Oh man, do I love Rachel Coopey’s designs. I know I’ve said it before (probably every time I’ve knit one of her patterns, actually) but it’s true. Her designs are creative, interesting (but not super difficult) to knit, and, best of all, fantastic to wear.
When I bought her first book, Coop Knits Socks, two years ago, Dawlish was one of the patterns I wanted to knit right away. Why it has taken me two years, I don’t know, but I’m so glad I finally got around to it. Actually, speaking of getting around to it, this yarn is one of the first skeins I ever bought without a specific purpose in mind. I remember choosing it, and how expensive and special it felt compared to the other yarn I used up to that point. I have been kind of hoarding it ever since, because even though indie-dyed sock yarns (from this very company, even!) have become a staple of my knitting, there’s something about the early skeins that feels extra-special. Combining it with a long-desired pattern was the perfect match, and I’m happy to say that neither one disappointed.
Dawlish is a quintessential Rachel Coopey pattern. The design across the two socks is mirrored, which means you’re not quite knitting the exact same sock twice in a row. Also, the charts are each a 40-row, 15-stitch repeat, so within the same sock you’re not actually knitting the same repeats over and over again, though there’s enough repetition that it does become intuitive. The pattern is nice and stretch, which isn’t always the case with travelling cables, but there’s lots of ribbing integrated throughout the pattern to ensure a good fit.
Details
Pattern: Dawlish by Rachel Coopey
Yarn: Indigodragonfly Merino Sock in Tiny Bloodsucking Dancer
Needles: 2.5mm
Notes: I swapped out the heel in the pattern for an eye-of-partridge heel. Other than that, I knit exactly as written! Ravelled here.
I have plans to knit both Calamint and Brighton this year, and I am itching to buy her new book as well. Maybe one more pattern from the first book and then I’ll treat myself.
Pans & Needles 
Those are definitely lovely! Fab socks, as always!
Thank you!
I haven’t yet knit any of her socks but I have admired them. These are lovely and bright!
So gorgeous! I’m a big admirer of her patterns but I haven’t knit any of her patterns for myself yet! I’m so glad your special skein of yarn went to such a beautiful pattern. They matched up perfectly.
Thank you! I have designers like that too: I love all their patterns but never get around to knitting one. Kate Davies is no. 1 on that list, actually, but I’m about to cast on for Epistrophy from her new book, and I am excited to finally have one of her patterns on my needles.
Yes! Kate Davies has so much fair isle goodness in her patterns! Your Epistrophy is going to be gorgeous. I can’t wait to see progress pics!
I love the color in that yarn-no wonder you’ve been saving it! I’ve been eying the Dawlish pattern for a while. Well done!
I have been on such a red-kick lately, and this is just such a perfect one. I’m feeling pretty lucky that holding onto this yarn worked out so well!
Another beautifully executed sock!
Thank you!
Beautiful socks! I love the design and the colour…so pretty!
Terrific socks. Love the bold colour. Rachael is a fun, sock designer. I have her vampire eBook of sock designs. I need to make a dent into that.
I find her patterns totally addicting. There’s something about the long repeats that sucks me right in.