4ply range, especially for socks, comes in different ranges and colours. For one of my first sock projects I used their Country Birds range, a self-patterning yarn that produces an effect that looks much more complicated than it actually is to knit. A 100g ball costs £7.20 plus P&P.

Country Birds image courtesy of West Yorkshire Spinners

Ginger's Hand Dyed Sheepish Sock is a luxury, fingering weight blend of 80% Superwash British Bluefaced Leicester and 20% nylon. One 100g ball costs £18.50 plus P&P.

Sheepish Sock image courtesy of Ginger Twist Studio

Sock Yarn (With Nylon) from Countess Ablaze comes in a cornucopia of hand-dyed solid or variegated colours. Some are one-off dye batches never to be repeated. A 100g ball skein sells for £20 plus P&P.

Sock yarn image courtesy of Countess Ablaze

Aqua Waves from Cuddlebums is hand dyed on merino singles sock yarn. £15.50 plus P&P will buy one 100g skein.

Aqua Waves image courtesy of Cuddlebums

Now all that's left to do is dig out your DPNs and get started. Toe up or top down? The choice is yours!

What are you knitting for Socktober? Let us know either in the comments box below or on our Facebook page.