I designed this sock to be Xtreme Lace. Mega Lace. Super Lace Galore. All
lace, all the time. But if that much lace is just
too, well, lacy for you, there's a simple fix. Just add a plain row after
each lace row and the fabric will be more substantial but still have
plenty of holes.See Pattern Notes for details.
This is a top-down sock with heel flap and gussets. The gussets
are lower than usual and the instep is more than half the width
of the foot in order to fit in more of the lace pattern.
As for the name...my friend and fellow lace lover Cindy remarked
that the lace pattern resembled the arches of a bridge.
The word for "bridge" in
Russian is most, so these socks could also be called
Bridge Lace Socks. But that's not as much fun!
White socks: Lisa
Souza Timaru [65% superwash merino/35%
rayon from bamboo; 500 yds per 100 g skein]; color: Mother of
Pearl; 1 skein.
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] US
#1/2.25mm needles for working in the
round
Notions yarn
needle stitch markers
GAUGE
36 sts/56 rounds = 4
inches in stockinette stitch
30 sts/62 rounds
= 4 inches in lace pattern
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Casting on: I recommend the Old
Norwegian Cast-on, also called the German
Twisted cast on. See this
video by Lucy Neatby for more information.
Kitchener Stitch: See this
page
for details on Kitchener stitch.
CDD [centered double decrease]: Slip 2 sts
knitwise, then k1 and pass the 2 slipped
sts over the knit stitch. (This stitch
is easier to work if you slip the 2 sts one after the other
instead of together. The resulting double
decrease will lean slightly to the left,
but it's not noticeable in the midst of all that
lace.)
The Chevron Lace Pattern is adapted from Dainty
and Daintier Chevron Lace patterns in Barbara
Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting
Patterns. Working YOs and decreases on every row results
in a very open, lacy fabric; adding a
plain knit row after each lace pattern row makes a less "dainty",
firmer fabric.
The socks photographed illustrate two variants: Variant 1 (most lace): Purple
sock, with most lace Variant 2 (mixed lace): White
sock, with
most lace on the leg, switching to less
dainty lace on the foot.
Charts The charts for this pattern are very large
and fit on a letter-sized page.
Click here and print the resulting
page.
DIRECTIONS
Purple Sock/Most Lace
Cast on 56 [64, 72] sts loosely. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer
and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Cuff Ribbing round: [K1, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1]
around.
Work ribbing round once more.
Leg Leg round: Work Chevron Lace pattern
around.
Work as set until sock measures 6 inches,
ending with round 5 of the Chevron Lace pattern.
Heel Size S heel setup round: K14, pm for
start of instep; k2, work Chevron Lace row 1 three times, k2.
The next 28 sts of the round will become the heel flap. Rearrange
stitches as required and proceed to Heel Flap.
Size M heel setup round: K16, pm for start of instep, work Chevron
Lace row 1 three times; k1, SSK, [k1, YO] twice, k3. 1 st increased.
33 instep sts.
The next 32 sts of the round will become
the heel flap. Rearrange stitches as required and proceed to
Heel Flap.
Size L heel setup round: K18, pm for start of instep, k3, YO,
k1, k2tog, work Chevron Lace row 1 three times, k1, SSK, [k1,
YO] twice, k1. 1 st increased. 37 instep sts.
The next 36 sts of the round will become
the heel flap. Rearrange stitches as required and proceed to
Heel Flap.
Heel Flap Size S Heel setup row [RS]: Work Small
Heel Flap Chart setup row 0. 2 sts increased, 30 heel flap
sts.
Starting with row 1 (WS), work two full
repeats of Small Heel Flap Chart rows 1-10, then work rows 1-8
once more. WS is facing for next row.
Proceed to Final Heel Flap Rows.
Size M Heel setup row [RS]: K1, k2 tbl,
[k1, YO] twice, k1, k2tog; work Chevron
Lace row 2 twice, k1, SSK, [k1, YO] twice, k3. 2 sts increased, 34 heel
From here, you’ll work the RS rows as per the Chevron Lace
chart, and the WS rows are worked plain, as follows:
Heel row 1 and all following odd rows [WS]: Sl1, p33. Heel row 2 [RS]: Sl1, work Chevron Lace
row 3 four times, k1. Heel row 4 [RS]: Sl1, work Chevron Lace
row 4 four times, k1. Heel row 6 [RS]: Sl1, work Chevron Lace
row 5 four times, k1. Heel row 8 [RS]: Sl1, work Chevron Lace
row 1 four times, k1. Heel row 10 [RS]: Sl1, work Chevron Lace
row 2 four times, k1.
Repeat Heel rows 1-10 twice more, and
work rows 1-2 once more. WS is facing for next row.
Proceed to Final Heel Flap Rows.
Size L setup row [RS]: K2, work Chevron
Lace row 2 four times, k2. 36 heel
flap sts.
From here, you’ll work the RS rows as per the Chevron Lace
chart, and the WS rows are worked plain, as follows:
Heel row 1 and all following odd rows [WS]: Sl1, p35. Heel row 2 [RS]: Sl1, k1, work Chevron
Lace row 3 four times, k2. Heel row 4 [RS]: Sl1, k1, work Chevron
Lace row 4 four times, k2. Heel row 6 [RS]: Sl1, k1, work Chevron Lace row 5 four
times, k2. Heel row 8 [RS]: Sl1, k1, work Chevron
Lace row 1 four times, k2. Heel row 10 [RS]: Sl1, k1, work Chevron
Lace row 2 four times, k2.
Repeat Heel rows 1-10 twice more, and
work Heel rows 1-4 once more. WS is facing for next
row.
Continue with Final Heel Flap Rows.
Final Heel Flap Rows Last WS heel flap row: Sl1, purl to end.
Gussets Sizes S & M, Gusset Setup Round 1: With RS facing, pick up and
knit 16[18, -] sts along edge of heel flap; k2[0, -], work Chevron
Lace row 2 3[4,-] times, k2[1, -]; pick up and knit 16[17, -]
sts along other edge of heel flap; k9[10, -] and pm for end of
round (center of sole).
78[88, -] sts total - 28[33, -] instep
sts and 50[55, -] on the sole.
Round 2: K9[10, -]; k16[18, -] tbl; k2[0,
-], work Chevron Lace row 3 3[4, -] times, k2[1, -]; k16[17,
-] tbl, knit to end of round.
Round 3: K23[24, -], pm for new start
of instep. K4, work Chevron Lace row 4 3[4, -] times, k5, pm
for new end of instep; k to end of round.
Size L, Gusset Setup Round 1: With RS facing, pick up and
knit -[-, 20] sts along edge of heel flap; k3, YO, k1, k2tog;
work Chevron Lace row 2 three times, k1, SSK, k1, YO, k3; pick
up and knit -[-, 19] sts along other edge of heel flap; k-[-,
11] and pm for end of round (center of sole). -[-, 98] sts
total - -[-, 37] instep sts and -[-, 61] on the sole.
Round 2: K-[-, 11]; k-[-, 20] tbl; k4,
k2tog, YO; work Chevron Lace row 3 three times, k1, YO, SSK,
k4; k-[-, 19] tbl, knit to end of round.
Round 3: K-[-, 25], pm for new start
of instep. K4, work Chevron Lace row
4 for -[-, 5] times, k5, pm for new end
of instep; k to end of round.
All sizes continue: 78[88,98] sts
total - 45[47,49] sole sts and 33[41,
49] instep sts.
Rearrange sts on your needles as required.
From here on, the Foot Chart is used across the instep sts.
Start with the Foot Pattern row number corresponding to your
next pattern row.
Gusset round 1: K to last 2 sts of sole, k2tog; work across
instep sts as per Foot Pattern; SSK, k to end. 2 sts decreased. Gusset round 2: K to instep sts; work
instep in pattern from Foot Pattern Chart; k to end of round.
Repeat Gusset rounds 1 & 2 8[9, 10] more times
until 27 sts rem on sole. 60[68, 76] sts total- 33[41, 49] instep
sts, 27 sole sts.
Foot Foot round: K to instep sts; work instep
as set from Foot Chart; k to end of round.
Work Foot round until the foot is 2 inches
shorter than desired length, ending after Foot Pattern row 2.
Toe Setup round: Knit around.
Round 1: K19, (SSK, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo) 2[3, 4]
times, SSK, k3, k2tog, k to end of round. 2 sts decreased on
instep; 31[39, 47] instep sts, 27 sole sts. Round 2: Knit around.
Round 3: K19; (SSK, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo) 2[3, 4]
times, SSK, k1, k2tog; k to end of round. 2 sts decreased on
instep; 29[37, 45] instep sts, 27 sole sts.
Round 4: K13[13, 15], k2tog, k26[34, 38], SSK, k to
end of round. 2 sts decreased total; 28[36, 43] instep sts, 26[26,
27] sole sts.
Round 5: K18, (CDD, yo, k5, yo) 2[3, 4] times, CDD,
k to end of round. 2 instep sts decreased. 26[34, 41] instep
sts; 26[26, 27] sole sts.
The toe is completed in stockinette. Arrange stitches
so that instep and sole contain equal numbers: 13[15, 17] sole
+ 26[30, 34] instep + 13[15, 17] sole. Round 6: Knit around.
Round 7: K to last 3 sts of sole, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k
to last 4 sts of instep, SSK, k3, SSK, k to end of round. 4 sts
decreased. Round 8: Knit around.
Rep Rounds 7 & 8 4[5, 7] more times, until 32[36, 36] sts
rem.
Work Round 7 only until 16[20, 20] sts
rem.
Final row, setup for grafting: K to end
of sole sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail.
White Sock / Mixed Lace Leg
Cast on 56 [64, 72] sts loosely. Distribute
sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the
round, being careful not to twist.
Cuff Ribbing round: [K1, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1]
around.
Work ribbing round once more.
Leg Leg round: Work Chevron Lace pattern
Work as set until sock measures 3.75
inches, ending with round 5 of the Chevron Lace pattern.
*Work round 1 of Chevron Lace pattern.
Knit one round.
Work round 2 of Chevron Lace pattern.
Knit one round.
Work round 3 of Chevron Lace pattern.
Knit one round.
Work round 4 of Chevron Lace pattern.
Knit one round.
Work round 5 of Chevron Lace pattern.
Knit one round.
Repeat from * once more.
Heel
Work Heel setup, Flap and Turn as per Purple Sock.
Gussets Setup Round 1: With RS facing, pick up
and knit 16[18, 20] sts along edge
of heel flap; k28[33, 37]; pick up and knit 16[17, 19]
sts along other edge of heel flap; k9[10, 11] and pm
for end of round (center of sole).
78[88, 98] sts total - 28[33, 37] instep
sts and 50[55, 61] on the sole.
Sizes S & M only,
Round 2: K9[10, -]; k16[18, -] tbl;
k2[0, -], work Chevron Lace row 2 3[4, -] times, k2[1, -];
k16[17, -] tbl, knit to end of round.
Size L only, Round 2: K-[-, 11]; k-[-, 20] tbl; k3, YO,
k1, k2tog; rep Chevron Lace row 2 three times; k1, SSK,
k1, YO, k3; k-[-, 19] tbl, knit to end of round.
Round 3: K23[24, 25], pm for new start of instep. K33[41,
49], pm for new end of instep; k to end of round.
78[88,98] sts total - 45[47,49] sole sts and 33[41, 49]
instep sts.
Rearrange sts on your needles as required.
From here on, the Foot Chart is used across the instep
sts. Start with Foot Pattern row 3 on the next round.
Gusset round 1: K to last 2 sts of sole, k2tog; work across
instep sts as per Foot Pattern; SSK, k to end. 2 sts decreased. Gusset round 2: Knit around.
Repeat Gusset rounds 1 & 2 8[9, 10] more times until
27 sts rem on sole. 60[68, 76] sts total- 33[41, 49] instep
sts, 27 sole sts.
Complete as per Purple Sock, starting with Foot.
FINISHING
Use Kitchener Stitch to graft top and bottom of toe together.
Weave in ends.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Mary the Hobbit is a computer programmer
turned obsessive sock knitter who loves experimenting with stitch
patterns, sock constructions and new techniques. A Silicon Valley
expat, she now lives in the Biggest Little City in the World with
The Spouse and the Princess Bird.
