These Little Dargle summer footsies are designed for comfort on a warm summer's day, giving a barefoot look with the freshness of a sock.
I designed this pattern because I went on a mission to replace my messed-up sock drawer full of odd socks with a carefully curated set of hand knitted socks. There are so many wonderful patterns from so many designers I hope to work through, but summer was coming and the one type of pattern I couldn't find was for a basic footsie.
Footsies are widely available in shops as a commercial product in very recent years, so I assumed they were a very contemporary item. As I further studied all I could about sock knitting techniques, I discovered knitting patterns for footsies just like this were very popular in the 1940s. There I was thinking I was being 'cutting edge' and 'original' hurump!
So whether you want a very contemporary look or to hark back to WWII nostalgia, this footsie pattern will work for you.
I like to name my patterns after places I have been, and the Little Dargle was a small stream that trickled past the end of the road where I lived as a child. Being only a very little pair of footsies and not a full pair of socks, a very little river seemed like a good namesake.

Sizes: XS/S (M/L, XL)
Knitted sock actual circumference: 17.5 (20, 22.5) cm / 7 (8, 9) in

To fit foot width up to: 19 (21.5, 24) cm / 7 1/2 (8 1/2, 9 1/2) in

Yarn and needles:
1 skein 100g/400m Wild Atlantic Yarns Siofra 4 ply yarn, 70% bamboo, 30% Linen
One skein will give 2-3 pairs of footsies.
https://www.wildatlanticyarns.com/collections/siofra

Yarn substitutions: The suggested yarn is a 4 ply yarn, and any other fingering weight or 4 ply yarn may work if it knits to the required tension. The yarn has 400m per 100g, so an alternative yarn with 400m to 100g or 200m to 50g will be suitable.
The linen content of this yarn makes it ideal for a sock project as it will add durability and the bamboo gives freshness and absorbency for a hot summer's day. Therefore an alternative yarn with similar content and weight should work well. As with any sock, a woollen yarn should work well.

Needles and notions: 2.5 mm circular needle or size required to achieve tension (gauge), stitch holder, darning needle to weave in ends.

Tension/gauge:
10 x 10 cm = 32.5 stitches x 45 rows
To check for a whole number of stitches: 8cm = 26 stitches

Construction techniques:
These summer footsies are knitted from the toe up. The toe is knitted in the round, then the sole of the foot is knitted in straight rows back and forth and a wrap-and-turn heel is created, lastly stitches are picked up the full way around the sock for a ribbed edging.
They are styled as a 'footsie', in other words, they grip the toe and heel to give the comfort of a sock, while leaving the top of the foot uncovered for a barefoot look.

Skills used, what you may learn:
Judy's magic cast on, knitting in the round using a magic loop method, wrap and turn heel, stretchy cast off.

Acknowledgements - This pattern has been Tech Edited by Louise Plumridge and tested by a wonderful team, many thanks to (Ravelry user names:) Annelies1984, binemayabine, DebsKnits, FiaKnit, Gwenoveva, huonekasvis, Iamkarin, nicolasina, and Stitchypop. (and on Facebook) Bridget. Any errors that have slipped through are my own.

Copyright: This pattern was written and developed by Ciara Doyle of The Fairythorn. Purchase of the pattern is for your personal enjoyment. You may sell items made from this pattern on condition they are made by you, in your own home.