Two Pairs of Turkish Socks to Knit

Try your hand at a traditional Turkish sock technique from Anna Zilboorg. PieceWork magazine subscribers can log in and access this bonus subscriber-exclusive PDF instantly.

Traditional Turkish socks are a challenging and rewarding project for seasoned knitters. The oddly shaped but well-fitting foot is begun at the toe, with the heel worked after the rest of the sock is complete. The Ram’s Horn socks are authentically patterned and have the same interesting shape but are worked from top to toe in a manner more familiar to Western knitters. This construction has one advantage when working a continuous vertical pattern: the stitches that must be picked up for the heel are on the sole of the foot; therefore, any imperfection in the pattern is less visible.

Anna Zilboorg’s traditional Turkish socks worked from the toe up (left) and Ram’s Horn socks (right). The Ram’s Horn socks are authentically patterned and traditionally shaped but are worked in a manner more familiar to Western knitters.