Waterfall socks
I designed these socks, thinking about my mother-in-law, who lives in Kuldiga, small Latvian town with the most beautiful waterfall. I combined this simple and elegant wave pattern together with traditional Latvian pivot edge and some newer technical elements such as Judy's Magic cast on and afterthought heel. I knitted them from decent Latvian country yarn what she sent me. As a result these socks not only look good but also hugs the feel really comfortably and warm. Yarn: water blue 2ply Latvian country yarn Needles: 5 double points, 3mm Gauge: for size socks 37.- 39. There will be 4x14 stitches Keywords: classic picot edge, wave lace pattern, stockinet sole, afterthought heel with ribbon decrease, ribbon toe, symmetric composition, knitted toe-up.
Toe
These socks are knitted toe-up, creating ribbonlike edge at the sides of toe.
Cast on 12 (6+6) stitches, using Judy's Magic Cast-On' . This is the most elegant way to create seamless start for toe-up sock. 1.round - knit. As you knit this row, divide stitches on 4 needles (4x 3). Increases are done at the sides of the sock respectively before last stitch (on the 1. and 3. needle) or right after first stitch (on the 2. and 4. needle). At first in every row, till there are 9 stitches on every needle (4x9=36), then in every second row, until there are 14 stitches on every needle (4x14=56). At last knit one more full round plus one more needle, to set up for knitting the lace pattern. From now on this place counts as beginning of theround. 2.r - {k2, Yo, k1 / kl, Yo, k2 } 2x; 3.r - {k3, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k4} 2x. Here and following Yo's from previous round knit twisted, to close the gaps. 4.r - {k4, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k4} 2x 5.r - {k5, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k5} 2x 6.r - {k6, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k6} 2x 7.r - {k7, Yo, k1 / kl, Yo, k7} 2x 8.r - k9 4x 9.r- {k8, Yo, k1 / kl, Yo, k8} 2x 10.r - k10 4x 11.r - {k9, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k9} 2x 12.r - k11 4x 13.r - {k10, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k11} 2x 14.r - k12 4x 15.r - {k11, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k11} 2x 16.r -k13 4x 17.r - {k12, Yo, k1 / k1, Yo, k12} 2x 18.r - k14 5x, place the marker, to mark the new beginning of the round.
Foot
The wave lace pattern is knitted only on the top of the foot (needles 1. and 2.), the sole is knitted in stockinet stitch (needles 3. and 4.) To make socks symmetric (not identical), in every sock the lace pattern starts from the different row (see chart). It may seem as minor thing, but it makes the composition of the sock sophisticated and complete. Repeat the pattern 4 full times (48 rows)
Instep
For extra comfort at he widest part of the feet there are series of increases. These are made only at the plain part of sock, 5 times in every second round increasing, and later 5 times decreasing again, till stitch count is back to 4x 14 In the place, where later is going to be heel, knit with a peace of scrap yarn in different color. It will stay there till time comes to knit the afterthought heel. while doing all this, you will continue knit lace pattern on the top of the foot. 1.r - on needle 3: k9, Yo, k5/ on needle 4: k5, Yo, k9 2.r - k15 / k15. Here and following Yo's from previous round knit twisted, to close the gaps. 3.r - k9, Yo, k5 / k6, Yo, k9 4.r -k16 /k16 5.r - k9, Yo, k7 / k7, Yo, k9 6.r -k17 /k17 7.r - k9, Yo, k7 / k7, Yo, k9 8.r - k18/ k18 9.r - k9, Yo, k8 / k8, Yo, k9 10.r - k19/ k19 11.r - k2, k17 with different yarn / k17 with different yarn, k2 12.r - k19/ k19 13.r -k19/ k19 14.r - k9, k2tog, k8 / k8, ssk, k9 15.r - k18/ k18 16.r - k9, k2tog, k7 / k7, ssk, k9 17.r-k17 /k17 18.r - k9, k2tog, k7 / k7, ssk, k9 19.r - k16 / k16 20.r - k9, k2tog, k5 / k6, ssk, k9 21.r-k15 /k15 22.r - k9, k2tog, k5 / k5, ssk, k9 23.r - 1k4 / 1k4
Leg
As soon the stitch count is back, start knitting the wave lace all around the leg. Be careful to start pattern with respective start row (1. or 7.) If necessary, continue to knit stockinet at the back till you reach the right round. Repeat pattern 2 full times and then make classic picot edge: Rounds 1. - 7. knit all 8.r - {Yo, k2tog} 28x 9.- 13.r - knit all 14.r - graft together open stitches with the ones from round 3. Take care not to twist the sock. Now make the other sock, before continue with the heels. Remember the change in lace pattern.
Heel
This is afterthought heel with ribbon-like decrease, similar to one in toe. In this case 8 times in every second round knit together 2. and 3. stitch respectively at the beginning or end of the needle. Carefully unravel the row of the other row, at the same time picking up now free stitches and dividing them on to 4 needles (4x 16=64) 1.r - knit, at the same time closing gaps in corners (you may need to pick up the thread between stitches, twist it and knit together with neighbor stitch) 2.r - k16 4x 3.r - {k1, k2tog, 1k3 / 1k3, ssk, k1,} 2x 4.r -k15 4x 5.r- {k1, k2tog, 1k2 / 1k2, ssk, k1,} 2x 6.r - 1k4 4x 7.r- {k1, k2tog, 1k1 / 1k1, ssk, k1,} 2x 8.r - 1k3 4x 9.r- {k1, k2tog, 10k / 10k, ssk, k1,} 2x 10.r - 1k2 4x 11.r - {k1, k2tog, k9 / k9, ssk, k1,} 2x 12.r - 1k1 4x 13.r - {k1, k2tog, k8 / k8, ssk, k1,} 2x 14.r - 10k 4x 15.r - {kl, k2tog, k7 / k7, ssk, k1,} 2x 16.r - k9 4x 17.ra - {k1, k2tog, k6 / k6, ssk, k1,} 2x when there are only 4x 8 stitches left on the needles, graft together upper and bottom parts. Weawe in tails and block, if desired.
