Making Waves, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Making Waves

beauty shot by Ravid Ekshtain

Tangy

These socks are knit from the top down and have a lacy texture that resembles fountains and pronounced wave lines. A negative ease of 2 inches in the sock circumference highlights the stitch definition.

The pattern is easy to memorize and is developed from a lacy pattern from the great Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida. It’s a great small project to take with you and knit on the go.

spacer photos: Ravid Ekshtain

SIZE

Adult Women's S[M, L, XL]
shown in? size M on foot of 9.5 inches/24 cm and 9 inch/23 cm circumference

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Sock circumference: 7.5[8, 8.5, 9] inches/19.5 [20.5, 22, 23] cm.  
Choose a size with approximately 1-2 inches/4-5cm negative ease in the foot circumference – the stitch pattern is very stretchy.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Knit Picks Stroll [75% fine superwash merino wool, 25% nylon; 231yd/211m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Treasure; 2[2, 2, 2] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a fingering-weight sock yarn. For substitution, a wool or wool/nylon blend yarn of a similar weight should work well. Solid or semi-solid yarns are recommended.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #0/2mm needles for small circumference in the round: traditional or flexible DPNs, 1 long circular for magic loop or two shorter circulars; you may use a sock-length circular needle but you will need a secondary method for the toe decreases.

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

32 sts/48 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
40 sts/48 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in pattern stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

CHARTS

Stitch Pattern A:
Setup Round: K3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 1: Yo, k3, p2, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 2: K1, yo, k3, p1, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 3: K2, yo, k3, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 4: K3, yo, k2, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 5: K3, p1, yo, k1, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 6: K3, p2, yo, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 7: K3, p3, ssk, p2, k3, yo, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 8: K3, p3, ssk, p1, k3, yo, k1, p2[3, 4, 5].
 Round 9: K3, p3, ssk, k3, yo, k2, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 10: K3, p3, ssk, k2, yo, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
 Round 11: K3, p3, ssk, k1, yo, p1, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 12: K3, k3, p3, ssk, yo, p2, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].

Stitch Pattern B:
Setup Round: K3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 1: K3, p3, ssk, p2, k3, yo, p2[3, 4, 5].
 Round 2: K3, p3, ssk, p1, k3, yo, k1, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 3: K3, p3, ssk, k3, yo, k2, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 4: K3, p3, ssk, k2, yo, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 5: K3, p3, ssk, k1, yo, p1, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 6: K3, p3, ssk, yo, p2, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
 Round 7: Yo, k3, p2, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 8: K1, yo, k3, p1, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 9: K2, yo, k3, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
 Round 10: K3, yo, k2, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].
Round 11: K3, p1, yo, k1, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5]. 
Round 12: K3, p2, yo, k2tog, p3, k3, p2[3, 4, 5].

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using your chosen CO method, CO 60[64, 68, 72] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.
Ribbing round: [K2, p2] to end of round.
Work ribbing round for 16 rounds or until the cuff measures 1 inch/ 2.5 cm.

Leg
Round 1: (Work Stitch Pattern A, work Stitch Pattern B) twice.
Continue until leg reaches 4.75 inches / 12 cm, from the CO edge or the length of your choice, ending the final rnd 1[2, 2, 2] sts before the end of the round. Mark the last round in order to reestablish the work in pattern after the heel.

Heel flap
The heel flap is worked in rows on the first 30[31, 34, 35] sts of the round, counted from this new start of round position. For ease of working, group the sts together on one needle if required.

Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k29[30, 33, 34], turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p29[30, 33, 34], turn.

Work Rows 1-2 13[15, 16, 17] more times.

Heel turn:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k16[17, 20, 21], ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p5[6, 9, 10], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1, knit to 1 st before the gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl1, purl to 1 st before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3-4 until all stitches have been worked: 18[19, 22, 23] sts remain.

Gusset and Foot

Gusset setup – part 1:
K18[19, 22, 23]. This position is the new start of round. Rearrange sts or place markers as you prefer.

Gusset setup round: With RS facing, pick up and knit 15 [17, 18, 19] sts along the edge of heel flap; this is the start of the instep, place markers or rearrange sts as you prefer; p1[2, 2, 3], work Pattern A as set, work Pattern B as set, ending with p1[2, 2, 3] after the 13-sts of the lace pattern this is the end of instep, place markers or rearrange sts as you prefer; pick up and knit 15 [17, 18, 19] sts along the second side of the heel flap, knit to end of the round 78[86, 92, 98] sts.

Gusset round 1: K to instep; work across instep in pattern; k to end of round.
Gusset round 2: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; work across instep in pattern as set; k1, ssk, knit to end of round. 2 sts decreased.
Repeat Gusset rounds 1-2 8[10, 11, 12] more times, until 60 [64, 68, 72] sts rem.

Continue working in the round, working the stitches for the top of the foot according to pattern as established, until foot measures 1.25[1.5, 1.5, 1,5] inches / 3[4, 4.5, 4] cm less than desired foot length.

Toe setup:
K to start of instep. This is the new start of round position.

Toe
Toe round 1: Ssk, k to 2 sts before end of instep, k2tog, ssk, k to 2 sts before end of round, k2tog. 4 sts decreased.
Toe round 2: Knit.

Repeat Toe rounds 1- 2 until 40 sts remain total, ending with a Round 2. Then repeat Round 1 only until 24 sts remain in total. Cut the yarn leaving a 12 inch/30 cm tail and graft the toe closed.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Ravid lives in the warm climate of the Middle East (Israel) were she designs in front of the beautiful view of the ‘Yizrael valley. She likes wearing knitted garments with lots of texture and is obsessed with cables, bobbles and other motifs. Handspun yarn is one of her preferred materials for knitting lately because it gives her the opportunity to play with different spinning methods and create different types of fabrics. Her favorite designs include socks, cardigans and cowls.

Her patterns are available on Ravelry and you can also find her on Instagram.