Spruce tree socks: the calm of winter captured within wool
The ankle-length Spruce tree socks are the perfect accessory for those cold winter nights. This pattern is great for beginners practicing colorwork, since you mainly knit with one color at a time. The pattern comes in two sizes: women’s and men’s.
Size: EU 38(42).
Spruce tree socks: supplies
- Novita 7 Veljestä yarn in these amounts: 50(slightly under 100) g of juniper (390), 30(50) g of bark (694), 20(30) g of spruce (391), and 30(50) g of sand (060).
- Double-pointed needles 3.5 mm (US 4), or to match your gauge.
Stitch patterns:
- Twisted rib: *k1 through the back loop, p1*, repeat *–*.
- Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rounds.
- Colorwork: work stockinette stitch in the round following the chart and instructions.
Note: Secure yarn floats longer than 4 sts by twisting the yarns around each other on the wrong side. Make the twists in different spots so they don’t pile up on consecutive rounds.
Tip!
You can use the same spruce motif for a hat or mittens. Remember to take into account the 8-stitch repeat.
How to knit the Spruce tree socks:
Cast on 48(52) sts with the bark-colored yarn and divide them onto four needles, 12(13) sts each. The beginning of the round is between needles I and IV. Work twisted rib in the round for 5 cm. Then k 1 rnd in bark, increasing 2(1) sts on each needle at the same time = 56(56) sts total. Take the sand-colored yarn and k 2 rnds.
Join the spruce-colored yarn and start the colorwork from rnd 1 of the chart, repeating the 8-st pattern 7 times. Work rnds 2–10. Then k 2 rnds in sand, decreasing 2(1) sts on each needle on the second rnd = 48(52) sts. Take the juniper-colored yarn and continue in stockinette until the leg measures 12(14) cm.
Begin the heel flap by knitting the sts from needle I onto needle IV [= 24(26) sts]. Leave the other sts on hold. Turn work and work reinforced stitch:
Row 1: (WS) slip 1 with yarn on WS, p remaining sts. Turn.
Row 2: (RS) *slip 1 with yarn on WS, k1*, repeat *–* to end. Turn.
Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 12(13) times [= 24(26) rows].
Work one more WS row, then start the heel turn decreases: continue with the same reinforced st as before. On the RS row of the heel flap, k until 9(9) sts remain. Make an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over), then turn. Slip the first st, p6(8), p2tog, turn. Slip the first st, k until 8(8) sts remain, make an skp decrease. Continue in this manner, decreasing side sts while keeping 8(10) sts in the center. When the side sts are used up, distribute the heel flap sts onto two needles, 4(5) sts each. K the 4(5) right-hand sts. This is now the beginning of the round.
Pick up 12(13) sts along the left edge of the heel flap + 1 st between the heel flap and needle II with a free needle. K the 4(5) heel flap sts and the picked-up sts through the back loop (tbl). Then k sts on needles II and III. Next, pick up 12(13) sts along the right edge + 1 st between needle III and the heel flap with the same needle that has 4(5) sts, k the picked-up sts tbl, then k the 4(5) heel flap sts. You now have 58(64) sts total.
Continue in stockinette stitch and work the gusset decreases: at the end of needle I, k2tog; at the start of needle IV, make an skp dec. Repeat every other rnd until you have 12(13) sts on each needle.
Continue in stockinette stitch until the foot measures 17(19) cm.
Join the sand-colored yarn and begin the colorwork stripe from rnd 11 of the chart, repeating the 4-st pattern 12(13) times. Work rnds 12–14 of the chart.
Then continue with the juniper-colored yarn in stockinette until the foot measures 20(22) cm.
Take the bark-colored yarn and begin shaping the toe with wedge decreases: on needles I and III, k until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1. On needles II and IV, k1, skp, knit to end of needle. Continue these decreases every other rnd until 6(7) sts remain on each needle. Then decrease on every rnd. When 8 sts remain total, break the yarn, pull it through the sts, and weave in the ends.
If you need help with the techniques used in this sock pattern, see these guides:
Pattern inquiries: @novita.fi. Yarn inquiries: www.novita.com
