Cheerful coloured patches are placed randomly all over the socks. Vary the number of patches, their size, use only two or as many colours as you like - there are just so many options to make your socks unique.

These socks are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. Some parts like cuff and toe and ‘interim rounds’ between the patches are worked in the round. However, the main feature are the patches placed on leg and foot, worked in intarsia in the round technique. The idea is to place these patches randomly.

A detailed tutorial with pictures to explain the intarsia in the round technique is included in the pattern.

In the instructions given, these patches are all of the same size and there are two patches placed in each intarsia section; in the same position on front and back. The pattern gives suggestions of where to place the patches, but they can be placed to your liking. There are several options to change the look of the socks by changing the size of the patches or their placement with examples given in the pattern.

Size and measurements
Women’s S, M and L to fit leg circumference 17.5 (20, 22.5) cm 7 (7.75, 8.75)”. Leg length to the heel results in 18 cm 7” when knit as given in the pattern, adjustable (please see notes). Foot length is adjustable.

Material
Fingering weight yarn with a yardage of approximately 400 m (440 yds) per 100 g in at least two contrasting colours: approximately 50 g as MC (used for the background), split into two equal balls; approximately 50 g as CC (used for cuff, heel, toe and the patches), at least two balls (see details for multiple colours below)
Used in the sample: SpinningFates Toula in Bangarang as MC, BaT’at Hand Dyed Yarns Aire in Swinsty for cuff, heel and toe; various scraps of fingering weight yarn for the patches

Multiple Colours Option
If you wish to use several contrast colours, the approximate amounts of yarn needed for each segment are:
Cuff, heel, toe: 10 g / 40 m (44 yds) each
Patches: 20 g / 80 m (88 yds) - one patch in the size 8 stitches and 10 rows requires no more than 0.5g / 2m (2.2 yds)

Needles
2.25 mm / US size 1 DPNs or circular needle(s) for your preferred way to knit in the round

Notions
2 stitch markers, darning needle

Gauge
32 sts /42 rounds = 10 cm/4” in Stockinette stitch after blocking

This pattern was the High Octane pattern in Round 2 of the Supersock World Championship in 2022.