I met Audrey Clarke when our youngest kids were in first grade.
(They are juniors in college now.) We
just happened to volunteer in class on the same day.
On our first school field trip we got
on the school bus and both took out our
knitting, looked at each other and laughed.
From then on we became fast friends and were
inseparable. Audrey was the best BKFF
(Best Knitting Friend Forever) a person
could ever want. When
I needed to go look for yarn or buttons
Audrey would say, “When
should I come over and pick you up?” When my knitting
was giving me trouble she would say, “Come on over, let’s
take a look”. She even once volunteered to
frog several inches of lace for me because
I discovered a mistake and was contemplating
whether or not to fix it. I spent
many hours sitting at Audrey’s kitchen table, laughing,
drinking coffee, margaritas, or wine
(depending on the time of day) and knitting.
Audrey was also an excellent cook and seamstress.
One
of her prized knitting accomplishments was
the making of Eugen Beugler’s “Frost Flowers & Leaves” shawl.
She was so proud to show it to him a few
years back at Stitches West. I have favored this lace
pattern as well and decided to incorporate
it into a design of my own. By changing
the starting point of this sock pattern,
I was able to take a challenging lace pattern
and make it simple.
Audrey lost her battle with cancer last May. These socks are
my Tribute to our friendship and all her beautiful work.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Lisa
Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks Timaru
[65% superwash Merino/ 35% Rayon of Bamboo; 500 yd per 100g 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]
1
set US #0/2mm double-point needles OR
1
US #0/2mm long circular needle for magic loop method OR
2 US #0/2mm circular needles for two-circulars method
Notions
Yarn
needle
GAUGE
32
sts/50 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Because of the nature of this lace
pattern, this pattern is easier to work on magic loop or 2 circular
needles, rather than double points. There will be fewer shifting of stitches between
needles to complete the work.
When working the leg, pay attention to the note about
slipping stitches at the start of certain chart rounds. You
will need to rearrange your stitches for ease of working.
Charts
The charts for this pattern are very large and fit on a letter-sized
page.
Click the chart name below and print the resulting page.
Socks
Loosely cast on 68 sts leaving a 12-inch tail to sew down cuff. Join
being careful not to twist and mark beginning of round.
Work even
in stockinette stitch for 1 inch.
Picot round: [K2tog, yo] to end of round.
Continue in stockinette stitch for 1 inch.
Next round: Work Chart A twice across round.
Note: At the beginning of Chart
A rounds 15, 16, 19, 20, 23 and 24,
slip the first stitch of the round. This
shifts the round start over by one
stitch to compensate for the two decreases
at the end of the chart and allows
the pattern to line up.
Continue as established until you have worked two full
repeats of Chart A. Work another 11 full
rounds, and work to the last 2 sts of
a 12th round. This will be the new start of the round – rearrange
your stitches if you need to.
Heel Flap:
Turn so that WS is facing. Heel flap is worked back
and forth in rows on 34 sts. Row 1 [WS]: K3, p31. Row 2 [RS]: P3, [k1, sl 1], rep to last 3 sts, k3.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 15[16, 17] more times.
Repeat row 1. 33[35, 37] rows total.
RS will be facing.
Gusset:
Pick up and knit 18[19, 20] sts along
the side of the heel flap for right
gusset. Place marker for start of round.
Work across 34 instep sts following row
13 of Chart B and place a second marker for
end of instep.
Pick up and knit 18[19, 20]sts along the
side of the heel flap for left gusset. Knit the 18 heel
flap stitches and the 18[19, 20] right side gusset stitches.
88[90, 92] sts total.
Gusset decreases: Decrease round: Work in pattern to end
of instep; k1, SSK; knit to last 3 sts of round, k2tog,
k1. Following round: Work in pattern to end
of instep; knit to end of round.
Alternate the above two rounds 11[10,
9] more times until 64[68, 72] sts rem total – 34
on instep, 30[34, 38] on sole.
Foot:
Work even as established on 64[68, 72]
sts until the foot length reaches the base of the toes
when measured from back of heel. Sizes
S and L only: Remove marker from end of instep on final round.
Toe: Size S only, setup round for toe: Remove
start of round marker, k1; replace start of round marker;
k32, place second marker for center of round; k to end
of round.
Size L only, setup round for toe: Remove
start of round marker, k36, place second marker for center
of round, k36, replace start of round marker.
All sizes: Decrease round: K 1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before
second marker , k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to 3 sts before end
of round, k2tog, k1. Round 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until 32[36, 40] sts remain.
Repeat
Round 1 3[4, 5] more times until 20 sts
remain.
Graft
toe sts together with Kitchener st.
Weave in
ends.
FINISHING
Turn sock inside out. Use tail of cast on yarn to sew
down cuff. Weave in ends. Block lightly.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Brenda’s designs are fueled by the creative energy of the
San Francisco Bay Area. Her artistic vibe and desire to explore
new techniques infuses her various creative outlets of cooking,
beading, and most of all, knitting.
You can find more of Brenda’s designs here and here. She's
on Ravelry
as Beeeepatipaknits and Twitter as bpatipaknits.