These socks are inspired by the Greek myth for the origin of the peacock. Argus Panoptes, a giant covered with one hundred eyes, is charged by Hera to guard the nymph Io from the philandering Zeus. Zeus gets rid of Argus by sending Hermes to bore him to sleep, then stealing Io away. To commemorate Argus’s sacrifice, Hera put his eyes into the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock.

Worked from the toe up, these socks are worked in stockinette until the start of the gusset increases. The lacy peacock stitch pattern starts in the center of the instep, and spreads out towards the ankle, eventually circling all the way around the leg. The pattern includes charted directions, and a photo tutorial for working the peacock stitch pattern.

SKILLS NEEDED
Knitting in the round, purling, decreasing (k2tog and ssk) and increasing. Lace knitting experience and the ability to read your knitting is strongly recommended.

SIZES
women’s small medium, large, approximately 7 8, 9 inches/17.5 20, 22.5 cm foot circumference (unstretched) and 9 10, 11 inches/23 25.5, 28 cm long.