Drop In, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a DETAILS HERE.

INTRODUCTION

Drop In

beauty shot by Andrea Pfuhl

Tangy

It frequently rains in Northern Germany, and this inspired me to knit something with zillions of rain drops on it. Fortunately many of my friends love non black, -bluish or -greyish socks. These bold men have inspired me to create socks with a wearable droplet pattern worked in Fair Isle technique.

This rainstorm will keep your feet warm, and hopefully dry as well.

spacer photos: Andrea Pfuhl

SIZE

Adult S[M, L]
shown in size L

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference: 8[8.75, 9.5] inches / 20[22, 24] cm
Leg Length: 6[6, 8] inches / 15[15, 20.5] cm or adjustable to preference
Foot Length: adjustable to preference.

Note: These socks are designed to be worn with zero ease, so choose a size closest to your actual foot measurement.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Schachenmayr Regia 4-fädig Color[75% Superwash Wool, 25% Polyamide; 410 yd/210 m per 50g skein];
[MC] Crystal Color, color #2577; 2[2, 2] skeins

Schachenmayr Regia 4-fädig Uni [75% Superwash Wool, 25% Polyamide; 410 yd/210 m per 50g skein];
[CC1] hellgrau meliert, color #1991; 1[1, 1] skein
[CC2] natur, color #1992; 1[1, 1] skein

Yarn Characteristics:
These socks use a traditional style 4-ply superwash sock yarn in a wool and polyamide (nylon) blend. The MC is a discontinued gradient colorway. Any matching weight/composition sock yarn in a gradient colorway will provide similar results.

Recommended Needle Size
always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below – every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #2/2.75 mm needles for small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

29 sts/40 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
30 sts/33 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

long-tail cast on for ribbing
weave in all the ends as you go
To avoid long floats of yarn that toes might get caught in, weave in the yarn not in use when a color goes unused for 5 sts or more

CHARTS

small | medium | large

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using MC, and your preferred method – see Pattern Notes for suggestions – CO 60[66, 72] sts. Distribute stitches across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round, noting or marking start of round.

Ribbing round: (K1, p1) around.
Work ribbing as set for approx 1 inch / 2.5 cm.
Do not break MC yarn.

Leg
Join CC1
Leg round: Work Leg Chart for appropriate size 3[3, 4] times around.
Continue as set until chart is complete, breaking and joining CC1 and CC2 as required.

Heel Flap
Break CCs and continue in MC only.

Setup - Right Sock only
The heel is worked on the first half of the sts. Arrange the first 30[33, 36] sts so they are all on one needle.

Setup - Left Sock only
The heel is worked on the second half of the round. Arrange the last 30[33, 36] sts so they are all on one needle, and then turn so that WS is facing.
Setup Row [WS]: K1, p 28[31, 34] , k1 tbl.

Both Socks, Continue:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, [sl1 wyib, k1] to last 1[2, 1] sts, sl1 wyib 0[1, 0] times, k1 tbl.
Row 2 [WS]: K1, p 28[31, 34] , k1 tbl.

Repeat Rows 1-2 13[14, 16] more times.

Turn Heel
Setup Row [RS]: Sl1 wyib, k 18[20, 22] , ssk, turn work.

Heel Turn Row 1 [WS]: Sl1 wyif, p 8[9, 10] p2tog, turn work.
Heel Turn Row 2 [RS]: Sl1 wyib, k 8[9, 10] ssk, turn work.

Repeat Heel Turn Rows 1-2 until all heel sts have been worked. Last Row is a WS Row; 10[11, 12] sts rem.

Gusset

Setup Row:
Continuing with MC, k 10[11, 12] sts of heel turn, pick up and knit 14[15, 17] sts along edge of heel flap, M1L between the heel flap and the instep, k across 30[33, 36] held instep sts; M1L between the heel flap and the instep and pick up and knit 14[15, 17] sts along second edge of heel flap.
70[76, 84] sts.

Next Round, establish patterns: Work Gusset Chart for appropriate size across 10[11, 12] sts of heel turn, continue with Foot Chart S[M, L] ; for Size M only, skip the last st of the last repeat of the Foot chart.

Continue in pattern, and work as set until Gusset Charts are complete, and 1 st rems for the chart. 61[66, 72] sts rem.

Size M only: K1, and slip this st to the end of the round.

Size S and L only: Following chart, work k2tog on the first 2 sts of the round, then continue in pattern to end of Round. 60[-, 72] sts.

Foot
Continue in pattern until foot measures approx. 1.75[2, 2.25] inches / 4.75[5, 5.5] cm less than desired foot length.
Note: if you complete the chart before you reach this point, break CC yarns and continue only in MC.

Toe
Even if you haven't completed the chart at this point, break CC yarns and continue only in MC.

Setup Round, Size S only: Knit.
Setup Round, Size M only: (K2tog, k31) twice. 64 sts.
Setup Round, Size L only: (K2tog, k16) 4 times. 68 sts.

Round 1, toe decrease round: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of round. 4 sts decreased.
Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 until you have 36[40, 40] sts on your needles.

Work Round 1 only until you have 8 sts left. Break yarn, leaving a 6 inch/15 cm tail and pull these stitches up together firmly with the yarn held double.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends.

Soak thoroughly in lukewarm water. Drain and squeeze out the excess water by rolling it up in a towl and lay flat to dry.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Andrea is a biologist, journalist and non-fiction author who lives with her husband in Northern Germany near the Elbe river. Knitting keeps her alive between her demanding projects. She was taught knitting by her beloved and gifted grandma eons ago.

She can be found on Ravelry as Suruvaippa.