Bethesda's Sock

 Shown in The Plucky Knitters Plucky Feet in the Chlorophyll colorway.

On one of our trips to Yorktown last year, Andy and I stayed at the Hornsby House Inn.  It's a lovely Bed & Breakfast within walking distance of the Pub and beach.  Our first night there we met John Warley and a few of his classmates who were in Yorktown for a class reunion.  John is one of those people who when you meet them you know you want to get to know them better.  He has a great sense of humor and within moments of meeting him began to banter with us.  I was knitting on the porch of the Inn when we met and John almost immediately asked me to knit him a pair of socks.  I kind of blew him off on the socks.  Anyone who knits knows that socks take a while and this was someone I had only just met.  Socks are usually reserved for family members and close friends, right?

When we were leaving for home, John gave me his email address.  I sent him a few pictures that I took of his friends at the reunion and thought that would be it.  John and I had gotten to know each other a little bit better through email and Facebook when the public shaming started he so nicely asked for a pair of socks again.  He promised that he would wear them and take good care of them so I finally gave up putting him off as he is quite relentless agreed to make him a pair.  I had just finished reading John's first book, Bethesda's Child when the design for John's socks came to mind.  I worked up the chart and cast on. 

True to his word, John has worn the socks and it looks like they are being well taken care of.  Here they are in front of an fire enjoying an evening libation.

 

And later on when John was taking a break in South Carolina.  It's not everyday that you see wool socks with palmetto's! 

 

John just released his new book: A Southern Girl. If you have a chance, be sure to check it out!  I can't wait to get started on it.

Bethesda's Sock is available on Ravelry and Etsy.  Use coupon code: Warley for 25% off of Bethesda's Sock on Ravelry until 5/19. 

From the pattern: 

Bethesda’s Socks were inspired by John Warley’s book: Bethesda’s Child: a compelling story that takes place in Washington DC and centers around the prevention of genetic engineering, a presidential campaign, and a tangled love interest. The simple to knit cables twisting down the sides of each sock represent the complex structure of DNA and the twists and turns that take place in Bethesda’s Child.

These fun socks begin with cuff down construction and the pattern includes both written and charted instructions. The cables are simple enough to knit on your summer road trip, while adding enough zip to the pattern so you won’t get bored along the way. No one wants to hear “Are we there yet?” when you are just leaving the driveway!

Instructions are given for using four double pointed needles, but can easily be converted for using the magic loop method, two circular needles, or your preferred sock knitting method.