Inspired by the Swedish countryside, these socks have a lovely colourwork pattern
MAJA KARLSSON
FIRST SOCK
LEG
Using 2.5mm DPNs and yarn B, cast on 68 (76) sts. Join to work in the round, dividing sts evenly over 4 DPNs.
Work 10 rnds in K2, P2 ribbing.
Change to 3mm needles.
Knit 1 rnd, at the same time inc 2 (4) sts evenly spaced around. 70 (80) sts.
Knit 1 more rnd.
Now work in pattern following Chart A, 7 (8) times per rnd.
After completing Rows 1-20 of Chart A, change to yarn B and knit 1 rnd, at the same time dec 0 (2) sts evenly spaced around. 70 (78) sts.
Pm on each side of centre stitch – st 53 (59) – on back of sock.
Work in pattern following Chart B to the mrk; the centre st is always knitted with yarn B.
Next, work sts 3-4 (2-4) of Chart B, and then rep sts 1-4 to end of rnd.
Work in pattern as set, working Rows 1-4 of Chart B a total of 3 times.
Decrease rnd: Patt to 1 st before mrk, s2kpo, patt to end. 2 sts dec’d.
Continue in pattern as set, dec as above on 5 (8) foll 5th (3rd) rnds. 58 (60) sts.
Now work Decrease rnd twice. 54 (56) sts.
REARRANGING THE STITCHES
Now the sts must be moved so there are the same number of sts on back and front. The rnd will also have a new beginning st. Move 1 st on each side of the front to the back. You should have the following stitch numbers:
27 (28) sts on front (instep - needles 1 and 2) and 27 (28) sts on back (sole - needles 3 and 4).
New beg of rnd is the first st on needle 1.
HEEL FLAP
You will now turn and work back and forth over the 27 (28) back (sole) sts.
Using yarn B, work 24 rows in st st over heel sts.
HEEL TURN
Next row (RS): K16, K2tog tbl, K1, turn; Sl 1, P6 (5), P2tog, P1, turn; Sl 1, K7 (6), K2tog tbl, K1, turn; Sl 1, P8 (7), P2tog, P1, turn.
Continue the same way, working back and forth with 1 st more for every turn until all the side sts have been worked, ending after a RS row.
Return to knitting in the round. Knit instep sts in pattern as set from the new beginning of rnd, pick up and knit 15 sts on right side of heel flap (begin with 1 st in yarn B and then 1 st in yarn A, continuing to alternate yarns every st when you knit the first half of the rem heel sts (needle 3). Knit rem sts of heel in stripes, at the same time picking up and knitting 15 sts on left side of heel flap (needle 4). End with K1 with yarn B.
Knit 1 rnd in pattern on instep and alternating yarns A and B on sole.
Decrease rnd: Patt across 27 (28) front (instep) sts
