SPRING STREAM SOCKS

 

These socks are a fun knit, that combines an easy to memorize pattern with an interesting look of a finished garment.

The lines of slipped stitches and diagonally leaned panels create nice texture that reminds of running spring water.  The fabric is rather flexible and guarantees the comfortable fit. Socks are knitted from top down with a classic heel.

This pattern was specially designed to unravel the beauty of kettle-dyed yarn, but it can be used as a base for experiments.. It will also look great with complex colors of hand-dyed yarn, and will make an unusual garment out of a solid-colored skein.

 
 
 

YARN

  • Stroll Sock Tonal by KnitPicks (75% superwash merino, 25% nylon, 462yds/422m, 3.5oz/100g)
  • Color: Blue Yonder.
  • Weight: 60-100g depending on the sock size and length, up to 1 skein.
  • Any other sock yarn will work fine.

NEEDLES

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

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

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): 7”/17.8cm (8”/20cm, 9”/22.9cm) in circumference
  • Lengt h is customizable
 
 

Notes

  • The socks are knitted from the top down. 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 enforced fabric.
  • Pattern has both the written row-by-row instructions and the charts.
  • There are directions for stitch distribution both for the magic loop and for the DPNs.
  • Increases in the pattern are made with m1h: make 1 leaving a decorative hole. Instructions for this stitch are given in the Abbreviations section.
  • Stitches on RS are slipped as if to purl wyib. On WS (at the heel flap) stitches are slipped wyif.
 

Pattern

 

CUFF

Cast on 56 (64, 72) sts. Combine them in a round. PM to mark the beginning.

  • For magic loop method, divide stitches between two needles evenly: 28+28 (32+32, 36+36).
  • For DPNs,  divide stitches between four needles: 14+14+14+14 (16+16+16+16, 18+18+18+18).

Ribbing: (k1, p1) until the end of a round. Repeat for 14 rnds total (or until the desired cuff length).

LEG

BY THE CHART
R1: complete 14 (16, 18)sts of R1 of the Leg Chart for 4 times.
R2: complete 14 (16, 18)sts of R2 of the Leg Chart for 4 times.

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

Size S
R1: (k1, p2; k3; p1, k1, p1; k3; p2)x 4 times total.
R2: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2)x 4 times total.

Size M
R1: (k1, p2; k4; p1, k1, p1; k4; p2)x 4 times total.
R2: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2)x 4 times total.

Size L
R1: (k1, p2; k4; p2, k1, p2; k4; p2)x 4 times total.
R2: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2)x 4 times total.

Repeat Rows 1-2 for 32 times total, ending with Row 1.
If you want to change the length of the leg part, make any desired numbers of repeats, just remember to end with Row 1.

HEEL FLAP

Heel flap is worked on the first 29 (33, 37) sts, back and forth.

  • For magic loop method, use all stitches from the first needle + the first stitch from the second needle.
  • For DPNs, use all stitches from needles 1 and 2 + the first stitch from the 3rd needle.

The second part of stitches (for the instep) can be placed onto a stitch holder.
R1 (RS): (sl1 as if to purl wyib, k1) until the last st, k1
R2 (WS): sl1 as if to purl wyif, p until the end of the row.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until the desired heel flap height. Usually it’s appr. 2”(5cm). The sample socks were knitted with 21 repeats (42 heel flap rows total). Have to stop after completing WS row.

HEEL TURN

R1 (RS): sl1wyib, k16 (18, 20), ssk, k1, turn
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p6, p2tog, p1, turn
R3 (RS): sl1wyib, k6, ssk, k1, turn
R4 (WS): sl1wyif, p7, p2tog, p1, turn
Continue in this manner until all stitches of the heel are worked.

GUSSET

Place 27 (31, 35) sts of instep back to the working needle(s). Start knitting in the round again.
Use only the framed part of the Foot Chart for this part of the Instep: starting from the second stitch and stopping at the 28th (32nd, 36th) stitch.

R0 (Set Up): k all sts of the heel; pick up and knit stitches along the left side of the heel flap. Instep: k27 (31, 35) sts as Row 2 of the Foot Chart:
Size S: p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2.
Size M: m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2.
Size L: p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2.

Leave the yarn here. PM to mark the beginning of the round. Pick up stitches along the right side of the heel flap (do not knit them yet).
The number of picked up stitches along each side will equal to half of the number of rows worked for the heel flap. In sample socks, there were 42/2=21sts picked up on each side.

Divide stitches between the needles as follows:

  • For magic loop method: Needle 1 (Sole): picked up from right side + sts of the heel + picked up from left side; Needle 2 (Instep): 27 (31, 35) sts.
  • For DPNs: Needle 1 (Sole): picked up from right side + half of sts of the heel; Needle 2 (Sole): second half of sts of the heel + picked up from left side; Needle 3 (Instep): 13 (15, 17) sts; Needle 4 (Instep): 14 (16, 18) sts.

BY THE CHART

Use only the framed part of the Foot Chart for this part of the Instep: starting from the second stitch and stopping at the 28th (32nd, 36th) stitch.
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: as Row 1 of the Foot Chart.
R2: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: as Row 2 of the Foot Chart.

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

Size S
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: p2; k3; p1, k1, p1; k3; p2. k1, p2; k3; p1, k1, p1; k3; p2.
R2: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog;
Instep: p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2.

Size M
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: p2; k4; p1, k1, p1; k4; p2. k1, p2; k4; p1, k1, p1; k4; p2.
R2: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog;
Instep: p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2.

Size L
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: p2; k4; p2, k1, p2; k4; p2. k1, p2; k4; p2, k1, p2; k4; p2.
R2: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog;
Instep: p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2. sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 until there are 29 (33, 37) sts left for the Sole. Have to stop after completing R2 (decreasing rnd). Remember that decreases have to be worked every other rnd.

FOOT

A border of slipped stitches will be added both at the beginning and the end of the Instep to continue the line created by the Gusset decreases. These borders will make the look of the Instep more polished.
For this, transfer the first and the last stitch from the Sole to the Instep part.

Check the stitches distribution:

  • For magic loop method: Needle 1 (Sole): 27 (31, 35) sts; Needle 2 (Instep): 29 (33, 37) sts.
  • For D PNs: Needle 1 (Sole): 13 (15, 17) sts; Needle 2 (Sole): 14 (16, 18) sts; Needle 3 (Instep): 14 (16, 18) sts; Needle 4 (Instep): 15 (17, 19) sts.

BY THE CHART

R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: as Row 1 of the Foot Chart.
R2: Sole: k all sts; Instep: as Row 2 of the Foot Chart.

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

Size S
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (k1, p2; k3; p1, k1, p1; k3; p2)x twice, k1.
R2: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k1, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k1, m1h; p2)x twice, sl1 as if to purl wyib.

Size M
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (k1, p2; k4; p1, k1, p1; k4; p2)x twice, k1.
R2: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p1, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p1; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2)x twice, sl1 as if to purl wyib.

Size L
R1: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (k1, p2; k4; p2, k1, p2; k4; p2)x twice, k1.
R2: Sole: k all sts; Instep: (sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; m1h, k2, ssk; p2, sl1 as if to purl wyib, p2; k2tog, k2, m1h; p2)x twice, sl1 as if to purl wyib.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until there are appr. 1.5” (3.8cm) to the toe. Have to stop after completing R1.

TOE

Only Size M:
R1: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: ssk, (sl1 as if to purl wyib, k1) unt. 3 last sts, sl1 as if to purl wyib, k2tog.
R2: k all sts.

All sizes:
R3: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: ssk, (k1, sl1 as if to purl wyib) unt. 3 last sts, k1, k2tog.
R4: k all sts.
R5: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: ssk, (sl1 as if to purl wyib, k1) unt. 3 last sts, sl1 as if to purl wyib, k2tog.
R6: k all sts.

Repeat Rows 3-6 until there are 21 (23, 21)sts for the Sole and 23 (25, 23)sts for the Instep left. Have to stop after completing R3.

Start making decreases in each round.
R1: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog.
R2: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: ssk, (k1, sl1 as if to purl wyib) unt. 3 last sts, k1, k2tog.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until there are 11sts for the Sole and 13sts for the Instep left.

Next Row: Sole: ssk, k unt. 2 last sts, k2tog; Instep: sssk, k unt. 3 last sts, k3tog. 9sts left for each Sole and Instep.

FINISHING

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

CHARTS

The following charts have to be read down up, from right to left.

LEG CHART

FOOT CHART

 
 

This pattern has a page on Ravelry where you can get more inspiration and share your finished knits: