Knitted pike socks: Keep a fisherman’s toes (and heart) warm!

Size: EU 42.

Materials for the pike socks

Stitch patterns

How to knit the pike socks

1. Cast on 98 sts with the khaki yarn onto double-pointed needles and divide them evenly among four needles: 25, 25, 24, and 24 sts. The start of the round is between needles I and IV, on the left side of the foot. First, purl 1 round in the round. Continue in stockinette and begin the increases.

Increase round: *k1 at the beginning of the needle, make a yarn over, knit the remaining sts, then knit the sts on the next needle until 1 st remains, make a yarn over and k1*, repeat from * to * once. You increased 4 sts on this round for a total of 102 sts.

Plain round: knit the sts and knit the yarn overs through their back loops.

Knit the increase and plain rounds once more for a total of 106 sts. Then continue as before to increase every other round (that is, alternate an increase round with a plain round) and also begin the decreases. You will work both the increases and decreases on the same rounds.

First work the round that decreases 4 sts: *knit until 3 sts remain on the needle, work an skp decrease (= slip 1 st knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over), k1. On the next needle, k1, k2 sts together, and knit to the end of the needle*, repeat from * to * once.

Then work the round that decreases 8 sts: *knit until 3 sts remain on the needle, work an skp decrease, k1. On the next needle, k1 and k2 sts together. Turn work. Slip 1 st, p1, then on the next needle p1 and purl the next 2 sts together through the back loop. Turn work.

Slip 1 st, k1, k1 on the next needle, then knit the next 2 sts together, and knit to the end of the needle*, repeat from * to * once.

Continue knitting as follows:

1st round: work an increase round + 4-st decrease round. You still have 106 sts after this round.

2nd round: work a plain round plus + 8-st decrease round. You decreased 8 sts on this round and now have 98 sts.

3rd round: work an increase round + 8-st decrease round. You decreased 4 sts on this round and now have 94 sts.

4th round: work a plain round plus + 8-st decrease round. You decreased 8 sts on this round and now have 86 sts.

5th round: work an increase round + 8-st decrease round. You decreased 4 sts on this round and now have 82 sts.

6th round: work a plain round plus + 4-st decrease round. You decreased 4 sts on this round and now have 78 sts.

7th round: work an increase round + 4-st decrease round. You still have 78 sts.

8th round: work a plain round plus + 4-st decrease round. You decreased 4 sts on this round and now have 74 sts.

9th round: work an increase round + 4-st decrease round. You still have 74 sts.

10th round: work a plain round + 4-st decrease round. You decreased 4 sts on this round and now have 70 sts (18, 18, 17, and 17).

Now, continue working increases and decreases on the same round every other round, and work the decreases according to the 4-st decrease instructions.

Repeat the 8-st decrease round 3 more times (4 times in total) and repeat the 4-st decrease round 5 more times. You now have 70 sts, 18, 18, 17 and 17.

Then, continue working increases and decreases every other round, and work the decreases according to the 4-st decrease instructions.

2. When the leg measures about 17 cm, it’s time to begin knitting the heel. First, k18 on needle I and k18 on needle II. Next, take an extra sock needle and cast on 24 sts. Set aside the sts on needles III and IV; the heel is knitted using only the sts on needles I and II plus the sts on the extra needle.

After casting on the sts, continue knitting with the yarn held double (khaki + Venla) on needle I as follows: at the start of needle I, k2 together, and when there are 3 sts left on the needle, work an skp decrease and k1. At the start of needle II, k1, k2 together, and skp at the end of the needle. In total, 2 sts were decreased on needles I and II (= 16 sts). Knit 1 plain row: k24 on the extra needle, k16 on needle I, and k16 on needle II = 56 sts. Knit 1 plain row: k24 on the extra needle, k16 on needle I, and k16 on needle II = 56 sts.

Continue working the heel decreases as follows:

1st round: At the beginning of the extra needle, k2 together and work an skp decrease at the end of the extra needle. On needle I, knit until 3 sts remain, skp, k1. On needle II, k1, k2 together, and knit the rest. You decreased 4 sts on this round.

2nd round: Knit all sts (no decreases).

3rd round: On the extra needle, k2 together at the beginning and work an skp decrease at the end. On needle I, k2 together at the beginning, and when 3 sts remain, work an skp decrease, k1. On needle II, k1, k2 together, skp at the end. You decreased 6 sts on this round.

4th round: Knit all sts (no decreases).

Repeat rounds 1–4 until 12 sts remain. Break the yarn, thread it through the remaining sts, and pull tight to close the hole.

3. Next, pick up 24 new sts from the ones you cast on for the heel and divide them onto two needles (needles I and II). Pick up 2 sts between needles I and IV and 2 sts between needles II and III, for a total of 62 sts. Work all sts in stockinette in the round. Decrease on more time in the center front (on top of the foot) to bring the total down to 60 sts. Evenly distribute 15 sts on each needle.

4. When the sole measures 22 cm or your little toe is covered, switch to the bark-colored yarn and begin the toe decreases (wedge toe). At the start of needles I and III, k1 and skp, and at the end of needles II and IV, k2 together, then k1. Continue these decreases every other round until 8 sts remain on each needle. Then decrease on every round. When 8 sts total remain, break the yarn, pull it through the sts, and weave in the ends. Knit the other sock the same way.

Finishing your pike socks

Teeth: Attach the white yarn to the lower corner of the jaw with 1 slip st. Crochet *3 slip sts in the back loop of the st, then chain 3 and make 1 slip st in the second chain from the hook, plus 1 more slip st in the next chain*, repeat from * to * around the pike’s jaw. Work more slip sts in the lower corners of the jaw.

Fins: Cast on 10 sts with the bark-colored yarn and work k1, p1 ribbing. When the piece is 4 cm high, decrease 1 st at each edge every other row until 4 sts remain. Knit these sts together and break the yarn. Knit the second fin in the same way. Attach the fins to the sock leg on the belly side of the pike, about 5 cm from the corner of the jaw.

Eyes: With black yarn, embroider round eyes for the pike near the lower corner of the jaw, halfway between the decreases and increases.

Embroidering the belly: If you’d like, you can reinforce the soles of the socks. Embroider the sole by duplicating the sts with the white Venla yarn, leaving some sts unembroidered here and there to give the pike a mottled belly.

Spots on the back: With the bark-colored yarn, embroider small spots along the pike’s back by duplicating the sts.

Your pike socks are ready!

Pattern inquiries: @novita.fi. Yarn inquiries: novita.lankapalvelu@novita.fi or www.novitaknits.com