KomorebI SOCKS

 

Komorebi is a beautiful Japanese word that means “the sunlight coming through the leaves of the trees”, and it describes the subtle texture of these socks wonderfully.

The pattern is easy to memorize and at the same time entertaining to knit, and it makes a perfect match with striped, speckled or variegated yarn, as they can highlight each other without overspicing the overall look. Solids can create an interesting project as well, showing more details of the stitches’ dance.

Socks are knitted from the top down with a heel flap. Both the toe and heel are reinforced with slipped stitches.

 
 
 

YARN

  • Appr. 224yds/50g of any sock yarn for the “body” of the socks - color A

  • Appr. 135yds/30g of any sock yarn for the cuff, heel, and toe - color B

  • You might need slightly more/less yarn, depending on the sock length

  • Sample socks were knitted with Drops Fabel; 1 skein of Long Print #623 and 0.6 skein of Unicolor #114 (1.75oz/50g, 224yds/205m, 75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide)

NEEDLES

  • US 1 /2.25mm - US 2/2.75mm - choose the size needed to obtain gauge

  • 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 written row-by-row instructions and charts.

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

  • As the whole sock is knitted in ribbing, you might want to go one size up from your usual sock width - or at least make a small swatch before starting.

  • Both the heel flap and the toe are knitted with the addition of slipped stitches to create reinforced fabric. Stitches are always slipped as if to purl; on RS - wyib, on WS (at the heel flap) - 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 (68, 76)sts with color B yarn. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a marker to mark the beginning.

  • For Magic Loop method, divide stitches between two needles: 30+30 (34+34, 38+38)

  • For DPNs, divide stitches between four needles: 14+16+14+16 (18+16+18+16, 20+18+20+18)

R1-16: (p1, k1)x until the end of a round. 
You can add/subtract some rows of ribbing to get the desired cuff length. Cut color B yarn, leaving a tail for weaving in.

LEG

Attach color A yarn.

Size S
R1: [p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1]x 6 times
R2: [p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib]x 6 times

Size M 
R1: [(p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1, k1tbl)x 3, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl]x twice
R2: [(p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl)x 3, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl]x twice

Size L
R1: [p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl]x twice
R2: [p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl]x twice

Repeat Rows 1-2 for 24 times total, and then knit one more Row 1.
You’ll have 49 rows (approximately 4”/10cm) under the cuff.
You can change the number of repeats, just remember to end with Row 1. 
Do not cut color A yarn.

LEG CHART

 
 

HEEL FLAP

Attach color B yarn. Heel flap is worked on the first 29 (33, 37)sts, back and forth. The leftover stitches (for the instep) can be placed onto a stitch holder.

  • Magic Loop: use the first 29 (33, 37)sts from the first needle, transfer the last one st onto the 2nd needle.

  • DPNs: use all sts from the first needle + all but one from the second needle; transfer the last one st onto the 3rd needle.

R1 (RS): k all 29 (33, 37)sts
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p until the end of the flap
R3 (RS): sl1wyib, k2; (sl1wyib, k1)x until last 2 sts, k2

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, k16 (18, 20), ssk, k1, turn
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p6, p2tog, p1, turn
R3 (RS): sl1wyib, k7, ssk, k1, turn
R4 (WS): sl1wyif, p8, p2tog, p1, turn

Continue in this manner until all stitches of the heel are worked.
Cut color B yarn, leaving a tail for weaving in.

GUSSET

Pick up color A yarn where it was left - at the top left part of the future gusset. Start knitting from this point.

Set-up Row [Sole]:

  • pick up and knit the number of sts equal to the number of repeats you’ve made for the heel flap (14sts in the sample sock) along the left side of the heel flap;

  • knit all sts of the heel;

  • pick up and knit the number of sts equal to the number of repeats you’ve made for the heel flap (14sts in the sample sock) along the right side of the heel flap;
    [Instep]:

  • place 31 (35, 39)sts of the instep back to the working needle(s) and knit as R2 of the Instep in the Decreases section below;

Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round, if needed. Divide stitches between the needles as follows:

  • Magic Loop: Needle 1 [Sole]: sts picked up along the left side + sts of the heel + sts picked up along the right side;
    Needle 2 [Instep]: 31 (35, 39)sts.

  • DPNs: Needle 1 [Sole]: sts picked up from right side + half of sts of the heel;
    Needle 2 [Sole]: second half of sts of the heel + sts picked up from left side;
    Place here a marker to mark the division between Sole and Instep;
    Needle 3 [Instep]: 17 (19, 21)sts;
    Needle 4 [Instep]: 14 (16, 18)sts.

DECREASES
Use the chart in the Foot section below as the chart for the Instep.

Size S
R1: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2 sts of the sole, k2tog;
[Instep] (k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 3, k1
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 3, sl1wyib

Size M 
R1: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2 sts of the sole, k2tog;
   [Instep] (k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1)x 3, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1)x 3, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl

Size L
R1: [Sole] ssk, k until last 2 sts of the sole, k2tog;
   [Instep] k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wtib, p1, k1tbl

Repeat R1-2 until there are 31 (35, 39) sts left for the sole. Total number of sts on the needles: 62 (70, 78).
Stop after completing R2.

FOOT

Size S
R1: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 3, k1
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 3, sl1wyib

Size M 
R1: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k3, p1)x 3, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] (k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1)x 3, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl

Size L
R1: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k3, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl
R2: [Sole] k all sts;
   [Instep] k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wyib, p1, k1tbl, p1)x 2, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p1, sl1wtib, p1, k1tbl

Repeat R1-2 until there are approx. 1.1”/2.8cm (1.3”/3.3cm, 1.5”/3.8cm) left to the toe.
Stop after completing R2. Cut color A yarn, leaving a tail for weaving in.

INSTEP CHART (GUSSET AND FOOT)

 
 

TOE

Attach color B yarn. The toe is knitted identically for both Sole and Instep to create reinforced fabric.
If you’re using dpns, pay attention to making decreases at the beginning/end of Sole and Instep, not at the beginning/end of each needle. Be guided by the marker you’ve placed between Sole and Instep after completing the heel.
In this part, sl1=sl1wyib.

Size L only
This section corresponds to rows 1-6 in the chart on p.7.
R1 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog        // 37sts left for each Sole and Instep
R2 [both Sole and Instep]: (k1, sl1wyib)x until 1 last st, k1
R3 [both Sole and Instep]: k all
R4 [both Sole and Instep]: (k1, sl1wyib)x until 1 last st, k1
R5 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog       // 35sts left for each Sole and Instep
R6 [both Sole and Instep]: k2, (sl1wyib, k1)x until 1 last st, k1

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

Sizes M and L
This section corresponds to rows 7-14 in the chart on p.7. For size M the first row of the toe is R7.
R7 [both Sole and Instep]: k all
R8 [both Sole and Instep]: k2, (sl1wyib, k1)x until 1 last st, k1
R9 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog       // 33sts left for each Sole and Instep
R10 [both Sole and Instep]: (k1, sl1wyib)x until 1 last st, k1
R11 [both Sole and Instep]: k all
R12 [both Sole and Instep]: (k1, sl1wyib)x until 1 last st, k1
R13 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog      // 31sts left for each Sole and Instep
R14 [both Sole and Instep]: k2, (sl1wyib, k1)x until 1 last st, k1

Proceed to the “Sizes S, M, L” part below.

Sizes S, M, L
This section corresponds to rows 15-29 in the chart on p.7. For size L the first row of the toe is R15.
R15 [both Sole and Instep]: k all
R16 [both Sole and Instep]: k2, (sl1wyib, k1)x until 1 last st, k1
R17 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog      // 29sts left for each Sole and Instep
R18 [both Sole and Instep]: (k1, sl1wyib)x until 1 last st, k1
R19 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog      // 27sts left for each Sole and Instep
R20-23: repeat R16-19 once more. 23sts left for each Sole and Instep.

Start making decreases in each round.

R24 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, (sl1wyib, k1)x until last 3 sts, sl1wyib, k2tog      // 21sts left for each Sole and Instep
R25 [both Sole and Instep]: ssk, k until last 2 sts, k2tog      // 19sts left for each Sole and Instep
R26-29: repeat R24-25 twice more. 11sts left for each Sole and Instep.

TOE CHART

 
 

FINISHING

Cut the yarn with an approx. 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.