Esk

Good morning! It’s pattern friday, and today’s design is a pair of quick-to-knit and cosy slippers – Esk

These slippers are fun and simple to make and in designing them, I’ve refined a basic construction of which I’m very fond.

Knitted from the toe up, the instep is worked in this twisted stitch pattern with a pleasingly quilted appearance, while the sole is plain stockinette.

It’s really easy to get exactly the right fit on your esks: simply stop knitting when the slipper reaches your ankle bone, before working the stretchy garter stitch heel, and finishing with a neat i-cord around the foot opening. Ta Da!

And why Esk? Well, this squishy, satisfying twisted stitch motif (which I think is ideal for cosy slippers) has been given the name Lizard in Norah Gaughan’s sourcebook (suggestive of its scaled appearance).

. . . and esk is a name for newts and lizards in Scots, as well as several northern English dialects.

This pair of esks are knitted in the Domra shade of Ooskit. I’m really pleased with them and am having trouble taking them off my feet!

Working up quickly, and a fun, engaging knit, they are great for gift knitting too (if you can bear to give a pair away!)

If you’d like to whip up some esks for yourself or someone else, the pattern can be downloaded from the KDD shop or Ravelry, and we also have kits available. Happy knitting!