Cycles of Growth: Designing the Luna Knit to Give Sock

We all win when unconditional love is at the helm! Darn Tough’s Knit to Give (KTG) program was born out of this idea and is what inspired me to enter my first employee sock design contest in 2022 and what continues to be close to my heart, inspiring me daily to give back in small and big ways. This year I’m honored to share the 2026 KTG Luna sock design and my inspiration behind the design.

The KTG program began with the idea of knitting socks with a purpose, where profits directly supported the Vermont Foodbank, unconditionally helping to combat food insecurity in our Vermont communities. The initiative has grown significantly, with over 1.5 million meals donated to those in need.

We value differences and this has expanded KTG into partnering with programs like Come Alive Outside, High Fives Foundation, and trail conservation organizations like the PCTA, ACT and CDTC. The KTG program also touches on sustainability; we’ve knit many of our KTG socks with overstock yarn. Overstock yarn is Merino Wool that is set to be downcycled, and this program was one way we gave that yarn new life.

The Design

The Luna sock design began with the idea of storytelling and the quiet poetry of cycles… cycles of growth, repair, and transformation seen through pattern and symbolism. This sock design brings together luna moths, lunar phases, and Sashiko (Japanese mending stitch) motifs to reflect the traditions and rhythms that shape both nature and our community connections. Transformation is a process of repair, and healing happens in cycles.

The Story

The luna moth represents the protagonist or messenger of the story. A luna moth lives briefly, fleeting and luminous; a symbol of change, intuition, and second chances. I’m lucky to have seen two in my lifetime. In the story, they represent a connection to nature and spirituality, symbolizing the natural, seasonal, and emotional cycles of life.

The moon phases represent the structure of the story or the timekeeper of rhythm and change… centering around the idea that nothing stays static and change is inevitable. Creatively, moon phases often signal process: growth, rest, release, renewal. When paired with moths, it gives the story a theme of guidance through darkness. This is symbolic for a world that needs healing right now, as we are shedding and renewing on a larger scale.

The moon's journey from dark (new moon/waning) to light (full moon/waxing) reflects the "ebb and flow of life," mirroring, for example, how deciduous trees (where luna moths live) go through seasons of dormancy, budding, and leaf-shedding. The moon phases offer a cyclical guide for balancing self-care with kindness, generosity, and giving back.

The Sashiko embroidery stitches represent the anchor of the story. Traditionally Sashiko started in Japan and was about repair, resilience, and care. It was born from the act of visible mending, honoring craft as an act of care and a way to strengthen what already exists rather than discard it. It is a gentle act of community… a shared experience where family and community members would work together.

Symbolically it carries ideas of tradition and mindfulness. Visually it adds structure and rhythm that contrasts with the organic moth and moon imagery. Sashiko transforms the act of patching a hole into an artistic mending and loving gesture for yourself and your community.

The Message

Giving back is who we are here. As “one family,” when we all work together, we all win! My hope is that this sock will continue to bring awareness to the incredible Knit to Give program, and that it will inspire you to find small and big ways to be kind (to yourself and others), as well as connect and give back to those in need in your immediate family and in your larger community family.

This is the story… we are stronger together. This is what inspires and creates a ripple effect in our communities and beyond. The ripple effect is powerful and transformative. It takes a little bit of magic, a common thread, and unconditional love to keep the cycles of transformation and renewal moving forward with kindness for the greater good.

The Connection

While we don’t always see it, food insecurity is all around us – in every community in America. According to Feeding America, one in eight Vermonters (and one in seven Vermont children) face hunger. Our KTG socks have helped us donate millions of meals to Vermonters in need through the Vermont Foodbank. And we’re far from finished.

If you want to help, consider buying a KTG sock(s) for yourself, a family member, or a friend, helping to further educate your community about the Vermont Foodbank, and our other non-profit donation programs. You can also find similar organizations in your area at Feeding America.

About the Author

I’m not a professional sock designer at Cabot Hosiery Mills, but I wholeheartedly loved designing the Luna Sock for our KTG program. When I’m not dedicating time to my full-time position at CHM, I live and breathe a creative life with my husband, son and pups … printmaking and designing on ceramics and textiles, vending at local art and community markets, volunteering with animal sanctuaries and therapeutic equine programs, gardening and baking up something delicious to share with friends and family.