The Star-Studded Socks are inspired by Nidorellia armata, the Chocolate Chip Star, a species of starfish native to the warmer waters of the Pacific Coast of Central and South America. They get their name from the large dark horns on their light-coloured bodies that look just like chocolate chips on the surface of a cookie. They can grow up to 25 cm in diameter and are a striking sight on a visit to a reef!

Pattern Description

These socks feature a graphic, garter-texture star-shaped motif with lace accents. The placement of the stars — winding around the foot and the leg — is mirrored on the left and right socks. They are knit toe-up, with traditional gusset and heel flap construction; the heel flap is worked in garter stitch. Corresponding written instructions are provided for the chart.

This pattern requires the knitter to be able to knit a small circumference in the round (the pattern is method-neutral to suit your preferred technique for socks) and clearly explains all necessary techniques. Within the pattern you will find links to useful video tutorials as well, so the pattern is easily accessible to an intermediate knitter who is just getting started knitting socks.

Yarn Requirements and Sizing

Sizes available: Unisex Adult Small (Medium, Large) — 56 (64, 72) stitches — to fit foot circumferences of 18 (20.5, 23) cm / 7 (8, 9) inches; minimum foot lengths to fit both motifs are 21 (22, 23.5) cm / 8.25 (8.75, 9.25) inches. Adjusting the foot lengths to accommodate longer feet is easy and how to do so is explained fully in the pattern.

These socks require approximately 300 (325, 350) m / 325 (350, 375) yards of fingering-weight sock yarn. Because of the combination of texture and lace, this pattern can accommodate some subtle colour variation in the yarn, such as in a hand-dyed semisolid colourway.

These socks are rated 3/5 — Intermediate — on my sock pattern difficulty scale. This is because they require moving the location of the chart pattern throughout the sock.