Lace Leaf Socks

Yes, I finally finished these socks that I started sometime in March. I pushed a bit at the end to get them done. Here’s the pattern and although I began with a pattern write-up generated by Sole Solution, the design is mine. Feel free to knit your own but don’t forget to give ol’ Damselfly credit for the pattern!






Begun: March, 2006
Completed: May 24, 2006
Construction: Top Down with 5 needles.
Calculated Cuff Measurement: 8 inches. (Fits medium woman's foot. Shoe size 7 1/2 to 8.)
Gauge: 8 stitches per inch
Total Stitches: 64
Heel Style: Flap/Standard; Width: Standard; Stitch: Sl 1 K 1
Toe Style: Standard; Toe Shape: Standard
Stitches adjusted by: -10%
Needle Size: US 0 / 2.0 mm Addi Natura bamboo
Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Colori/Socka Color, 75% superwash wool/25% polyamide, colour 2419 (burgundy/red/orange/yellow/sage/teal/navy, each ply a different order of variegation), 400m = 100g.

Pattern:
This pattern calls for a repeating motif of 8 stitches beginning on motif stitch 1.

Lace Leaf Pattern







beg row 1


NOTES: Graph shows only lace rows. Every other round is knit plain. On rounds 1 and 3, the first yo is made before knitting the first stitch on Needle 1. On rounds 1, 3, and 15, this also happens between needles. The last double decrease on each needle in rounds 9–15 needs to include the first stitch of the next needle. This means that at the beginning of those rounds you will need to knit one extra stitch before beginning the pattern. The last double decrease will use that first stitch. Centred double decrease is worked: sl 2 tog k-wise, k1, sl 2 st over.

Lace Leaf Pattern in words:
Row 1 and 3: *yo, k2, sl2, k1, p2sso, k2, yo, k1. Rep from *.
Row 2 and every even row: knit.
Row 5: *k1, yo, k1, sl2, k1, p2sso, k1, yo, k2. Rep from *.
Row 7: *k2, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso, yo, k3. Rep from *.
Row 9 and 11: k1, *k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl2, k1, p2sso. Rep from *. (Last dec includes first k1.)
Row 13: k1, *k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, sl2, k1, p2sso. Rep from *. (Last dec includes first k1.)
Row 15: k1, *yo, k5, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso. Rep from *. (Last dec includes first k1.)
Repeat Rows 1–16 for pattern.

Leg:
Cast on 64 stitches very loosely. There is no ribbing on this sock and the pattern forms scallops on the top edge which will curl if the cast on isn’t loose enough. Join in a ring being careful not to twist. Mark join as the beginning of the round. Divide stitches over 4 needles. (16, 16, 16, 16) There will be 2 repeats of the pattern per needle. Knit circularly for one round even. Beginning with Needle 1 and Lace Leaf Pattern, knit leg stitches until desired leg height is reached. (I did 5 repeats.) End with Pattern Row 16.

Begin Heel:
NOTE: Heel is worked in rows on 32 stitches on Needles 1 and 2. To set up, knit across those two needles onto a single needle. Turn.

Heel Pattern:
Row 1 Slip 1, purl across. Turn
Row 2 *Slip 1, k1 repeat across from *. Turn.

Knit in heel pattern until you have 32 heel flap rows (16 sl st up the side of flap). Heel flap shape should be close to square. End with a purl row.

Turn Heel as follows:
Row 1: Sl 1, K17 sts, K2 tog, K1 turn
Row 2: Sl 1, P5 sts, P2 tog, P1, turn
Row 3: Sl 1, K6, K2 tog, K1, turn
Row 4: Sl 1, P7, P2 tog, P1, turn

Repeat rows 3 and 4, increasing 1 additional K or P stitch after the Sl 1 until all side stitches are consumed. End with a purl row.

Gusset:
NOTES: There needs to be one extra stitch to balance the lace on the top of the foot so inc one st on Needle 2 before beginning the next lace round as indicated. Work that extra stitch as a knit in Rows 1—7 of Lace Leaf Pattern and in the plain even rounds between. Also adjust the Pattern at each side of the foot for odd (lace) rows 9–15 as follows: Instead of the double decrease at the end of these rows, work a SSK at the beginning of Needle 2 and a K2tog at the end of Needle 3.

Knit to the center of the heel. Using a spare needle, knit across the remaining heel stitches. Pick up and knit 16 stitches from the side of the heel flap and knit one stitch in the gusset corner (now becomes Needle 1). Inc 1 st at the beg of Needle 2 (see note above). Knit in Pattern beginning with Row 1 across needles 2 and 3. With needle 4 pick up and knit one stitch in the gusset corner and then pick up and knit 16 stitches from the side of the heel flap. Knit the remaining heel stitches.

Stitch count is (26, 17, 16, 26) respectively.

Gusset Decreases:
NOTE: The gusset decreases will be on alternate rounds to the lace rounds.

Gusset Rnd 1:
Needle 1: Knit until the last 3 stitches, k2 tog, k1.
Needle 2 and 3: Knit across.
Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit across.
Gusset Rnd 2: Work in pattern around, beginning with Row 2.

Repeat these 2 rounds until total stitches equal 65. (16, 17, 16, 16).

Sock Foot:
Continue knitting in stockinette on needles 1 and 4 and in pattern on needle 2 and 3 until you are approximately 1.5 to 2 inches from the top of your longest toe. (I did 4 repeats plus 4 rounds plain knit before beginning toe decreases.) Decrease 1 st at beginning of Needle 2 in the last round. 64 sts (16, 16, 16, 16)

Shape Toe:
Rnd 1:
Needle 1: Knit until the last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit around.
Needle 3: Knit until the last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit around.

Rnd 2: Knit around.

Continue in this manner until you have 24 stitches remaining. Knit to the end of Needle 1. Arrange top and bottom of toe on 2 needles. Slip second stitch on each end of each needle over the first stitch. (20 sts total.) Graft toe closed. Finish off beginning tail. Wash and block socks. The pattern stitches have a lot of bubbly texture but most of it blocks out. It doesn’t show when it’s on the foot anyway.