Soft steps, sweetie! These ballerina socks will be danced threadbare

Size: EU 24/25 (26/27).

Ballerina socks: supplies

Stitch patterns:

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 10 cm in stockinette stitch.

How to knit the Ballerina socks:

Cast on 48 sts and divide them onto 4 needles. Work rib stitch for 13 rounds (note: start the rib stitch with p1). Begin the lace stitch.

Round 1: *yo, k1, yo, k1 tbl (= through the back loop), p1, work an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, k1 and pass slipped st over knit st), p1, k1 tbl*, repeat *–* to the end of the round.

Round 2: *k3, k1 tbl, p3, k1 tbl*, repeat *–*.

Round 3: *yo, k3, yo, k1 tbl, p3 together, k1 tbl*, repeat *–*.

Round 4: *k5, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl*, repeat *–*.

Round 5: *yo, k5, yo, skp as in Round 1*, repeat *–*. Rearrange the sts onto 4 needles. Work stockinette stitch for 12 rounds, then begin the leg decreases on both sides of the beginning of the round, within 2 sts, as follows: k2, k2 together, knit until 3 sts remain, k2 together tbl, k1. Repeat these decreases every 6th round 4 more times = 38 sts. Rearrange the sts again (10+9+9+10 sts).

When the leg measures 24(26) cm, switch to black yarn and knit 5 more rounds, then start the heel on Needle 1.

Row 1: *slip 1 purlwise, k1*, repeat *–* to the end of the row.

Row 2: Purl the sts on Needles 1 and 4. Repeat Rows 1–2 until both sides of the heel flap have 10(11) slipped-stitch rows. Distribute the sts onto three needles = 7+7+6 sts. Continue the reinforced stitch and begin the heel turn decreases.

Row 1 (RS): Knit until 1 st remains on the middle needle, skp, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Slip the first st, purl until 1 st remains on the middle needle, then purl that st together with the next st (= p2 together), turn.

Repeat Rows 1–2 until all side sts have been decreased. Pick up 10(11) sts along each edge of the heel flap. Also distribute the 8 heel sts onto these two needles = 14(15) sts. Work stockinette stitch flat, decreasing at both edges on RS rows within 2 sts as follows: slip the first st, k1, k2 together tbl, knit until 3 sts remain, k2 together, k2. On WS rows, purl all sts, but always slip the first st purlwise. First, repeat these decreases 2 times on every other RS row. After that, decrease on every fourth row until you have 18(20) sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until the foot measures 12(13) cm from the heel, or until you reach the base of the little toe. Then count the stockinette rows and leave the yarn and sts on hold.

Knit the top of the foot (= 18 sts) in the same way with the pink yarn, but without any decreases. Once you have the same number of rows as in the black stockinette section, break the yarn.

Knit the toe section of the sock with black yarn. Distribute all sts onto 4 needles again (the round begins at the middle of the sole). Knit 1 cm of stockinette in the round, decreasing 1 st at the center of Needles 1 and 4 on Round 1 = 36 sts.

Then begin shaping the toe with wedge decreases. Decrease at the end of Needles 1 and 3 within 1 st by knitting 2 sts together, then k1. At the beginning of Needles 2 and 4, k1, then k2 together tbl. Knit 3 rounds and repeat the decreases. Knit 2 rounds and repeat the decreases again. Then decrease on every second row and pull the yarn through the last 8 sts.

Finishing

Using black yarn, sew the open side edge stitches together with a mattress stitch, always passing the needle through both edges. Weave in the ends. Your ballerina socks are ready!