AMARETTI SOCKS

 

Sweet, simple, and very special, these socks are just like amaretti cookies - once you give them a try, it’s impossible to stop!

The pattern is easy to memorize and fun to knit, while the broken rib stitch gives the finished pair elasticity together with a nice look. Socks are knitted from the top down with a heel flap. Both the toe and the heel are reinforced with slipped stitches.

With the stitch pattern that looks great in any kind of yarn - from solids to complex handdyed skeins, - Amaretti Socks are going to be a treat both to knit and to wear.

 
 
 

YARN

  • 306-437yds (70-100g) of any sock yarn, depending on the sock length

  • Sample socks were knitted with Felici from KnitPicks (2 skeins, each: 1.75oz/50g, 218yds/200m, 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon)

NEEDLES

  • US 1 /2.25mm - US 2/2.75mm, depending on the knitting tension

  • Circular needles for magic loop method or a set of 5 DPNs.

NOTIONS

  • Stitch markers

  • Stitch holder (optional)

  • Tapestry needle

  • Sock blockers

GAUGE

  • 32 sts and 48 rows in 4”/10cm in Stockinette Stitch, blocked

FINISHED SIZE

  • S (M, L): sock width 7.5-8”/18.5-20cm (8-8.5”/20-21.5cm, 8.5-9”/21.5-23cm)

  • Length is completely adjustable

  • Sample socks were knit in size M

 
 
 

Notes

  • The socks are knitted from the top down.

  • There are directions for stitch distribution for both the magic loop and the DPNs.

  • The pattern has both the written row-by-row instructions and the charts.

  • The heel is of a classic construction with a heel flap and a gusset.

  • Both the heel flap and the toe are knitted with the addition of slipped stitches to create reinforced fabric. Stitches on RS are slipped as if to purl wyib. On WS (at the heel flap) stitches are slipped wyif.

  • I recommend reading the whole pattern before starting the project. Highlight directions for your size to make following them easier.

 

Pattern

 

CUFF

Cast on 60 (65, 70)sts. Join them in a round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker to mark the beginning.

  • For Magic Loop method, divide stitches between two needles: 30+30 (35+30, 35+35)

  • For DPNs, divide stitches between four needles: 15+15+15+15 (20+15+15+15, 20+15+20+15)

R1-16: (p1, k1, p1, k2)x until the end of a round.
You can add/subtract rows of the ribbing to get the desired cuff length.

LEG

R1: (p1, k1, p1, k2)x until the end of a round
R2: (p3, k2)x until the end of a round

Repeat Rows 1-2 for 25 times total, ending with Row 2. You’ll have 50 rows under the cuff, which should be approximately 4”/10cm. You can change the numbers of repeats, just remember to end with Row 2.

HEEL FLAP

Heel flap is worked on the first 33sts, back and forth. The leftover stitches (for the instep) can be placed onto a stitch holder.

Size S

  • Magic Loop: use all stitches from the first needle + the first 3sts from the 2nd needle.

  • DPNs: use all stitches from the first and second needle + the first 3sts from the 3rd needle.

Sizes M, L

  • Magic Loop: use the first 33sts from the first needle, transfer the last two stitches onto the 2nd needle.

  • DPNs: use all stitches from the first needle + the first 13sts from the second needle; transfer the last two stitches onto the 3rd needle.

 
 

R1 (RS): k all 33sts
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p32, turn
R3 (RS): sl1wyib, k2; (sl2wyib, k1, sl1wyib, k1)x 5 times, sl2wyib, k3

Repeat Rows 2-3 until the desired heel flap height.
The sample socks were knitted with 14 repeats (29 heel flap rows total). This gives a medium-sized flap approx. 2”/5cm long. You can adjust the length depending on whether you have high arches or more flat feet.
Then follow the directions to make one last WS row.

HEEL TURN

R1 (RS): sl1wyib, k17, ssk, k1, turn
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn
R3 (RS): sl1wyib, k5, ssk, k1, turn
R4 (WS): sl1wyif, p6, p2tog, p1, turn

Continue in this manner until all stitches of the heel are worked.
// There should be 19 heel stitches left on the needles.

GUSSET

SET UP

R1 [Sole]:

  • sl1wyib, k 18sts of the heel;

  • pick up and knit all but one stitch along the right side of the heel flap (if looking from the top of the leg). The number of stitches to be picked up equals the number of repeats that were made for the heel flap + 1 stitch, i.e., 14+1=15sts for the sample socks. Knit only the first 14sts in this case;

    [Instep]:

  • pick up and purl one last stitch from the right side of the heel flap;

  • place 27 (32, 37)sts of the instep back to the working needle(s);

  • (k2, p1, k1, p1)x 5 (6, 7) times, k2;

  • pick up and purl the first stitch from the left side of the heel flap;

  • Place marker to mark the beginning of the round.

R2 [Sole]:

  • pick up and knit all other stitches along the left side of the heel flap (14 for the sample socks);

  • k 19sts of the heel;

  • k all but one stitches picked up on the right side of the flap (14 for the sample socks);

    [Instep]:

  • p1 (stitch from the right side of the heel flap);

  • (k2, p3)x 5 (6, 7) times, k2;

  • p1 (stitch from the left side of the heel flap).

Divide stitches between the needles as follows:

  • Magic Loop: Needle 1 [Sole]: (all-1)sts picked up along the right side + 19sts of the heel + (all-1)sts picked up along the left side;
    Needle 2 [Instep]: 29 (34, 39)sts.

  • DPNs: Needle 1 [Sole]: (all-1)sts picked up from right side + 10sts of the heel;
    Needle 2 [Sole]: 9sts of the heel + (all-1)sts picked up from left side;
    Needle 3 [Instep]: 16 (16, 21)sts;
    Needle 4 [Instep]: 13 (18, 18)sts.

DECREASES

R1: [Sole] ssk, k until 2 last sts of the sole, k2tog;
[Instep] p1, (k2, p1, k1, p1)x until last 3sts of the instep, k2, p1

R2: [Sole] k all sts;
[Instep] p1, (k2, p3)x until last 3sts of the instep, k2, p1

Repeat R1-2 until there are 31 (33, 33) sts left for the sole. Stop after completing R2.

Size M only
Last R: [Sole] ssk, k until the end of the sole;
[Instep] p1, (k2, p1, k1, p1)x until last 3sts of the instep, k2, p1.


// Current stitch distribution:
Size S: 31sts sole, 29sts instep, 60sts total
Size M: 32sts sole, 34sts instep, 66sts total
Size L: 33sts sole, 39sts instep, 72sts total

FOOT

R1: [Sole] k all sts;
[Instep] p1, (k2, p1, k1, p1)x until last 3sts of the instep, k2, p1

R2: [Sole] k all sts;
[Instep] p1, (k2, p3)x until last 3sts of the instep, k2, p1

Repeat R1-2 until there are approx. 1.1”/2.8cm (1.3”/3.3cm, 1.5”/3.8cm) to the toe.
Stop after completing R2.

 
 

TOE

In this part, sl1=sl1wyib.

Size S
This one row is not charted.
R01: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] k all   // 29sts left for each Sole and Instep.
Proceed to the “Sizes S and L” part below, rows 1-13 of the chart on page 6.

Size L
This section corresponds to rows 01-09 in the chart on p.6.
R01: [Sole] k all
[Instep] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog   // 33sts left for Sole, 37sts left for Instep.
R02: [Sole] k all
[Instep] k all
R03: [Sole] k all
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 6 times, k1, sl1, k1, k2tog   // 33sts left for Sole, 35sts left for Instep.
R04: as R02
R05: [Sole] k all
[Instep] ssk, (sl1, k1, sl2, k1)x 6 times, sl1, k2tog   // 33sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R06: as R02
R07: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl2, k1, sl1)x 5 times, k1, sl2, k1, k2tog   // 31sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R08: as R02
R09: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (sl2, k1, sl1, k1)x 5 times, sl2, k2tog   // 29sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Proceed to the “Sizes S and L” part below.

Sizes S and L
This section corresponds to rows 1-13 in the chart on p.6.
R1: [Sole] k all
[Instep] k all
R2:  [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, sl1, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 4 times, k1, sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog   // 27sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R3: as R1
R4: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 4 times, k1, sl1, k1, k2tog   // 25sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R5: as R1
R6: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (sl1, k1, sl2, k1)x 4 times, sl1, k2tog   // 23sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R7: as R1
R8: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl2, k1, sl1)x 3 times, k1, sl2, k1, k2tog   // 21sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Start making decreases in each round.
R9: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog   // 19sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R10: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, sl1, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 2 times, k1, sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog // 17sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R11: as R9   // 15sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R12: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (sl1, k1, sl2, k1)x 2 times, sl1, k2tog // 13sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R13: as R9   // 11sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Stop and proceed to the Finishing.

Size M

This section has a separate chart on the next page.
R1: [Sole] k all
[Instep] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog   // 32sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R2: [Sole] k all
[Instep] k all
R3: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 5 times, k1, sl1, k1, k2tog // 30sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R4: as R2
R5: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (sl1, k1, sl2, k1)x 5 times, sl1, k2tog // 28sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R6: as R2
R7: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
[Instep] ssk, (k1, sl2, k1, sl1)x 4 times, k1, sl2, k1, k2tog // 26sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R8: as R2
R9: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
  [Instep] ssk, (sl2, k1, sl1, k1)x 4 times, sl2, k2tog // 24sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R10: as R2
R11: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
  [Instep] ssk, sl1, (k1, sl1, k1, sl2)x 3 times, k1, sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog // 22sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Start making decreases in each round.

R12: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
  [Instep] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog   // 20sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R13: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
  [Instep] ssk, (sl1, k1, sl2, k1)x 3 times, sl1, k2tog // 18sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R14: as R12   // 16sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R15: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2sts, k2tog
  [Instep] ssk, (sl2, k1, sl1, k1)x 2 times, sl2, k2tog // 14sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R16: as R12   // 12sts left for each Sole and Instep.
R17: as R12   // 10sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Stop and proceed to the Finishing.

FINISHING

Cut the yarn with an appr. 15” (38cm) tail. Graft all sts using Kitchener stitch to close the toe.
Weave in ends. Wash the socks in luke-warm water and block them.