The Necklace socks may look challenging but are surprisingly beginner-friendly—knit yours with this pattern
Finnish knitwear designer Mia Sumell’s knee-high Kääty (“Necklace”) socks truly live up to their name as an elegant and sophisticated accessory. Though the two-color colorwork can be time-consuming, even inexperienced colorwork knitters can follow this pattern. The stunning result is well worth the effort.
Size: EU 38–39.
Necklace socks: materials
- Novita 7 Brothers yarn, 110 g in yellow (contrast color), and 120 g in white (main color), or a similar yarn with a weight of 50 g/100 m
- 3 mm (US 2.5) double-pointed needles.
Gauge: 24 stitches and 28 rows per 10 cm.
Here’s how to knit the Kääty socks
Cast on 70 sts with the white yarn, divide them onto four needles, and join to work in the round.
Work Chart 1.
Work Chart 2, noting the increases on the first round. Divide the stitches 20/20/20/19. On round 60, redistribute them 14/14/14/13.
After finishing Chart 2, break the white yarn and start the heel with yellow. Knit the sts from needle 1 onto needle 4. Turn work and purl 27 sts.
Turn work again and work the heel following Chart 3.
The heel chart is worked flat. The turning point is marked by a red vertical line. You can also follow these written instructions:
The heel flap is worked over 27 sts in a crisscross reinforced stitch. Always knit the 2 edge sts at each side.
Row 1 (right side): K2, *slip 1, K1*, repeat *–* until 2 sts remain. Knit the final two sts. Turn work.
Row 2 (wrong side): K2, P23, K2. Turn work.
Row 3 (right side): K2, *K1, slip 1*, repeat *–* until 2 sts remain. Knit the last two sts. Turn work.
Row 4 (wrong side): K2, P23, K2. Turn work.
Repeat these four rows until the heel flap is 26 rows long and you have just worked a wrong-side row. Begin turning the heel by knitting 9 sts. Continue the reinforced pattern for another 8 sts and work an SSK. Turn work.
Slip 1 purlwise and P7. Purl the next two sts together and turn work. Slip 1, continue the reinforced stitch for 7 sts, and work an SSK. Turn work. Slip 1 purlwise and purl 7 sts. Purl the next two sts together and turn work. Continue the heel turn decreases in this manner until you have decreased all the side sts and only the center 9 sts remain.
Knit the foot in the following way: After finishing Chart 3, pick up 14 sts along each side. K3, then knit the next two sts together. Now the beginning of the round is at the sole of the sock, and you have 64 sts on your needles. Divide them 16/16/16/16.
Work Chart 4. After finishing the chart, you’ll have 50 sts on your needles. Continue with white until your little toe is covered. Then divide the sts 13/12/13/12.
When your little toe is covered, work the decreases as follows on every other round: At the end of needles 1 and 3, knit the third-to-last and second-to-last sts together. Knit the last st. At the start of needles 2 and 4, K1 and then work an SSK.
Once you have 8/7/8/7 sts remaining, continue decreasing on every round. When you have 5/4/5/4 sts left, break the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Fasten off.
Tip!
You can also replace the 7 Brothers yarn with a similar yarn, such as Kaupunkilanka’s Kivijalka, which works well for this pattern.
For pattern inquiries, contact Mia Sumell on Instagram @sullavikat or sullavikat.com
