Hessian Boot Socks Knitting Pattern Download

Captain Frederick Wentworth, naval officer and romantic foil for Anne Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion, like many military men of his day would have owned a pair of well-fitting Hessian boots. Originally a standard military issue for officers, this boot style became widely worn among civilians as well. Styled after the original two-tone design of these boots, these socks have a wide contrast-colored band at the cuff and feature a black/brown color combination, which was a highly fashionable choice for men's riding boots in the early nineteenth century.

These socks are simple to knit, with the main portion of the leg and foot knitted in stockinette, with a subtle "side seam" decoration and small diamond shaped clocking at the ankles. Be sure when knitting to maintain an even tension with the contrast color "seam" and pick up the main color yarn from beneath the contrast color, to avoid any holes along this detail. The socks are knit from the cuff down, with contrast color used for the cuffs, heels, and toes.

Finished Size: 9 ¼ (9½, 9 ¾)" foot length; 7 ¾ (8 ¼, 8 ¾)" foot circumference. The sample knitted in 9 ½" length.
Yarn: Wooly Wonka Fibers Freya Sock Yarn (100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool; 435 yd [398 m]/100 g); raven's wing (MC), 1 skein; tobacco brown (CC), 1 skein.
Yarn Weight: #2 - Fine
Needles: Size 1 (2.25 mm): doublepointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions: Markers (m); tapestry needle.
Gauge: 37 sts and 50 rnds = 4" in St st.
Originally Published: Jane Austen Knits Summer 2012