Nightowl Socks

A beautiful old German stitch pattern inspired me to create these toe up socks. The pattern is much easier to knit than it looks.

Give it a try in a solid, slightly-variegated or self-striping yarn with long color repeats!

Thanks to Patricia for knitting the sample!

Size

Size	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
Inch	6.2	6.8	7.4	8	8.6	9.2	9.8	10.4
cm	15.7	17.3	18.8	20.3	21.9	23.4	24.9	26.5

To be worn with 10-20 % negative ease.

Yarn

Valley Yarns Huntington (75% Superwash Merino Wool/25% Nylon; 218 yards [200 meters]/50 grams): 1 (1*, 2, 2), 2 (2, 2, 3) balls Bluestone

* I used 1 ball in this size but my feet are short. I believe that I would have needed a second one for most feet.

Thanks to Webs for donating the yarn for Nightowl!

Needles

Size US 0 (2 mm) needles for knitting in the round (one long circular for magic loop or 2 circulars)

Notions

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends; 4 stitch markers

Gauge

26 sts and 44 rounds = 4” [10 cm] in St st after blocking

One pattern repeat of the nightowl pattern (20 sts and 6 rnds) is 2.5” [6.5 cm] wide and about 0.6” [1.5 cm] high, after blocking and unstretched

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

Pattern notes

The socks are worked from the toe up with Judy’s Magic Cast On, a heart-shaped heel turn and Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.

The instructions are given as sizes a (b, c, d), e (f, g, h).

Chart

Sock Instructions

Toes

Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, CO 16 sts (8 sts on each needle).

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2: *K1, M1R, k to last st on ndl, M1L, k1; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc)

Repeat the last 2 rnds 6 (7, 8, 9), 10 (11, 12, 13) times more. 44 (48, 52, 56), 60 (64, 68, 72) sts

Foot

Next rnd: K23 (26, 29, 32), 35 (38, 41, 44), pm, work rnd 1 of Chart, pm, k to end.

Repeat the last rnd, always repeating rnds 1-6 of the Chart, until the foot measures 2 (2.2, 2.3, 2.5), 2.7 (2.9, 3, 3.2)” [5 (5.5, 5.9, 6.4), 6.8 (7.3, 7.7, 8.2) cm] less than desired foot length.

Heel

Rnd 1: On ndl 1, K1, M1R, k to last st on ndl, M1L, k1. On ndl 2, k to m, work next rnd of Chart, k to end.

Rnd 2: K to m, work next rnd of Chart, k to end.

Repeat the last 2 rnds 5 (7, 7, 7), 9 (9, 9, 11) times more. 56 (64, 68, 72), 80 (84, 88, 96) sts. Make a note of the last pattern rnd you worked.

Turn the heel

The heel turn and flap are worked back and forth in rows over the sts on ndl 1 only.

Divide the sts on ndl 1 in two side panels and one center panel by placing markers after st 11 (12, 13, 14), 15 (16, 17, 18) and st 23 (28, 29, 30), 35 (36, 37, 42).

All Sizes

Row 1 (RS): K to 2 sts before second marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 2: (WS): P to 2 sts before marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Row 3: K to 5 sts before the marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 4: P to 5 sts before the marker, M1Rp,  p1, w&t.

For size a, continue to “All sizes” below, for sizes b-h, follow the size-specific instructions below.

Sizes b to d only

Row 5: K to 8 sts before the marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 6: P to 8 sts before the  marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Size e to g only

Row 5: K to 8 sts before the marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 6: P to 8 sts before the  marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Row 7: K to 11 sts before the  marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 8: P to 11 sts before the marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Stop here for sizes e-g and continue with “All sizes”

Size h only

Row 5: K to 8 sts before the marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 6: P to 8 sts before the  marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Row 7: K to 11 sts before the  marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 8: P to 11 sts before the marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Row 9: K to 14 sts before the marker, M1L, k1, w&t.

Row 10: P to 14 sts before the marker, M1Rp, p1, w&t.

Continue with “All sizes”

All sizes

K4. You are now in the middle of the heel.

Size	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
Total number of sts on needle 1	38	46	48	50	58	60	62	70
Center panel	16	22	22	22	28	28	28	34
Each side panel	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18

Replace the stitch markers so they are after st 8 (11, 11, 11), 14 (14, 14, 17) and after st 30 (35, 37, 39), 44 (46, 48, 53).

Heel flap

Row 1: K to one st before the marker, rm, ssk. Turn.

Row 2: Sl 1 pwise wyif, p 20 (22, 24, 26), 28 (30, 32, 34), rm, p2tog. Turn.

Row 3: Sl 1 pwise wyib, k 20 (22, 24, 26), 28 (30, 32, 34), ssk. Turn.

Row 4: Sl 1 pwise wyif, p20 (22, 24, 26), 28 (30, 32, 34), p2tog. Turn.

Repeat the last 2 rows until you have used up all side panel sts. 22 (24, 26, 28), 30 (32, 34, 36) sts on ndl 1, 44 (48, 52, 56), 60 (64, 68, 72) sts in total.

Leg

The leg is worked in the round over all sts.

Next rnd: K to m, work the next rnd of the Chart, k to end.

Repeat the last rnd, always repeating rnds 1-6 of the Chart, until the leg measures 1.1 (1.2, 1.3, 1.4), 1.5 (1.6, 1.7, 1.8)” [2.75 (3, 3.25, 3.5), 3.75 (4, 4.25. 4.5) cm] less than desired length, ending with rnd 6.

Cuff

Next rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * around.

Repeat the last rnd 10 (11, 12, 13), 14 (15, 16, 17) times more.

Using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off or a stretchy bind off of your choice, BO all sts.

Finishing

Block as desired. Weave in ends.