Floral memories immortalized in socks! The Flower meadow colorwork socks are well worth the effort
The leg of these knee-length colorwork socks is adorned with the loveliest floral motifs. Worked in intarsia, this project requires careful stitch counting, so patience is key when knitting these socks.
Size: EU 38/39.
Flower meadow socks: supplies
- Novita Nalle yarn in (160) Denim, just under 150 g; (011) White, just under 50 g; (549) Christmas red 30 g; (751) Gooseberry 30 g; and a small amount of (285) Saffron
- Novita Muumitalo yarn in (507) Niiskuneiti 20 g, plus a small amount of (381) Nuuskamuikkunen and (291) Nipsu
- Novita Nordic Wool yarn in (337) Moss 20 g
- needles 3.5 mm (US 4) and double-pointed needles 3 mm (US 2.5), or according to your gauge.
Stitch patterns:
- Rib stitch worked flat: work *k2, p2*, repeat from * to *. On the wrong side, knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts.
- Stockinette stitch worked flat: knit all sts on the right side and purl all sts on the wrong side.
- Intarsia: intarsia means that you use a separate ball of yarn for each color area, and twist the different colored yarns around each other on the wrong side at the color boundary so that no holes form.
- Stockinette stitch worked in the round: knit all rounds.
Gauge: 24 sts of colorwork = 10 cm.
Note! The sock leg is knit flat down to the ankle. Work the leg motifs in intarsia and add the small details with duplicate stitches according to the chart.
How to knit the Flower meadow socks:
Cast on 74 sts with Denim onto a long or circular needle and start the rib stitch on the wrong side with 2 p sts. Work the rib stitch flat for 11 rows. Then knit 2 rows of stockinette stitch flat with Denim.
Begin knitting the leg motifs in intarsia from row 1 of the chart and work rows 1–100 of the chart. On rows 41, 49, 57, 65, 73, and 81, decrease 1 st at both the beginning and end of the row. Make these decreases one stitch in from the edge to leave a seam allowance at each edge.
After the decreases, there are 62 sts remaining. Divide the sts onto four needles, placing 16 sts on the first needle, 15 on the second, 15 on the third, and 16 on the fourth. With Denim, work 3 rounds of stockinette in the round and decrease 1 st on each needle at the same time = 58 sts.
Embroider the small details of the motifs with duplicate stitches according to the chart. Begin the heel flap by knitting the sts of needle I onto needle IV with Denim = 30 sts. Leave the remaining sts on hold. Turn the work and purl 1 row.
Work the reinforced stitch pattern:
- Row 1: (right side) *slip 1 st with yarn in back, k1*, repeat from * to * across. Turn work.
- Row 2: (wrong side) slip the first st purlwise, keep yarn on the wrong side, and purl the remaining sts. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 15 times (= 30 rows), then work one more wrong-side row.
Continue the same reinforced stitch pattern as before and begin the heel turn decreases: Knit across the heel flap on the right side until 11 sts remain. Work an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, knit 1 and pass the slipped st over) and turn work. Slip the first st, p8, then purl 2 sts together, turn work. Slip the first st, knit until 10 sts remain, then work an skp decrease.
Continue in this manner so that the side sts decrease steadily, and the center 10 stitches remain. When there are no more side stitches left, divide the heel flap stitches between two needles, 5 sts each. Knit the 5 sts on needle IV so that the yarn is positioned in the middle of the needles.
Pick up 14 sts + 1 st between the heel flap and Needle II along the left edge of the heel flap onto Needle I. Knit the 5 heel flap sts and the picked-up sts through the back loop. Knit the sts on Needles II and III. Then pick up 14 sts + 1 st between Needle III and the heel flap with the needle holding 5 sts. Knit these picked-up sts through the back loop and knit the 5 heel flap sts.
Continue working all 68 sts in stockinette stitch in the round and work the gusset decreases: at the end of Needle I, knit the last 2 sts together, and at the beginning of Needle IV, work an skp decrease. Repeat these decreases on every other round until there are 14 sts left on each needle.
Continue in stockinette stitch until the sole measures about 19 cm or until it covers your little toe.
Begin the wedge decreases: on Needles I and III, knit until there are 3 sts left, knit 2 sts together, then k1. On Needles II and IV, knit the first st, then work an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, knit 1 and pass the slipped st over). Continue these decreases on every other round until each needle has 10 sts left, then decrease on every round. When there are 8 sts left in total, cut the yarn, pull it through the remaining sts, and weave in the ends.
Knit the second sock in the same way.
Finishing
Gently steam the legs. Embroider the missing floral details with duplicate stitches according to the chart. Sew the back seams of the socks. Steam the finished socks lightly.
Pattern inquiries: @novita.fi
Yarn inquiries: novita.lankapalvelu@novita.fi or www.novitaknits.com
