Festive colorwork socks: the perfect leftover-yarn project

Size: EU 39.

Tip tap socks: supplies

How to knit the Festive colorwork socks

Cable rib

1. The cuff is worked flat. Cast on 18 sts in your desired color (here we have used white) and begin the cable:

Row 1: *k3, p2, k8, p2, k3.

Row 2: k5, p8, k5.*

Repeat *–* four times, and on row 9, work the first cable twist:

Row 9: k3, p2, slip 4 sts onto a cable needle at the back of your work, knit the next 4 sts, then knit the sts on the cable needle, p2, k3. Place a marker on the first st of the row and at the start of each cable-twist row.

Continue with row 2 on the wrong side, then repeat *–* four times before the next cable twist. In total, work 10 cable twists, each on every 10th row.

2. After the final cable twist, join the cuff into a ring on the wrong side by binding off all sts, except for the last one, through the cast-on sts. Turn the ring right-side out and pick up 69 sts along the cuff edge. The stitch markers placed every 10th row will make this easier: pick up 6 sts before the first marker, then always pick up 7 sts between each pair of markers.

Leg

1. Work the first round in green (70 sts) in the round. Note! Begin the colorwork at the upper-left corner of the chart.

After the forest motif, work a Latvian braid [in Finnish] (a twisted stripe) in white and red:

Row 1: *p1 in white, p1 in red* with the resting yarn in front instead of at the back of the work, and each time you work a new st, twist the yarn around the previous yarn in the same way each time you switch.

Repeat *–* until the end of the row. Remember to always twist the yarns before each new stitch.

Row 2: Knit all sts in white.

2. Work 12 rounds of lace as shown in the pattern.

Heel

1. The heel is a short-row heel over 24 sts (on needles 1 and 4). On the final row, continue the lace pattern on needle 1 (decreasing 1 st), then distribute the sts evenly so the center back lies between needles 1 and 4, and begin the heel on the wrong side of needle 1, in your desired color:

2. The key to a short-row heel is keeping the slipped st tight, so you don’t get holes in your work. You can find video tutorials about this technique on YouTube.

On the wrong side of needle 1, slip the first st purlwise and pull the yarn tight until it looks like you have a double stitch on the right needle. Purl the remaining sts on needles 1 and 4, then turn your work.

3. On the right side, slip the first st purlwise and as before, pull it tight so it appears as a double st. Knit all sts, except for the st that looks like a double st from the previous row. Turn.

4. Again, slip the first st purlwise and pull tight so it looks like a double st. Purl all remaining sts except for the st that looks like a double st from the previous row.

5. Keep going like this, always slipping the first st purlwise and pulling it tight, knitting or purling the rest normally, except for the slipped sts from previous rows. Each row you’ll have fewer sts to work. Continue these short rows until there are 8 sts in the center. The heel should now look triangular.

6. Knit one round across all needles (including needles 2 and 3). Work a double st as one st. After this round, you’re back at the beginning of the round, between needles 4 and 1.

7. Start the short-row heel increases. On the right side, knit the center heel sts on needle 1 plus one double st from two rows earlier, then turn.

8. On the wrong side, slip the first st purlwise, pull the yarn tight, purl the center heel sts plus one double st from two rows earlier, then turn.

9. Keep going like this (knitting any double st as one st) until you’re again on a wrong side row and slip the first st of needle 1 purlwise. Purl the remaining sts, then turn.

10. Slip the first st on needle 4, pull it tight, and knit the sts on needle 4. The heel is now finished.

Foot

1. Knit the foot in a 1+1 vertical stripe pattern with two colors. For example, *1 st in white, 1 st in lilac*. Repeat *–* to the end of the round. In our sample socks, each color combo is used for eight rounds before both yarns are switched. You can also use smaller leftover balls if you like.

2. When the sock reaches your little toe, work a wide wedge toe:

Work a wide wedge toe by decreasing at the end of needles 1 and 3, knitting the third-to-last and second-to-last sts together, and at the beginning of needles 2 and 4 with an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over knit st).

Do these decreases every other round until you have half the sts you started with. Then decrease every round. When 8 sts remain, pull the yarn through them.

3. Knit the second sock the same way. Finally, weave in all ends and lightly steam your socks.