Clementine's Baltic Socks
Lacy leaf socks which I knitted for Sockapaloooza, based on a pattern for the Baltic Socks of the Muster-Socken-Knitalong, written by Kristin Benecken, April 2005 http://buecherundwollkistchen.blogspot.com.
Yarn: 100g of 4-ply sock yarn, such as Eki Riva 4ply Superbaby Alpaca. Use reinforcing yarn in the heels and toes if desired. Needles: 2mm Tension (gauge): Around 32sts per 10cm, although it's not critical because the lace has some stretch.
Notes:
These socks are knitted top down, with a short row heel, and can be knitted on dpns, two circulars or magic loop- whichever you prefer. They have a nice bit of stretch due to the lace and will fit a foot around 22 cm (8.5 inches) in circumference. Variations in size can be made by adding or subtracting stitches on the stocking (stockinette) stitch side panels (set up by the K3 on the pattern Round 1). The pattern is worked over 10 rounds and involves Knit, Purl, Yarn over increases (YO) and two stitch decreases (K3tog and SI3K): K3tog is a right slanting, two stitch decrease. Knit three stitches together. SI3K is a left slanting, two stitch decrease. Slip three stitches to the right needle as if to knit, and then knit all three together. The heel is worked as a short row heel. When making the wraps, make sure that you always wrap the stitches in a figure 8 manner, by taking the yarn to the non-working side between needles, slip next st to right-hand needle, bring yarn back, slip st back to left hand needle, turn work and begin working back in the other direction. When you pick up the wraps, do this so that they are carried to the wrong side of the fabric. This is a bit of a fiddle and hard to describe, but will ensure both sides of the heel will look the same, with no holes. Kitchener stitch or other grafting method is needed to finish the toe. Instructions for Kitchener stitch can be found at http://knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic techniques/misc.php
Cast on 64st
First round: P1 $^{\star}\mathsf{K}_{2}$ , P2, Repeat from \* to last three sts, K2, P1 Repeat first round three more times, or as long as desired. On the next round, commence pattern as follows: Round 1 and all further odd rounds: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}3$ ,P2, K10, P2, K10, P2,K3, Repeat from \*. Round 2: \*K3, P2, K6, K3tog, YO, K1, YO, P2, YO, K1, YO, SI3K, K6, P2, K3, Repeat from \*. Round $4!\cdot{^{\star}\mathsf{K}}3$ , P2, K4 K3tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, P2, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, SI3K, K4, P2, K3, Repeat from \*. Round 6: \* K3, P2, K2 K3tog, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, SI3K, K2, P2, K3, Repeat from \*. Round 8: \*K3, P2, K3tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, P2, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, SI3K, P2, K3, Repeat from \*. Round 10: as per Round 1. Repeat pattern 10 times or for length desired.
Heel:
Work a short row heel on 32sts by working back and forth as follows: Row 1: (RS) K31, wrap next st, turn. Row 2: (Ws) P30, wrap next st, turn. Row 3: K29, wrap next st, turn. Row 4: P28, wrap next st, turn. Continue wrapping in this manner until there are 16 wrapped stitches, or as desired to suit your heel. Next row: K16, knit the next stitch together with its wrap, wrap next st (it will have two wraps), turn. Following row: P17, purl the next stitch together with its wrap, wrap next st (it will have two wraps), turn. Following row: K18, knit the next stitch together with its wraps, wrap next st (it will have two wraps), turn. Following row: P19, purl the next stitch together with its wraps, wrap next st (it will have two wraps), turn. Continue in this manner until all the wraps have been picked up, ending with a Ws row. To make sure you don't have any holes at the corners of the heel, you may wish to pick up a couple of stitches at the edges of the heel and knit these in together into the first round of the foot.
Foot:
The foot is worked with the pattern continuing along the top of the foot as follows: Round 1 and all further odd rounds: K35, P2, K10, P2, K10, P2, K3. Round 2: K35, P2, K6, K3tog, YO, K1, YO, P2, YO, K1, YO, SI3K, K6, P2, K3. Round 4: K35,P2,K4 K3tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, P2, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, SI3K, K4, P2, K3. Round 6: K35, P2, K2 K3tog, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, SI3K, K2, P2, K3. Round 8: K35, P2, K3tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, P2, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, SI3K, P2, K3. Round 10: as ber Round 1. Repeat pattern 6 times or number of times required for desired length. If necessary, make additional rows in stocking (stockinette) stitch to achieve desired length before commencing the toe shaping.
Toe:
Make toe decreases as follows: Round 1: K1, SI2K, K26, K2tog, K2, SI2K, K26, K2tog, K1. Round 2: Knit. Round 3: K1, SI2K, K24, K2tog, K2, SI2K, K24, K2tog, K1. Round 4: Knit Continue in this manner until 20 stitches are left, or as narrow as desired, and graft the edges together with Kitchener Stitch. Now get on and make another one quickly before second sock syndrome sets in...
