INTRODUCTION

Elbrus

by Anna Zhuravleva

This pattern was inspired by my trip to the Caucasus Mountains region. One of the most famous mountains located there is Elbrus – the highest mountain in Europe. So texture stitch pattern supplemented by yarn color and texture is imitating the mountain's peaks.

Since texture patterns look good from both sides I decided to make these socks fully reversible, so they can be worn on both sides or even different!

The specific heel flap used, and the method to pick up stitches, make the heel look good and smooth from both sides, and the gusset on the sole is nearly invisible.

photos: Anna Zhuravleva

SIZE

Adult S[M, L, XL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference:  7.5[8.5, 9.5, 10.5] inches/ 19[22, 24, 26] cm
Leg and foot length are adjustable to fit.
Choose a size approximately 1 inch/2.5cm smaller than your foot measured at the ball of the foot.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Regia Premium Merino Yak [58% Wool – Merino 28%, Manufactured Fibers - Nylon / Polyamide 14%, Other Animal - Yak; 437 yd/400 m per 3.53 oz/100 g skein]; color: 7510 Beige Meilert; 1 skein

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a fingering-weight sock yarn. This pattern looks best in a solid or tonal colored yarn. Choose a plied yarn with a tight twist. Superwash sock yarn with an addition of a little nylon will work best for easy care.

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 small circumference in the round: traditional or flexible DPNs, 1 long circular or two shorter circulars, as you prefer

Notions
stitch markers (optional)

GAUGE

30 sts/40 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch and in pattern.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method: Socks are worked top down, with texture pattern, heel flap with a gusset and shaped toe.
Heel flap has specific selvedge stitches to make the sock reversible.

Grafting:
Instructions for grafting can be found here and here.

CHARTS

View and download CHARTs here.

Texture Pattern - Leg
Worked over 8 stitches and 32 rounds.

Rounds 1–2: (K1, p1) around.
Rounds 3–4: [(P1, k1) 3 times, p2] around.
Rounds 5–6: [P2, k1, p1, k1, p3] around.
Rounds 7–8: [(P3, k1) twice] around.
Rounds 9–10: [K1, p5, k2] around.
Rounds 11–12: [K2, p3, k3] around.
Rounds 13–14: [K3, p1, k4] around.
Rounds 15–16: Knit.
Rounds 17–18: [(K1, p1) around.
Rounds 19–20: [K2, p3, k3] around.
Rounds 21–22: [K1, p5, k2] around.
Rounds 23–24: [(P3, k1) twice] around.
Rounds 25–26: [P2, k3, p3] around.
Rounds 27–28: [P1, k5, p2] around.
Rounds 29–30: [K7, p1] around.
Rounds 31–32: Knit.

Instep Pattern, Sizes S and L
Worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 5, and 32 rounds.

Rounds 1–2: (P1, k1) 14[-, 28, -] times, p1.
Rounds 3–4: ((K1, p1) twice, k1, p3) 3[-, 4, -] times, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rounds 5–6: ((P1, k1) twice, p4) 3[-, 4, -] times, (p1, k1) twice, p1.
Rounds 7–8: (P2, k1, p3, k1, p1) 3[-, 4, -] times, p2, k1, p2.
Rounds 9–10: (P5, k3) 3[-, 4, -] times, p5.
Rounds 11–12: (K1, p3, k4) 3[-, 4, -] times, k1, p3, k1.
Rounds 13–14: (K2, p1, k5) 3[-, 4, -] times, k2, p1, k2.
Rounds 15–16: Knit.
Rounds 17–18: (P1, k1) 14[-, 28, -] times, p1.
Rounds 19–20: (K1, p3, (k1, p1) twice) 3[-, 4, -] times, k1, p3, k1.
Rounds 21–22: (P5, k1, p1, k1) 3[-, 4, -] times, p5.
Rounds 23–24: (P2, k1, p3, k1, p1) 3[-, 4, -] times, p2, k1, p2.
Rounds 25–26: (P1, k3, p4) 3[-, 4, -] times, p1, k3, p1.
Rounds 27–28: (K5, p3) 3[-, 4, -] times, k5.
Rounds 29–30: (K6, p1, k1) 3[-, 4, -] times, k5.
Rounds 31–32: Knit.

Instep Pattern, Sizes M and XL
Worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 1, and 32 rounds.

Rounds 1–2: (P1, k1) –[18, -, 20] times, p1.
Rounds 3–4: (P2, (k1, p1) 3 times) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 5–6: (P3, k1, p1, k1, p2) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 7–8: (K1, p3) –[8, -, 10] times, k1.
Rounds 9–10: (K2, p5, k1) –[4, -, 5] times, k1.
Rounds 11–12: (K3, p3, k2) –[4, -, 5] times, k1.
Rounds 13–14: (K4, p1, k3) –[4, -, 5] times, k1.
Rounds 15–16: Knit.
Rounds 17–18: (P1, k1) –[18, -, 20] times, p1.
Rounds 19–20: (K1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1) –[4, -, 5] times, k1.
Rounds 21–22: (P1, k1, p5, k1) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 23–24: (K1, p3) –[8, -, 10] times, k1.
Rounds 25–26: (P3, k3, p2) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 27–28: (P2, k5, p1) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 29–30: (P1, k7) –[4, -, 5] times, p1.
Rounds 31–32: Knit.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using the Long-Tail method, cast on 56[64, 72, 80] sts.
Ribbing round: [K1, p1] around.
Work ribbing as set for total of 10[10, 12, 14] rounds.

Leg
Leg round: Work Leg Pattern 7[8, 9, 10] times around.
Work as set to the desired length:

• for sizes S and L – stop after Row 16 or 32 of the chart
• for sizes M and XL – stop after Row 15 or 31 of the chart.

Heel placement:
For sizes S and L: K1, and turn work to WS.
For sizes M and XL: Work in pattern (according to Row 16 or 32) to 1 st before the end of round. Turn to WS.

Heel flap (worked back and forth):
Set up row [WS]: K1, p 25[29, 33, 37] , k1. Turn.
Heel flap will be worked over these 27[31, 35, 39] sts. The rem 29[33, 37, 41] sts are held for the instep.

Heel flap row 1 [RS]: Knit across, turn.
Heel flap row 2 [WS]: K1, p to last st, k1. Turn.

Repeat Heel flap rows 1-2 11[13, 15, 17] more times. 24[28, 32, 36] rows in total.

Heel turn (worked back and forth):
RS facing you.
Heel turn row 1 [RS]: Sl 1 wyif, k 15[19, 21, 23] , SSK, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 6[10, 10, 10] , p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 3: Sl 1 wyb, k to 1 st before the gap, SSK (sts before and after the gap), k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 4: Sl 1 wyif, p to 1 st before the gap, p2tog (sts before and after the gap), p1. Turn.

Repeat Heel turn rows 3-4 until all sts have been worked. 17[21, 23, 25] sts rem.

Gusset (return to working in the round):
Gusset set up round 1: K 17[21, 23, 25] , pick up and knit 13[15, 17, 19] sts from the knots along the edge of the heel flap; this is the end of the sole/start of instep, place a marker or rearrange sts as you prefer; work 29[33, 37, 41] sts of the instep in the corresponding Instep Pattern (work from Row 1 if you stopped after Row 32 of the leg chart or work from Row 17 if you stopped after Row 16 of the leg chart); this is the end of the instep/start of sole, place a marker or rearrange sts as you prefer; pick up and knit 13[15, 17, 19] sts from the knots along the other edge of the heel flap; k 10[11, 12, 13] sts. This is the new beginning of the round. 72[84, 94, 104] sts.

From here, continue working the Instep Pattern as set.

Gusset set up round 2: K 9[11, 12, 13] , place m, k to instep, work across instep in pattern, k 12[14, 16, 18] , place m, k to end of round.

Gusset round 1: K to 2 sts before first m, k2tog, sm, k to instep, work across instep in pattern, k to second marker, sm, SSK, k to end of round. 2 sts decreased.
Gusset round 2: k to m1, slip m1, work in pattern to m2, slip m2, k to end of round.

Repeat Gusset rounds 1-2 7[9, 10, 11] more times, until 56[64, 72, 80] sts rem, removing markers on the last round.

Foot:
Foot round: K to instep, work across instep in pattern, k to end of round.

Work as set until the foot measures 1.75[2, 2, 2.25] inches/ 4.5[5, 5, 5.5] cm shorter than desired length, ending after row 16 or 32 of the chart. If the length is not enough but one more pattern repeat is too much, work the rem length in stockinette.

Toe:
Work 2 rounds in stockinette.

First toe decrease round: K 11[13, 15, 17] , k2tog, k1; this is the end of the sole/start of the instep; k1, SSK, k 22[26, 30, 34] , k2tog, k1; this is the end of the instep, k1, SSK, k to end of round. 4 sts decreased.
Knit 2 rnds.

Second toe decrease round: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; k1, SSK, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of round. 4 sts decreased.
Work Second toe decrease round followed by 1 even round, 2[2, 3, 3] times.
Then work Second toe decrease round only until 20[20, 24, 24] sts rem.

Setup for graft: K 5[5, 6, 6] sts.

Distribute sts evenly between 2 needles ( 10[10, 12, 12] sts on each needle).
Cut the yarn, leaving a 12-15 inches (30-40 cm) long tail.

Graft toe closed.

FINISHING

Wash socks, and weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

My name is Anna Zhuravleva from Moscow, Russia. I’m addicted to knitting since my early age and knitted my first socks when I was 12. Since then socks, mitts and gloves are my great love! I have an engineering degree, so constructing the perfect fit for all my designs is a must.

You can find my patterns on Ravelry and Instagram.

Pattern & images © 2024 Anna Zhuravleva