Xanthi Socks and Leggings Knitting Pattern

Thick and sturdy knitted colorwork socks and leggings were part of the Sarakatsani women’s costume, of the Thrace ethnic group, from the nineteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. This historically inspired set features traditional geometric designs and colors worked in a modern fingering-weight wool.

Mimi Seyferth re-created a pair of socks and leggings she found on display at the Folk and Historical Museum in Xanthi, Greece. The socks and leggings are made separately so that the socks would not be damaged when Sarakatsani women removed their shoes and went barefoot. Mimi’s worked her socks from the toe up and knitted the socks and leggings in the round on two circular needles.

Materials:

• Imperial Yarn McKenzie, 100% wool, fingering weight, 220 yard (201.2 m)/50 gram (1.76 oz) skein
• Socks: 2 skeins Black; 1 skein each Natural, Merlot, and Moss
• Leggings: 2 skeins each Black and Natural
• Needles, size 1 (2.25 mm) two circular (cir) 16" (40 cm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers
• Two size 0 (2 mm) cir needle 16" (40 cm), optional for picking up stitches
• Crochet hook size 00 (1.75 mm)
• Tapestry needle 

Finished size: Socks: 8" (20.3 cm) foot circumference and 9" (22.8 cm) foot length. Leggings: 9¾" (24.8 cm) bottom circumference, 12½" (31.8 cm) top circumference, and 10½" (26.7 cm) long.

Gauge: Socks: 41 sts and 47½ rnds = 4" (10.2 cm) in St st, after blocking. Leggings: 34½ sts and 50½ rnds = 4" (10.2 cm) in St st, after blocking.

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