Faeroese Footlets for Men
This pattern is based on these Faroese footlets http: / /www.schoolhousepress.com/kalfo9f.htm by Marilyn VanKeppel. However, I wanted to make some that had no sewing whatsoever and so used conventional toe decreases. I kept the patterning simpler by only having FairIsle stitching across the foot. I adapted their length to fit my husband (who is a UK size 10 foot; US 10.5; Eur 44.5). The footlets begin with a back and forth heel flap, are worked flat until the foot part and are then worked pretty much like a regular sock in the round but without decreases at the gusset. After you have finished knitting the footlet you will add an i-chord bind-off around the top edge of the footlet, which strengthens the opening, looks neat and is fun and easy to do. Needles: 4 double pointed: UK Size 9, US Size 5, Metric: 3.75mm Yarn: I used the wool doubled, knitting from one of each of two differently coloured balls of Rowan Scottish tweed 4ply (sock weight) (less than 4 balls of 25g each). I also used a small amount of a 4ply (sock weight) natural colour, doubled, for the Fair-Isle patterning on the foot. Extras: A tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I added some suede soles to make the footlets more durable. Heel flap Cast on 18sts Knit for 4 rows (back and forth creating a garter stitch) Knit 14 rows in stockinette, (beginning with a knit row, then purl row, then repeating these 2 rows for 7 times in total). End with right side facing ready for next row. Turning the Heel Row 1: Knit 13, Knit 2 stitches together (K2tog), turn work so the other side is facing Row 2: Slip one stitch purlwise (sl1), purl 8, purl 2 stitches together (p2tog), turn Row 3: sl1 purlwise, K 8, sl1, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one (psso), turn Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have 10 stitches left. With the right side facing, knit across the 10 stitches. Now pick up and knit 16 sts across the following edge of your heel flap. Do this by knitting into the loops at the edge as evenly as you can. Now turn your work and purl back to the other edge. Now pick up and purl 16 stitches on this other edge. You should now have 42 stitches in total. Foot opening Now work back and forth in stockinette stitch (knit one row purl the following row) until 5 inches from the centre back. I calculated 32 rows in total. End with right side facing. Make 2 stitches using backward loops. Now distribute stitches onto three needles, putting the first 10 stitches on needle #1, the next 23 stitches on needle #2, and the remaining 9 stitches and the 2 cast on stitches (total 11) on needle#3. Foot You are now going to work in the round. Knit 10 rows in your established colour. Border pattern Row 1: Join your contrasting colour (I used natural) and knit every first stitch in this and every second stitch in your background (established) colour (alternating between the two). Row 2: Knit only in background colour Rows 4, 5 and 6: Knit only in background colour Foot pattern
Row 3: Knit only in contrasting colour Now follow the two charts:
Needle #1: Begin at the arrow of chart 1, knitting across the chart from bottom to top; right to left. Needle #2 : Change to chart 2, knitting across the chart from bottom to top; right to left. On needle #3: Complete the first row of chart 1 from the right hand side to meet back at the middle of the chart. Continue in this way knitting from the central arrow on chart 1 for needle #1; across chart 2 for needle #2 and back to chart 1 for needle #3. (chart #2 ends three rows before chart #1 ends) Toe Once you have completed both charts you are ready for the toe. Row 1: Needle #1: Work 3sts from the end and then k2tog, k1 Needle #2: K1, slip one, knit one pass slipped stitch over the knitted one (sl1, k1, psso), Knit to 3 sts away from end of needle#2, k2tog, k1 Needle #3: K1, Sl1, k1, psso at the beginning of needle, knit to the end. Repeat this row until you have 9 stitches left. Cut yarn with a good length, thread the end through a tapestry needle. Draw the yarn through all the remaining stitches and pull closed. Turn the footlet inside out and weave in the end (reinforcing the toe as you do). I-chord edging Pick up and knit 1 row of stitches around top of footlet beginning at the left edge of the heel flap. Cast on an extra 3 stitches, place on left needle, now knit into the first 2 of these stitches and then knit the final one together with the next stitch through the back loop (tbl). This joins your i-chord to the footlet. Now transfer all 3 of these stitches back onto the left needle and do the same again. Knit the first 2 stitches and knit 2 tbl together. Continue doing this: K2, K2tog tbl, replace 3 stitches on left needle. Until you are at the final 3 stitches. To finish off: knit 2 together; transfer back onto the left needle then knit these 2 together. Break off yarn and stitch the two ends together. There is a wonderful video of this being done by bestillandknit at http://tinyurl.com/2a5ynyi Weave in all ends.
