Whale in the Waves: A Beluga Socks Knitting Pattern with Detailed Instructions and Colorwork

Whale in the Waves

My wonderful, whale-loving boyfriend asked me to make him beluga socks for his birthday in April. I said yes. In my mind, I didn't mean that I would actually finish them by April. Well, after an additional 4 months of working (and not working) on them, they are finished. I promise it won't take you 4 months to make them yourself. Worked in 3 colors with a fun wave pattern and a stranded beluga on legs. Stitch counts for Medium are listed first with Large in parenthesis. When only one number appears, it applies to both sizes. Sizing and Gauge: Med- 8.5"/ 22cm circ Large- 9.5"/ 24cm circ 18 sts/ 24 rounds per 2"/5 cm (pattern stitch - unstretched)

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Materials:

100 grams/ 400m total of 3 colors of Sock Yarn MC (dark blue)- 75 gr/ 300m CC1 (med blue)- 25 gr/ 100m CC2 (white)- 5 gr/ 25m 2 pairs of 2.5mm (US 1.5) at least 60cm/ 24" or long circular needle for magic loop or set of 4 dpns 3 to 5 stitch markers per sock Large-eye needle to weave in ends NOTE: Pattern is written for 2 circular needles, please feel free to substitute your favorite method. If you want a tutorial for basic sock construction, get my Vanilla Orchid sock pattern on Ravelry or Craftsy.

Pattern worked top-down in rounds

Cast On 64 (72) with MC, using Twisted German Cast On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfFadEumBak Needle 1/ 1st half (outside of leg)- 32 (36) Needle 2/ 2nd half (inside of leg)- 32 (36) Join for working in the round (careful not to twist), pm

Leg

Work 3 rounds stockinette k all sts) Work rounds 1-5 of Leg Waves Pattern twice (see chart/ written instructions to right)

Leg Waves Pattern

1- MC [k2tog, k3, M1R, k3] 8 (9) times 2- CC1 [k2tog, k2, M1R, k4] 8 (9) times 3- CC2 p around 4- CC1 [k2tog, k1, M1R, k5] 8 (9) times 5- MC [k2tog, M1R, k6] 8 (9) times

Version 1 - 7 November 2015

Whale in the Waves

Cut CC1 and CC2, work 5 rounds st st in MC Work Beluga Whale Chart in MC and CC2 on Needle 1 (refer to Right and Left Charts on pages 5 and 6)

COLORWORK HINTS:

-As you carry your MC behind the CC2 whale stitches, catch your float between stitches and twist with your working yarn to hold it in place. Remember not to put your MC yarn too tight, as your sock will need to stretch to get onto your foot. -Hold your fingers between your work and your long float when bringing yarn across to work next round, then catch this float between your stitches at the same time you catch your MC yarn. -Consider working your sock inside out for this section.

After finishing the whale chart, cut CC2 and work 5 rounds stockinette in MC Work two repeats of the Legs Waves Pattern (rounds 1-5) Cut CC1 and CC2, work 3 rounds stockinette in MC

Set up for heel flap

You will need to adjust the beginning of your round/row to put the heel at the back of your sock. 1- rm, k16 (18) Right Sock/ k48 (54) Left Sock, pm New Beginning of round/row 2- turn work, (WS) p32 (36) \*\*Now your whale should be on outside of each leg with the heel flap starting to form on the tailside of each whale.

NOTE:

At this point, I strongly suggest adjusting your needle placement/ stitch distribution to have all the heel stitches on Needle 2 and all the instep (held) stitches on Needle 1. I like to use a spare dpn to help with this.

work desired number of stitches from beginning of round onto a dpn knit rest of the round using your circular, pm if needed knit the stitches from the dpn

Heel Flap

You will now work the heel flap in rows across Needle 2 only - 32 (36) sts 1- (RS) [sl 1, k1] across - 32 (36) sts 2- (WS) sl 1, p to end Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until heel flap measures 2.5"(2.75")/ 6cm (7cm) or desired length. End with a WS row.

Turn Heel

1- (RS) sl 1, k17 (19), ssk, k1, turn 2- (WS) sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn 3- sl 1, k6, ssk, k1 turn 4- sl 1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn Continue working one additional stitch per row until al stitches have been worked, ending with WS row. Depending on your size, your last rows might end with ssk/ p2tog instead of k1/ p1. - 18 (20) sts Version 1 - 7 November 2015

Whale in the Waves

Gusset and Instep

As you work the instep stitches (top of foot) on Needle 1, follow the Instep Waves Pattern (see chart on page 4). The gusset and sole stitches are worked in stockinette on Needle 2, with decreases on the bottom of the heel to shape the gusset. The beginning of your round will shift from the side of the leg to the bottom of the sole. You will either need to place a marker (center of needle 2) or redistribute your stitches and needle blacement.

When picking up stitches along the side of the heel flap, to avoid a hole at the corner of the instep, use left needle to pick up the bar between the heel flap stitches and the instep stitches from front to back and ktbl (M1L).

NOTE: When picking up stitches along the side of the flap, you will have 1 stitch per pair of rows plus the M1L in the corner. Usually this will result in 17 (19) sts per side. Set up Round- MC k9 (10), pm, new beginning of round, k9 (10), pick up and knit 1 st for every slipped selvage stitch along the side of the heel flap, M1L in the corner between heel flap and instep stitches, k across instep, M1L in the corner between heel flap and instep stitches, pick up and knit 1 st for every slipped selvage stitch along the side of the heel flap, k9 (10) As you work your gusset decreases a nice "v" will begin to appear under your heel. This will nicely hug the natural shape of your foot. The gusset markers indicate the outside of the decreases.

For the gusset and foot, colors alternate 2 rounds CC1 and 5 rounds MC. Carry the non-working yarn along the inside of your work. NOTE: The Instep Waves pattern is worked in a repeat of 8 sts. You will need to adjust your stitch distribution after the setup round for the Large size. (Refer to Instep Waves Chart on page 4)

M ONLY

1- Attach CC1 k until 14 sts before instep, pm (gusset), ktbl to instep, work Instep Waves Pattern row 1, ktbl 14, pm (gusset), k to end

L ONLY

You will transfer the first and last two sts from Needle 2 to Needle 1. This will make you have the proper number of instep sts to work the InstepWavesPattern. 1- Needle 2 (1st half)- Attach CC1 k until 16 sts before instep, pm (gusset), ktbl\* until 2 stitches before instep/ end of needle Needle 1- work last 2 stitches from Needle 2 according to the Instep Waves Pattern\*\*, work instep on Needle 1 as established, work first 2 sts from Needle 2 according to the Instep Waves Pattern\*\* Needle 2 (2nd half)- ktbl\* 14, pm (gusset), k to end \*This helps keep stitches tight \*\*This adjusts the stitches so that you have a full 5 sets of the 8 stitch pattern repeat 32 (40) for instep and approx. 52 (54) for sole\*\*\* \*\*\*exact number of sole stitches can vary depending on your heel flap length.

ALL SIZES

2- k to 2 sts before gusset m, k2tog, sm, k to instep, work instep, k to gusset m, sm, ssk, k to end 3- k to instep, work instep, k to end

Whale in the Waves

Instep Waves Pattern

1- k2tog, k3, M1R, k3 5- k6, M1L, ssk 2- k2tog, k2, M1R, k4 6- k5, M1L, k1, ssk 3- k2tog, k1, M1R, k5 7- k4, M1L, k2, ssk 4- k2tog, M1R, k6 8- k3, M1L, k3, ssk Repeat Rounds 2 and 3, continuing in color sequence (2 rounds CC1, 5 rounds MC) until 4 sts remain between gusset markers. Remove gusset markers on last round. 64 (72) sts- 32 (40) for instep and 32 (32) for sole.

Foot

Continuing in color sequence (2 rounds CC1, 5 rounds MC) Follow 8-row Instep Waves Pattern as established during gusset. Needle 1- instep/ Needle 2- sole 1- k to end of needle, work instep according to Instep Waves Pattern, k to end of round. Work until foot measures 2" less than desired length (should come to the base of your pinky toe). End with round 4 or 8 of Instep Waves Pattern. Cut CC1 (if last round of foot is 1st round of CC1, work first round of toe in CC1 to complete color sequence) Toe Toe is worked in MC only SetUp MONLY Needle 2 (1st half)- k to end - New beginning of round LONLY Needle 2 (1st half)- k across, then k 2 sts from needle 1 Needle 1- k36 for top of foot Needle 2- k remaining 2 sts from needle 1, k to end of needle - New beginning of round 32 (36) sts for top of foot, 32 (36) sts for bottom

ALL SIZES

1- Needle 1- [k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog, k1] Needle 2- [k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog, k1] 2- k around Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 32 (36) sts remain. Work only Round 1 until 20 stitches remain. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Use Kitchener stitch to graft toe closed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmgE7YQkrFw Weave in ends and block. http://www.ravelry.com/designersjessie-ksanznak https://yarnovernewyork.wordpress.com/ @yarnovernewyork @ Jessie Ksanznak/ Yarn Over New York 2015. Allrights reserved. This pattern is provided for personal use only. Do not copy, distribute or use to make items for sale. Thank you! Knitter' Symbols fonts used courtesy Knitter's Magazine—-Copyright 1998 XRX, Inc.

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