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Diva Knitting

A skein of hand-dyed yarn from a secret family recipe in this fresh green shade reminded me of the lush leaves found in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. I tried a variety of leaf patterns and finally found this one, which worked really well with the subtle color variations.

The leaf pattern has been adapted to circular knitting from Barbara Walker's A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Although the row repeat is 24 rows long, it's actually a very easy pattern to read and memorize. I graded this design as piquant as there is a bit of stitch maneuvering to get the correct number of stitches to work the repeat, something that would be natural for an experienced lace knitter, but would probably cause some anxiety to a newer knitter or someone less familiar with lacework.

Kew features a scalloped garter stitch cuff, heel flap construction with round heel turning, lacy patterning and wedge toe. It is worked from the cuff down using 4 needles. To increase sock circumference, use a larger needle size. To decrease sock circumference, use a smaller needle size.

photos: Polly Outhwaite

SIZE
One
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Leg circumference: 8.25 inches, relaxed
Foot Length: custom

A sock worked in this stitch pattern will not be not as stretchy as a ribbed sock, so ensure that the sock circumference is not more than approx. 1 inch less that the leg circumference. If you have very wide feet with very narrow ankles or a very high instep, you will probably get a better fit using a more elastic yarn, like Lana Grossa's Mega Boots Stretch or Regia Stretch. (Both of these yarns can be work to the required gauge for this pattern.)

 
MATERIALS
Silkwood Hedgerow Sock Yarn [75% wool, 25% polyester; 220yd/200m per 50g skein]; color: #002; 2 skeins

1 set of 4 US #1/2.5mm double-point needles
1 US #3/3.25mm straight needle (used for casting on only)
Tapestry Needle
Smooth waste yarn
 
GAUGE
32 sts/48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

This pattern includes both written and charted directions. If you are working from the charts, it is still very important to read the written directions, especially when working the first 6 even-numbered rounds of the leg, and when shaping the gusset.

S2KP: Slip next 2 sts together, knitwise, as if to work a k2tog. Knit next st through back loop, then pass both slipped sts over st just knit. This forms a centered double decrease.

Instructions for the Long-Tail Cast On can be found here.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff

Using US #3/3.25mm needle and Long-Tail Cast On method, CO 70 sts.

Distribute sts between double-point needles and designate needles as follows:

Slip first 31 sts to Needle 1, slip next 20 sts to Needle 2, slip last 19 sts to Needle 3.

Be certain that sts are not twisted, and join to begin working in the round as follows: slip first st from Needle 1 to Needle 3, pass last st from Needle 3 over this st, and place it on Needle 1; this will be the first st of the first round.

Rounds 1, 3, 5: K all sts.

Rounds 2, 4: P all sts.

Leg
Note: If working leg from chart instead of written directions, it is important to read the directions for even-numbered Rounds 2-10, and for Round 24. There is information in these directions which is not contained in the chart.

K the first st from Needle 1 onto Needle 3. There are 30 sts on Needle 1, and 20 sts each on Needles 2 and 3.

Rounds 1, 3, 5: [S2KP, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3] 7 times.

Even-Numbered Rounds 2 - 10: K to last st of Needle 3, sl this st to Needle 1; sl last st of Needle 1 to Needle 2, sl last st of Needle 2 to Needle 3.

Round 7: [S2KP, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2] 7 times.

Round 9: [S2KP, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1] 7 times.

Round 11: [S2KP, yo, k7, yo] 7 times.

Even-Numbered Rounds 12 - 22: K all sts.

Rounds 13, 15, 17: [K1, yo, k3, S2KP, k3, yo] 7 times.

Round 19: [K2, yo, k2, S2KP, k2, yo, k1] 7 times.

Round 21: [K3, yo, k1, S2KP, k1, yo, k2] 7 times.

Round 23: [K4, yo, S2KP, yo, k3] 7 times.

Round 24: K to last st of Needle 3, sl this st to Needle 1; sl last st of Needle 1 to Needle 2, sl last st of Needle 2 to Needle 3.

Repeat Rounds 1 - 24, then work Rounds 1-11 once more. 59 rows of leg pattern have been worked.

Next Round: K to last st of Needle 3, sl this st to Needle 1; sl first 2 sts of Needle 2 to Needle 1. There are 33 sts on Needle 1, 18 sts on Needle 2, and 19 sts on Needle 3.

Heel Flap
Place all sts from Needle 1 on hold on waste yarn. Slip all sts from Needles 2 and 3 to one needle; Heel Flap will be worked back and forth over the 37 sts on this needle.

Note: Holding instep sts on waste yarn is recommended, as it will help prevent the formation of holes at the joining points between the instep and heel flap as you work.

Another note even: Stop to double-check: Reading 2 rows down, the sts on waste yarn should read [yo, S2KP, yo, k7] 3 times, yo, S2KP, yo.

Turn work so WS is facing.
Row 1 [WS]: [Sl 1, p1] to last 3 sts, sl 1, p2.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1, k to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 16 times more, then work Row 1 once more. 35 rows have been worked.

Turn Heel
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k19, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k7, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 5 [RS]: Sl1, k9, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 7 [RS]: Sl1, k11, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 8 [WS]: Sl1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl1, k13, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 10 [WS]: Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 11 [RS]: Sl1, k15, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 12 [WS]: Sl1, p16, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 13 [RS]: Sl1, k17, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 14 [WS]: Sl1, p18, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 15 [RS]: Sl1, k19, ssk, k1. 22 sts remain.

Gusset
Note: If working instep pattern from chart, the section to the right of the shaded pattern repeat box is worked once, the pattern repeat is worked twice, then the section to the left of the pattern repeat box is worked once.

Replace held sts of instep on a double-point needle.
Using a second needle, pick up and k 17 sts along edge of heel flap. This will be designated Needle 1.

Using another needle, work all instep sts as follows: K2, [yo, k3, S2KP, k3, yo, k1] 3 times, k1. If working from the chart, this is Row 1 of Instep Chart. 33 sts on needle; this will be designated Needle 2.

Using another needle, pick up and k 18 sts along edge of heel flap, k first 11 sts of heel. 30 sts; this will be designated Needle 3.

Slip remaining 11 sts of heel to Needle 1. There are 28 sts on Needle 1, 33 sts on Needle 2, and 29 sts on Needle 3. 90 sts. In the directions that follow, the round which has just been worked will count as Round 1.

Even-Numbered Rounds 2-24: K to last 2 sts on Needle 1, k2tog; k all sts on Needle 2; ssk, k to end of Needle 3. 2 sts decreased.

Rounds 3 & 5: K to end of Needle 1; k2, [yo, k3, S2KP, k3, yo, k1] 3 times, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 7: K to end of Needle 1; k1, [k2, yo, k2, S2KP, k2, yo, k1] 3 times, k2; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 9: K to end of Needle 1; k1, [k3, yo, k1, S2KP, k1, yo, k2] 3 times, k2; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 11: K to end of Needle 1; k1, [k4, yo, S2KP, yo, k3] 3 times, k2; k to end of Needle 3.

Rounds 13, 15, 17: K to end of Needle 1; k1, ssk, k3, yo, [k1, yo, k3, S2KP, k3, yo] twice, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 19: K to end of Needle 1; k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, [k2, yo, k2, S2KP, k2, yo, k1] twice, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 21: K to end of Needle 1; k1, ssk, k1, yo, k2, [k3, yo, k1, S2KP, k1, yo, k2] twice, k3, yo, k1, k2tog, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

Round 23: K to end of Needle 1; k1, ssk, yo, k3, [k4, yo, S2KP, yo, k3] twice, k4, yo, k2tog, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

When Round 24 has been completed, there will be 16 sts on Needle 1, 33 sts on Needle 2, and 17 sts on Needle 3. 66 sts. Gusset shaping is complete.

Foot
Round 1: K to end of Needle 1; k2, [yo, k3, S2KP, k3, yo, k1] 3 times, k1; k to end of Needle 3.

Even-Numbered Rounds 2-24: K all sts.
Odd-Numbered Rounds 3-23
: Work as for Odd-Numbered Rounds 3-23 of Gusset.

Continue in pattern as set, working sts on Needles 1 and 3 in stockinette st and sts on Needle 2 in pattern, until work measures approx. 1.75 inches less than desired length to end of toe, ending with Round 12 or Round 24 of pattern.

Toe
K to end of Needle 1; this point will now be end of round. (Needle designations will not change; Needle 2 is now the first needle of the round, and Needle 1 is the last.)

Decrease Round: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of Needle 2, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of Needle 3; k to last 3 sts of Needle 1, k2tog, k1.
K 1 round.
Repeat these 2 rounds 7 times more. 34 sts.

Work Decrease Round 4 times more. 18 sts.

FINISHING

Slip sts from Needle 3 to Needle 1. Graft sts from Needle 1 to sts from Needle 2.
Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Polly is an incorrigible knitter and stasher.

When not dragging her husband down the back alleys of foreign cities searching for a little yarn shop that "someone on the internet had told her about", she can be found unraveling her latest project on All Tangled Up.