https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/knee-high-socks • Posted by Jeanette Trotman
These knee-high socks are worked from the top down in a cashmere / cotton blend yarn that gives them both softness and strength. The soft yarn is subtly enhanced with a pretty butterfly pattern.
Measurements
Length from heel to toe: 23cm (9in)
Length from top to heel: 35.5cm (14in)
Yarn
4ply yarn (35% cotton, 25% polyamide, 18% angora, 13% viscose, 9% cashmere, approx. 180m/197yds per 50g/2oz ball) x 4 balls (lilac)
Small amount of yarn in a contrasting colour for grafting the toes.
Needles
Four 2.5mm double-pointed needles OR one 80cm (32in) long 2.5mm circular needles.
Abbreviations
dpn(s) - double-pointed needles; k - knit; k1f&b - knit into front and back of same stitch; p - purl; RS - right side; sl - slip stitch from left needle to right needle without working it; st(s) - stitch(es); tbl - through back of loop; tog - together; yb - take yarn between needles to back of work; yf - bring yarn between needles to front of work; WS - wrong side
Pattern note
This pattern includes instructions for making the socks using either double-pointed needles or the magic loop technique with a circular needle. Choose whichever method you prefer.
Shaping the leg
There is no shaping on the leg section of these socks so that they will stretch more tightly around the calf to help them stay up. However, if you have large calves or would simply prefer to shape the legs, knit the first third of the leg on needles two sizes larger than that specified in the pattern - that is, 3.5mm - then change to needles one size larger - that is, 3mm - for the next third. Complete the final third of the leg using the correct needle size, that is, 2.5mm. Measure your leg circumference below the knee, at the calf and at the ankle. Knit some test tension swatches with the different needle sizes, and adjust as necessary to obtain a good fit, remembering that the socks need to stretch around the legs to stay up.
Knitting the socks (make 2) Using 2.5mm dpns, cast on 70 sts and divide as evenly as possible onto three dpns; or using a 2.5mm circular needle, cast on 70 sts and divide evenly into two sets of stitches.
Using dpns: Cast on 70 sts and divide them as evenly as possible onto three dpns - that is, 23 sts each on two dpns and 24 sts on the third dpn.
Using circular needle: Cast on 70 sts and pull the cord through between the centre two stitches Slide one half of the stitches onto the left needle tip and leave the other half on the cord.
Round 1: (k1, p1) to end. Repeat round 1 until top rib measures 3cm (1 1/4 in), increasing by k1f&b at end of last round (71 sts).
Leg Begin working in butterfly texture as follows. Round 1: k2, *(yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k12, repeat from * to last 9 sts, (yf, sl, 3, yb, k1) twice, k1. Round 2: Knit. Round 3-6: Repeat rounds 1-2 twice. Round 7-10: Knit.
Using dpns or circular needle: Work the butterfly texture by bringing the yarn to the front, slipping 3 sts and then taking the yarn to the back again.
Using dpns or circular needle: Alternate the row of butterfly texture with rows of knit to built up the pattern.
Round 11: *k12, (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, repeat from * to last 11 sts, knit to end. Round 12: knit. Round 13-16: repeat rounds 11-12 twice. Round 17-20: knit. Round 21-140: work in pattern as set by rounds 1-20 until another siz repeats have been completed. Round 141-150: repeat rounds 1-10 once.
Heel flap Knit the next 9 sts round, then turn. Purl back across the next 18 sts, then turn. If you are working on a circular needle, you will probably need to move sts along the needle and pull cord through between different sts in order to continue working in rows. Beginning with a knit row, work backwards and forwards in stocking stitch until heel flap is as long as it is wide (about 32 rows), ending with RS facing.
Heel turn Row 1: k12, turn. Row 2: p7, turn. Row 3: k6, k2tog, k1, turn. Row 4: p7, p2tog, p1, turn. Row 5: k8, k2tog, k1, turn. Row 6: p9, p2tog, p1, turn. Row 7: k10, k2tog, k1, turn. Row 8: p11, p2tog, turn (12 sts).
Gusset Knit 12 sts across heel flap, pick up and knit 10 sts down left side of heel (work into the back of the sts to eliminate any holes that may occur), place marker, k3, *(yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k12, repeat from * once, then (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k2, place marker, pick up and knit 10 sts up right side of heel flap (work into back of sts as before). Knit to centre of heel (85 sts). If using dpns, arrange sts over 3 dpns as evenly as possible. If using a circular needle, slide all the sts down onto cord, find centre 2 sts and pull cord through between them to divide sts into 2 sets. With both techniques, the beginning of the round will now be at the centre of the heel.
Using dpns: Rearrange the stitches on the needles to start working the gusset and foot. The start of the round should now be at the centre of the heel.
Using circular needle: Divide the stitches evenly onto the two needles, with start of round at centre of heel. Pull the right needle through to work the next round.
Round 1: Knit to within 2 sts of marker, k2tog, slip marker, knit to next marker, slip marker, k2tog tbl, knit to end (83 sts). Round 2: Knit to marker, slip marker, k3, * (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k12, repeat from * once, then (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k3, slip marker, knit to end. Round 3: As round 1 (81 sts). Round 4-5: Repeat rounds 2-3 once (79 sts). Round 6: Knit all sts, slipping markers as you come to them. Round 7: As round 1 (77 sts). Round 8: As round 6. Round 9: As round 1 (75 sts). Round 10: Knit to marker, slip marker, k13, *(yf, sl 3,yb, k1) twice, k12, repeat from * once, slip marker, knit to end. Round 11: As round 1 (73 sts). Round 12: As round 10. Round 13: As round 1 (71 sts). Round 14: As round 10. Round 15: As round 1 (69 sts). Round 16: As round 6. Round 17: As round 1 (67 sts). Round 18: As round 6. Round 19: As round 1 (65 sts).
Foot Continue working without decreasing any more sts. With beginning of round at centre base of foot, place butterfly texture as follows. Row 1: K9, * (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k12, repeat from * once then (yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, knit to end. Row 2: Knit. Row 3 - 6: Repeat rounds 1-2 twice. Row 7 - 10: Knit. Row 11: K19, [(yf, sl 3, yb, k1) twice, k12] twice, knit to end. Row 12: Knit. Row 13 - 16: Repeat rounds 11-12 twice. Row 17 - 20: Knit. Continue in pattern as set by rounds 1-20 until foot measures 16cm (6 1/4in) from end of heel, decreasing one stitch in last round (64 sts).
Toe If using dpns, knit the first 16 sts of next round. If using a circular needle, knit the first 16 sts of next round, then slide all sts down onto cord and divide so there are 32 sts on each side. Pull cord between centre 2 sts. For both dpns and circular needle, the beginning of the round should now be at the side of the toe.
Using dpns: Knit the first 16 sts of the next round to get the stitches onto the correct dpns for shaping the toe. The start of the round is now at the side of the toe.
Using circular needle: Knit the first 16 sts of next round, then divide the stitches so there are 32 sts in each half. Pull the cord through, ready to shape the toe.
Continue working in rounds, shaping the toe as follows. Round 1: (K2tog tbl, k28, k2tog) twice (60 sts). Round 2: Knit. Round 3: (K2tog tbl, k26, k2tog) twice (56 sts). Round 4: Knit. Round 5: (K2tog tbl, k24, k2tog) twice (52 sts). Round 6: Knit. Round 7: (K2tog tbl, k22, k2tog) twice (48 sts). Round 8: Knit. Round 9: (K2tog tbl, k20, k2tog) twice (44 sts). Round 10: (K2tog tbl, k18, k2tog) twice (40 sts). Round 11: (K2tog tbl, k16, k2tog) twice (36 sts). Round 12: (K2tog tbl, k14, k2tog) twice (32 sts). Round 13: (K2tog tbl, k12, k2tog) twice (28 sts). Round 14: (K2tog tbl, k10, k2tog) twice (24 sts). Break off yarn and join in contrast coloured yarn. Knit in rounds of this yarn for about 3cm (1 1/4in). This forms a 'chimney' to make grafting the toe easier.
Finishing Sew in any loose ends to WS on all pieces, then block and steam gently. Graft the toes, then remove the chimney.