Heartleaf, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Heartleaf

beauty shot by Kayla Baldwin

Piquant

Inspired by the many pothos plants around my home, this sock is leafy and vibrant. It features twisted stitches resembling vines and stems, and leaf lace featuring a centered leaf. Influenced by Japanese knitting involving simple decreases and twisted stitches forming a complex all over pattern, it ends with a beautifully finished toe that evokes vines growing out of the soil.

spacer photos: Brian Su

SIZE

S[M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference: 8[8.75, 9.5] inches/ 20.5[22.5, 24.5] cm
Foot length: adjustable

choose a size with approximately 1 inch/2.5 cm of negative ease in the foot circumference

MATERIALS

Yarn
Grey sock (above): Cascade Heritage Sock [ 75% Merino, 25% Nylon; 437 yards/400 metres per 100 gram skein]. Colourway: 5602 Steel
Green sock (below): Madelinetosh Sock [100% superwash merino wool; 395 yards/361 meters per 100 gram skein]. Colourway: Moorland

Yarn Characteristics
These socks are knit with a wool and nylon blend yarn for durability. Use a solid or nearly solid yarn with good stitch definition to show off the pattern.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #1 /2.25 mm needles for small circumference in the round.

Notions
yarn needle

GAUGE

32 sts/44 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch.
28 sts/44 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in lace pattern

PATTERN NOTES

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

CHARTS

Main Pattern Multiple of 20[22, 24] sts, 32 rnds.
Work from written instructions or chart as you prefer.
Rnd 1: Yo, k2, SSK, k11, k2tog, k2, yo, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 2: K1, yo, k2, SSK, k9, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 3: K2, yo, k2, SSK, yo, k2, cdd, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 4: K3, yo, k2, SSK, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 5: K4, yo, k2, SSK, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, k2 yo, k4, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 6: K5, yo, k2, SSK, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 7: Yo, k2, SSK, k5, p1, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 8: K1, yo, k2, SSK, k4, p1, k4, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 9: K2, yo, k2, SSK, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 10: K3, yo, k2, SSK, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 11: K4, yo, k2, SSK, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k4, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 12: K5, yo, k2, SSK, p1, k2tog, k2, yo, k5, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 13: K2, yo, SSK, (k1tbl, p1) 5 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, k2, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 14: K4, (k1tbl, p1) 5 times, k1tbl, k4, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 15: SSK, yo, k1, yo, SSK, (p1, k1tbl) 4 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 16: K5, (p1, k1tbl) 4 times, p1, k5, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 17: SSK, yo, k2, yo, SSK, (k1tbl, p1) 3 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 18: K6, (k1tbl, p1) 3 times, k1tbl, k6, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 19: SSK, yo, k3, yo, SSK, (p1, k1tbl) 2 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 20: K7, (p1, k1tbl) 2 times, p1, k7, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 21: SSK, yo, k4, yo, SSK, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 22: K8, k1 tbl, p1, kl1 tbl, k8, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 23: SSK, yo, k5, yo, SSK, p1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 24: K19, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 25: Yo, SSK, yo, k1, cdd, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, SSK, yo, k1, cdd, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnds 26: K19, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 27: K1, yo, SSK, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, SSK, yo, cdd, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 28: K19, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 29: K2, yo, SSK, k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, SSK, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, p1[3, 5].
Rnd 30: K19, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 31: K3, yo, cdd, yo, k7, yo, cdd, yo, k3, p 1[3, 5] .
Rnd 32: K19, p 1[3, 5] .

Toe Pattern Starts with 21 sts, decreases to 3.
Work from written instructions or chart as you prefer.
Rnd 1: P1, SSK, k1 tbl, (p1, k1 tbl) 7 times, k2tog, p1. 19 sts.
Rnd 2: P1, k1 tbl, (k1 tbl, p1) 7 times, k2 tbl, p1.
Rnd 3: P1, SSK, (p1, k1 tbl) 6 times, p1, k2tog, p1. 17 sts.
Rnd 4: P1, (k1 tbl, p1) 8 times.
Rnd 5: P1, SSK, (k1 tbl, p1) 5 times, k1 tbl, k2tog, p1. 15 sts.
Rnd 6: P1, k1 tbl, (k1 tbl, p1) 5 times, k2 tbl, p1.
Rnd 7: P1, SSK, p1, (k1 tbl, p1) 4 times, k2tog, p1. 13 sts.
Rnd 8: P1, (k1 tbl, p1) 6 times.
Rnd 9: P1, SSK, (k1 tbl, p1) 3 times, k1 tbl, k2tog, p1. 11 sts.
Rnd 10: P1, k1 tbl, (k1 tbl, p1) 3 times, k2 tbl, p1.
Rnd 11: P1, SSK, (p1, k1 tbl) 2 times, p1, k2tog, p1. 9 sts.
Rnd 12: P1, (k1 tbl, p1) 4 times.
Rnd 13: P1, SSK, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, k2tog, p1. 7 sts.
Rnd 14: P1, k2 tbl, p1, k2 tbl, p1.
Rnd 15: P1, SSK, k1, k2tog, p1. 5 sts.
Rnd 16: P1, cdd, p1. 3 sts.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff:
Using the Long Tail or your preferred stretchy method, CO 60[66, 72] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Note or mark start of round.

Sock cuff:
Ribbing rnd: (K1tbl, p1) around.
Work ribbing as set for 1 inch/2.5 cm.

Size M only, setup for leg pattern: K1tbl; this is the new start of round. Rearrange sts as you prefer.

Leg rnd: Work Main chart three times around, noting the repeated purl stitch.
Work as set until you have completed Chart Rnd 32, then work Chart Rnds 1-9 once more.

Heel Flap
Setup for heel flap: Work next rnd, as per Chart Rnd 10, until 9 sts before the end of round. K 4[6, 0] . There should be 5[7, 9] sts remaining before the end of round.This position will be the start of the instep. Turn work so that WS is facing.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, (k1, p1tbl) 15[16, 17] times, turn. 31[33, 35] sts for heel.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, (p1, k1tbl) 15[16, 17] times, turn.

Repeat Rows 1-2 14[15, 16] times more, and work Row 1 once more. 31[33, 35] rows total.

Heel turn:

Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1, k 16[17, 18] , SSK, k1, turn. 30[32, 34] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn. 29[31, 33] sts.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap, SSK, k1, turn. 1 st dec.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog p1, turn. 1 st dec.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until 19[19, 21] sts remain. For size S and L, 1 st rems on each side of the gaps.

Sizes S and L only, Final RS row: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap, SSK, turn. 18[-, 20] sts.
Final WS row: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, turn. 17[-, 19] sts.

All Sizes:
17[19, 19] sts remain

Gusset
Beginning of round will start in middle of heel. K 8[9, 9] . This position is the new start of round.
Rearrange sts or place marker as you prefer.

Setup round: K across the 9[10, 10] rem heel sts, then pick up and knit 16[17, 18] sts along edge of heel flap, using slipped sts as a guide; this position is the start of the instep; k4, p 1[3, 5] , work chart as set across 20[22, 24] sts, k4; this position is the end of the instep; pick up and knit 16[17, 18] sts along second edge of heel flap, k 8[9, 10] to start of round. 78[86, 92] sts. The instep sts will continue being worked in pattern as set in the setup round while the gusset and sole sts are worked in stockinette.

Gusset Decreases
Decrease round: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; work in patt as set across instep, k1, SSK, k to end of round. 2 sts decreased.
Next round: K to instep; work in patt as set across instep, k to end of round.

Repeat last 2 rounds 8[9, 9] more times, until 60[66, 72] sts remain.

Foot:
Foot round: K to instep, work across instep in patt as set, k to end of round.

Work even in pattern as set until foot measures approximately 1.5[1.5, 1.75] inches/ 4[4, 4.5] cm short of desired finished foot length.
For size S, it looks tidiest if you end with row 5, 11, 22 or 30 of the Main pattern.
For sizes M and L, it looks tidiest if you end with row 6, 12, 23 or 31 of the Main pattern.

Toe setup round, size S only: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; work across instep in pattern; k1, SSK, k to end of rnd. 2 sts decreased on sole only; 29 sts each on sole and instep, 58 sts total.

Toe:

Tip: You will be working the toe motif on the central 21 sts of the instep, encompassing the central lace motif and a single purl stitch either side. If it’s helpful place markers around those stitches. Decreases are worked within the motif, rather than at the edges of the instep.

Decrease round: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; k to motif, work Toe pattern on central sts, k to end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, SSK, k to end of round. 4 sts decreased.
Next round: K to instep motif, work Toe pattern on central sts, k to end of round.

Work as set by the last 2 rounds until you have completed Toe pattern round 15. 26[34, 40] sts.

Next round, sizes S and M only: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; k to motif, work Toe pattern row 16 on central sts, k to endof instep; k1, SSK, k to end of round. 22[30, -] sts rem.

Size S, proceed to Finishing.

Next round, size L only: K to instep motif, work Toe pattern row 16 on central sts, k to end of round. 2 instep sts decreased; 38 sts rem.

Toe final decrease, sizes M and L only: 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, -[26, 34] sts rem.

Size L only: Repeat the final decrease round once more. 30 sts rem.

FINISHING

K to start of instep. Cut yarn, leaving a 6 inch/15 cm tail and graft toe closed.
Wash and lay flat to dry; do not stretch or use blockers. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Kayla Baldwin is mother to 3 little boys and loves to knit, crochet, and spin yarn. Specializing in sock knitting intricate patterns with a botanical focus.

Stay tuned to Ravelry and Instagram for more upcoming designs.