This leafy pattern was inspired by the jasmine vines growing along the fence in our backyard. Although the fragrant blooms are long gone, the vines stay lush and green throughout the Texas winter.
These socks are a bit on the tricky side. The pattern is entirely charted and the stitch count changes as you work the leaves. If you’re up for a challenge, hopefully these socks will be just the thing to cure those winter blues!
Sizes
Small (Medium, Large). Shown in size Large.
Actual size: 7.1″ (7.5″, 8″) circumference.
To fit: 7.75″ (8.25″, 8.75″) foot circumference.
Yarn
Zen Yarn Garden Gemilicious Fingering (100% merino wool, 370 yards [338 meters] / 100g skein): Color Foliage, 1 skein all sizes.
Needles
Size US #1 (1.5, 2): set of 5 DPN.
Gauge
9 (8.5, 8) sts = 1” in St st.
I suggest using a thinner sock yarn (for example, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock) for the Small size, as 9 stitches per inch is a very dense gauge for the Gemilicious yarn.
Notions
2 stitch markers; 1 stitch marker of another color to mark beginning of round; cable needle; tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
Please see our standard list of abbreviations.
C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front. K2 from left needle. k2 from cable needle.
C4B: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back. K2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.
Cuff Chart
Leg Chart
Heel Chart
Instep Chart
Cuff
CO 66 sts. Join in the rnd, being careful not to twist. Place the beg of rnd stitch marker at the join.
Set up rnd: *P1, [k2, p2] twice, k4, [p2, k2] twice, p1, repeat from * to end.
Cuff Pattern
Rnds 1-3: *P1, [k2, p2] twice, k4, [p2, k2] twice, p1, repeat from * to end
Rnd 4: *P1, [k2, p2] twice, C4F, [p2, k2] twice, p1, repeat from * to end
Repeat Rnds 1-4 of the Cuff Pattern once more, then repeat Rnds 1-3 once.
Work Rnds 1-7 of the Cuff Chart.
Leg
Work Rnds 6-20 of the Leg Chart, repeating each chart row three times per rnd.
Work Rnds 1-20 of the Leg Chart, repeating each chart row three times per rnd
Work Rnds 1-19 of the Leg Chart, repeating each chart row three times per rnd. Work Rnd 20 of the Leg Chart, stopping 5 stitches before the beg of rnd.
Heel Flap
You will work the heel flap back and forth over the next 32 sts (5 from the end of the rnd and 27 from the beg of the rnd). Remove the beg of rnd stitch marker when you encounter it.
Work Rows 1-22 of the Heel Chart.
Work Rows 19-22 of the Heel Chart twice. There will be 30 rows total in the heel flap.
Turn Heel
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k18 sts, ssk, k1, turn
Row 2 (WS): Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 3: Sl1, k8, ssk, k1, turn
Row 4: Sl1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 5: Sl1, k10, ssk, k1, turn
Row 6: Sl1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 7: Sl1, k12, ssk, k1, turn
Row 8: Sl1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 9: Sl1, k14, ssk, k1, turn
Row 10: Sl1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 11: Sl1, k16, ssk, k1, turn
Row 12: Sl1, p17, p2tog, p1, turn
Knit across 10 heel sts. Place the beg of rnd stitch marker.
Gussets
K across the 10 remaining heel sts. Pick up and knit 15 sts along heel flap, one for each slipped st. PM. Pick up and twist the bar between the gusset and instep sts and place it on the left needle, k2tog.
Work the Instep Chart row 1, stitch 2 through 33.
Slip the next st from the left to the right needle. Pick up and twist the bar between the gusset and instep sts and place on the left needle. Slip the st from right to left needle, ssk. PM. Pick up and knit 15 stitches along the heel flap.
You now have 20 heel sts, 15 sts in each gusset, and 34 instep sts – 84 sts total.
Rnd 1: K to marker, SM. Work instep stitches using the Instep Chart, SM. Knit to beg of rnd.
Rnd 2: K to two sts before marker. K2tog, SM, work instep stitches using the Instep Chart, SM, ssk. Knit to beg of rnd.
Rep these two rnds until you have 30 stockinette sole sts.
Foot
Knit to marker, SM, work instep stitches using the Instep Chart, SM, knit to beg of rnd.
Repeat until sock is two inches shorter than the desired foot length.
Toe
If you just worked Instep Chart rnd 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, or 20, work the following rnd:
Setup Rnd: Knit to marker, RM, k1, PM, k1, ssk, knit to one st bef marker, PM, k1, RM, knit to beg of rnd.
If you just worked Instep Chart rnd 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 16, or 17, work the following rnd:
Setup Rnd: Knit to marker, RM, k1, PM, k1, ssk, knit to four sts bef marker, k2tog, k1, PM, k1, RM, knit to beg of rnd.
If you just worked Instep Chart rnd 6 or 7, work the following rnd:
Setup Rnd: Knit to marker, RM, k2, PM, knit to two sts bef marker, PM, k2, RM, knit to beg of rnd.
If you just worked Instep Chart rnd 1, 2, 11, or 12, work the following rnd:
Rnd 1: Knit to marker, RM, k1, PM, knit to one st bef marker, PM, k1, RM, knit to beg of rnd.
There are 64 sts on the needles, 32 sts between the markers on both sides of the sock.
Rnd 1: [K to three sts bef marker, k2tog, k1, SM, k1, ssk] twice, knit to beg of rnd
Rnd 2: K
Repeat until 28 sts rem, then work Rnd 1 twice.
Cut yarn and graft the top 10 stitches to the bottom 10 using Kitchener stitch.
Finishing
Weave in ends, block, and enjoy!
About the Designer: Kelly Porpiglia
Kelly is a computer scientist by day, knitter by night. She is dreaming of cooler days so that she can finally wear all of her handknit socks!
Pattern and images © 2008 Kelly Porpiglia.
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