So, I mentioned I learned Magic Loop and Toe Up Socks in this post. I love knitting socks, but ever since knitting my Wicked I’ve found I enjoy being able to try things on as I am knitting them. You are able to get a much better fit. Plus if you have to frog back, it’s easier to do that while in the middle of knitting it, than it is having a finished garment that just doesn’t fit properly.
Anyway, I took the bulls by the horn, and cast on for some socks, but wanted something a bit fancier than just plain stocking stitch, so I frogged it and started over. I took my favourite dishcloth pattern, and turned it into a sock pattern.
I was so determined to use my Regia Bamboo Colours, but it’s a little hard to see the lacework. So I knit up some Vintage Purl Sock Wool in Chlorophyll. These are a gift. A very belated Christmas present, but better late than never. The semi-solid dyeing shows the pattern in much more details.
I had to modify a bit as the wool knit tighter than the Bamboo did. Plus, I did an anklet height, so only did four lace pattern repeats after the heel flap, and a plain cast off. I called the pattern Mermaidia based on both origin of the stitch pattern and because it looked like a gathering place for Mermaids.
And one a little closer, showing the lacework.
The lighting, plus my novice photo editing skills don’t do the colour justice.
So, here is the pattern. It will be uploaded to Ravelry as well. Special thanks to the lovely Morag of Vintage Purls, for helping me get my head around doing the heel flap in reverse.
This sock when knit in gauge, should give you a US Woman’s shoe size of 8 – 9. It can be easily lengthened or shortened by adding rows in the foot. It is designed to use Magic loop. It can be done on DPNs if you wish, just be careful with the pattern, as there are more stitches on the top of the sock than there are on the bottom.
Gauge:
9 st x 12 rows per inch in stocking stitch
Materials needed:
100g 4ply Regia Bamboo Colour
2.50mm 80cm circular needle (I used Knit Picks)
3 place markers/stitch markers.
Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
sl = slip purlwise while keeping yarn at the back
kfb = knit into front of loop and then into back of loop
yf = bring yarn to the front of the work as if to purl
psso = pass slipped stitch over
m1 = This is the M1L from knittinghelp.com: Using the left needle, lift the purl bar between the stitches on your needles and knit into the back of the loop
k2tog = knit two together
p2tog = purl two together
pm = place marker
rm = remove marker
slm = slip marker from left to right needle
BarInc = : Using the left needle, lift the purl bar between the stitches on your needles to create a new stitch.
Cast on toe:
Using Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-On or Turkish Cast On, cast on 24 stitches (12 on each needle) and knit one round. Place marker (or pull tail yarn to the outside of the work) to mark the beginning of the round.
Toe Increases:
Round 1: Kfb, knit to next to last stitch on needle one, kfb, k1. Repeat on needle two.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 nine times for a total of 10 sets of increases. You should have 32 stitches on each needle.
Round 1: Knit 16, M1, K to end of round.
Round 2: Knit
You should now have 33 stitches on needle one, and 32 on needle two. The extra stitch on needle one is to center the lace pattern.
Start the lace pattern here for needle one only. Knit all stitches on needle two. Work 9 pattern repeats, or until sock is 3.5 inches less than the length of your foot from toe to heel.
Lace pattern:
Row 1: k1,*yf, k2 , sl1-k2tog-psso, k2, yf, k1* (x4), knit to end of round
Row 2: k
Row 3:k2,*yf, k1, sl1-k2tog-psso, k1, yf, k3* (x3), yf, k1, sl1-k2tog-psso, k1, yf, k2, knit to end of round.
Row 4: k
Row 5: k3, *yf, sl1-k2tog-psso, yf, k5*(x3), yf, sl1-k2tog-psso, yf, k3, knit to end of round.
Row 6: k
Gusset Increases:
I will now interchangeably refer to needle one as the instep and needle two as the insole. Continuing the lace pattern on needle 1 (instep), work gusset increases on needle two (insole) only.
Round 1: k1, pm, m1, k30, m1, pm, k1
Round 2: knit
Round 3: k1, m1, slm, k32, slm, m1, k1
Round 4: knit
Round 5: k1, m1, knit to marker, slm, k32, slm, knit to last stitch, m1, k1
Round 6, knit
Work rounds 5 and 6 a total of 10 times, ending in a knit row. You should now have 12 gusset stitches on either side of your place markers, and the 32 insole stitches between the place markers.
Reverse Heel Flap:
Knit in pattern across the instep (needle one). You will now be working back & forth on the insole needle only (needle two). Do not wrap your stitches when you turn.
Row 1: k12, slm, k32, turn
Row 2: sl1, p31, turn
Row 3: sl1, k30, turn
Row 4: sl1, p29, turn
Row 5: sl1, k28, turn
Row 6: sl1, p27, turn
Row 7: sl1, k26, turn
Row 8: sl1, p25, turn
Row 9: sl1, k24, turn
Row 10: sl1, p23, turn
Row 11: sl1, k22, turn
Row 12: sl1, p21, turn
Row 13: sl1, k20, turn
Row 14: sl1, p19, turn
Row 15: sl1, k18, turn
Row 16: sl1, p17, turn
Row 17: sl1, k16, DO NOT TURN. You will now knit in the 8 abandoned short row stitches that are on your left needle as follows: *BarInc, k2tog* (x8). You will now pick up the first gusset stitch as such: rm, sl1 to right needle, pm back on left needle, pass next to last stitch on right needle over the slipped stitch, turn.
Row 18: sl1, p23, *BarInc, p2tog* (x8), rm, sl1 to right needle, pm back on left needle, pass next to last stitch on right needle over the slipped stitch, turn.
Row 19: sl1, k31, rm, sl1 to right needle, pm back on left needle, pass next to last stitch on right needle over the slipped stitch, turn.
Row 20: sl1, p31, rm, sl1 to right needle, pm back on left needle, pass next to last stitch on right needle over the slipped stitch, turn.
Repeat rows 19 and 20 ten more times, until all the gusset stitches have been knit in, ending in a purl row, turn.
You will start the lace pattern now on needle two (which is now the back of the leg). For this row only, knit lace pattern on needle 2 as follows:
yf, sl1, k1, sl1-k2tog-psso, k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, sl1-k2tog-psso, k2, yf, k2tog, yf, k2, sl1-k2tog-psso, k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, sl1-k2tog-psso, k1, sl1, yf. You will now have 31 stitches on needle two for the remainder of the sock, instead of 32. You should now be back at the beginning of the round, ready to work round 2 of the lace pattern. Work round 2 in the following fashion ONCE, and then continue in original lace pattern, working lace on both needles one and two.
Round 2 (do only this one time): sl1, k31, sl1, knit to end of round. Be sure not to accidently knit your yf and your sl together at the beginning and end of needle two.
TIP: Because there are yf increases at the beginning and end of needle two in round 1 of the lace pattern, it is very important to keep these as tight as possible, so as not to create ladders in your work from the areas between needles.
Continue in pattern, for 10 pattern repeats, or to desired length.
Cuff:
Work 10 rows in twisted rib: (k1tbl, p1) x 32
OR work an alternate cuff of 12 rounds of 2×2 rib, followed by a normal cast off.
Cast off:
Picot cast off (or use your preferred cast off method). *Cast on 2 stitches using cable cast on, cast off 4 stitches in the usual manner. Move last stitch you knit from the right needle to the left needle, and repeat from *.
Please note, this pattern is free for personal use. Not commercial use of this pattern without prior approval. Copyright 2009 Christine Jeffery
PDF download is here:
They look really beautiful Christine!!! verry clever lady 🙂
I LOVE it in the green – it really does show the lacework off HEAPS better. Looks like a good excuse to “invest” in a semi-solid Vintage Purls to me eh?
Gee..socks seem hard. Love the patterns!
Oh C they are GORGEOUS, I agree with Sharon – the green really makes it pop (and I’ve also been looking on Vintage Purls website 😳 you are such an enabler hehe)
BOOOTY- ful, C!
I luffs them.
Great work Christine! Been waiting for your pattern to come up 🙂
Your socks are stunning! Beautiful!
(came here through comment train. See you often on blogland!)
WOW they are gorgeous!! awesome design chickee 😀
and gosh darn your amazing knitting guru skills!! i’ve been knitting the same pair of socks foorrrevverrrr.. meanwhile you knit two pairs from your very own design! show off! 😉 (but don’t you dare slow down! i love it all!)
Thanks ladies. I am quite pleased with how they look.
Nova, get cracking woman. 😉
Beautiful socks – I’ll have to give them a try!!
[…] Mermaidia Socks have a gorgeous pattern in them, especially when knit in a solid […]
[…] This is to compliment the Mermaidia socks I blogged about in this post. […]
Found this pattern through the free pattern a day link. I’ve never knit a toe up sock and think I’ll use this pattern as my first try. I use two circs for socks and knit both socks at the same time and this pattern looks like one I should be able to use easily. I like the length of the first pair better and will aim for that! Thank you for making the pattern available in pdf!
Hi Kate. Please link me to your socks when you knit them. I would love to see how they turn out. Please post with any questions as well. Happy to help!
C
[…] April 9, 2009 von strumpfbina mermaida bei https://purdypeas.wordpress.com […]
Thank you so much for the majic loop pattern! I cant wait to get it on the needles
[…] again the awesome, lovely Christines pattern and using some of the yarn I got from Morag and dyed myself. I love the pattern the lacing […]