Jacquard Knit Socks - Merino Wool - Gotland (Adults 38-45)

*New! Snuggly Merino wool socks for winter, knitted in patterns inspired by traditional Swedish motifs.

Gorgeous fine merino socks made in Sweden by Öjbro Vantfabrik. Knit with reinforced heel & toe for extra strength, and dyed in subtle natural colours. Wonderfully cosy for home, work, or out and about.

Öjbro Vantfabrik is dedicated to preserving and sharing Swedish knitting heritage. Each pair of beautiful jacquard knit socks features a design drawn from traditional patterns and personal stories.

The Gotland design shows Gotland Russ horses galloping with their herd on Lojsta Moor and is dyed in traditional colours. This pattern is also available in lovely kneehigh socks and cosy mittens. See below to read the Gotland story.

*Buy a pair of adults' socks, get 20% off our Sock Darner's Kit. A wonderful gift for sock lovers, wool lovers and Zero Wasters everywhere!  Learn the age old art of darning your socks.

Colours: Gotland Brown, Gotland Chalk, Gotland Grey

Sizes: EU38/41, EU42/45

About the fit: Öjbro socks are jacquard-knitted: this is stranded colourwork characterised by floats on the inside which carry the coloured yarns and create such intricate patterns. This means each pair gets its own little personality. It also changes the thickness of the sock, and affects the fit. Some socks fit a bit slimmer, others a bit more “hug-friendly.” Wondering about the fit? See below:

Fit advice:

• SLIM - fits like a gentle little foot hug. Patterns: Futhark, Lycksele
• MED - the sweet-spot fit for most feet. Patterns: Ekshärad, Fästfolk, Gotland, Kören, Yggdrasil
• GENEROUS - for those who like a bit of extra wiggle room for their toes. Patterns: Dalarna, Haga, Skaftö, Skogen.

How to put them on:
Because jacquard socks have floats on the inside, we recommend you put your socks on like your mum used to do for you when you were a child. Bunch them up to the toe, put your foot in place and then unravel the rest of the sock up your leg. Don’t try to just shove your whole foot in from the cuff as your toes might catch some of the floats!!

Brand: Öjbro Vantfabrik
Designed in: Sweden
Origin of Fibre: Italy
Country of manufacture: Sweden
Fabric structure: Knitted from Merino wool with Lycra, reinforced in toe and heel with Polyamide (80% Merino - mulesing free, 5% Lycra, 15% Polyamide)
100% biodegradable: No
Machine Washable: Yes (see our guide to washing wool)

Care: Handwash using a gentle wool shampoo recommended for best results. To machine wash, choose a cold wool cycle, skipping the spin cycle. Dry flat on a towel, gently reshaping while wet. Do not tumble dry. Wool feels comfortable and dry, even when you sweat. It can absorb a lot of moisture (up to 33% of its dry weight). Air between uses, wash only when required. 

The story of the Gotland pattern:Gotland has been home to wild horses since ancient times. The Gotland Russ is one of Sweden’s oldest pony breeds and the country’s only native horse. They still live free on Lojsta Moor.

The history of the Gotland Russ is both mythical and fascinating. Findings from the Stone Age show that ponies have existed on Gotland for over 5,000 years. Thanks to the dedication of the local population, the Russ continue to live as they have for millennia, roaming the forested moors of Gotland.

In the words of designer Åse Öjbro, founder of Öjbro Vantfabrik: "With this pattern, I wanted to capture the feeling of fellowship with horses and our shared history—our beloved, strong, and hardy Gotland Russ. Gotlanders call them "skogsbaggar." I visited Gotland as a child and still remember the awe-inspiring Russ and the stories of their long history. Today, one herd remains on Lojsta Moor, a 650-hectare area where the Russ live year-round in the open."