Near the beginning of the pattern is a list for yarn, needles and gauge:

Yarn: Cascade 220 (or other light DK or heavy sport wt. wool) 2 hanks

Needles: #1 sock set or size to obtain gauge

Gauge: 6 sts/inch, 8 rounds/inch

I’ve uploaded the PDF pattern for you at this LINK.

About yarn, this sock is knit on 52 stitches. I usually knit two-color socks on 72 sts with fine sock yarn and one-color socks on 64 sts with fine yarn. I knit a bit loose so I use a smaller needle size to get the same gauge as other knitters get on a larger needle. With DK-weight yarn, you might use a U.S. #2 or #3 instead of a #1. The main thing is to get a fairly firm fabric and a fairly snug fit so the sock won’t migrate in your shoe as you walk.

THE WELT

One edging that is traditionally used to start gansey sweaters is a split and overlapped garter welt. That is also the way this sock begins. I like to use this method in workshops where there are knitters who have never knit socks in the round because we start with something familiar and have a bit of fabric to hang on to before we start knitting round and round.

Here is the beginning of the pattern:
Cast on 55 sts.
Row 1(wrong side)—Purl 55 sts.
Row 2—Knit 55 sts.
Row 3—k55
Row 4—k55
Row 5—k55
Row 6—k55
Row 7—k55

Cast on 55 sts. In her book, Knitting Ganseys, Beth Brown-Reinsel clearly demonstrates several traditional methods that are used in gansey knitting. The photos her book are great so I decided to use photos to demonstrate the cast-on method I used for this sock (see: sock photo in the September 28 post and the next post).

Feel free to use your favorite cast on. The one I used is not traditionally gansey, but is my favorite for socks since it is decorative and very elastic. It looks especially good with 2 x 2 ribbing. It stands out best when you use a row of stockinette between it and whatever else you plan to do. If you are using your favorite cast on, continue to follow pattern, knitting back and forth, for Rows 1 through 7. Tomorrow, we will join the welt with an overlap and continue on with the leg.