Long lace socks Novita Nalle and Nalle Taika

Lace on the cuff

Using the Nalle Taika yarn cast on 8 sts and purl 1 row. Begin the lace pattern from row 1 of chart I. Work rows 2-16 of the chart and then repeat rows 1-16 six times in total. Bind off. Sew the edges of the lace together.

Using the Nalle Taika yarn pick up 80 sts from the top edge of the lacing and distribute them onto four needles: 26, 14, 14 and 26 sts. The beginning of the round is between needles I and IV.

Begin working ribbing in the round with k2 and work for 8 rounds. Work 2 rounds in stockinette st. Switch to working ribbing in the round starting with p2 and work for 8 rounds. Fold the cuff to the wrong side of the work along the stockinette section (the cuff is folded when the sock is finished).

Switch to the single-coloured Nalle yarn and work 2 rounds in stockinette st. Begin working ribbing in the round with k2 and work for 7 cm.

Begin the lace patterns: Needle I: work B-C from chart II and knit the rest of the sts. Needles II and III: k5, A-B from chart III (=18 sts), k5. Needle IV: knit all sts until 4 sts remain, A-B from chart II (=4 sts). Keep working rows 2-3 on chart II and rows 1-10 on chart III. On the instep you will at times need to move sts from needle to needle. Continue in this manner until you have worked rows 1-10 of chart III once.

Begin the calf decreases: at the beginning of needle I work the first 4 sts following the lace pattern, then skp (=slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over) and knit to end. Work needles II and III following the stitch patterns. On needle IV knit until 6 sts remain, k2tog and work the other 4 sts following the lace pattern. Repeat the decreases in this manner every 8th round 11 more times. 2 sts decreased each time = 56 sts, 14 sts per needle. Work these sts following the stitch patterns until the leg measures approx. 35 cm from the folded cuff.

Begin the heel flap: knit the sts on needle I onto needle IV = 28 sts. Leave the other sts on hold. Turn work and begin the reinforced st pattern:

Row 1: (WS) slip 1, purl to end of row. Turn work.

Row 2: *slip 1 (yarn in back), k1*, repeat *-* 13 more times.

Keep repeating rows 1-2 until the heel flap measures 28 rows. Work one more WS row.

Turning the heel: keep working the reinforced st pattern as before. Work the right end of the heel flap until 10 sts remain at the other end. Skp, turn work. Sl 1, p8, p2tog. Turn work. Sl 1, keep working until 8 sts remain, skp. Continue in the same manner, decreasing sts on the sides while the middle group remains at 10 sts. When only the centre sts remain, distribute the heel flap sts onto 2 needles: 5 sts each.

Using a free needle pick up 15 sts from the left edge of the heel flap. Knit the picked-up sts using the left needle onto which you just moved 5 sts. Then knit all sts on needles II and III. Then using the needle with 5 sts pick up and knit 15 sts from the right edge of the heel flap.

Continue working with all 68 sts and following the lace pattern on the instep. Begin the gusset decreases. At the end of needle I: k2tog, k1. At the beginning of needle IV: k1, skp. Repeat the decreases as before on every 2nd round until 14 sts remain on each needle. Continue working the lace pattern and stockinette st until the foot measures 19 cm or the sock covers your fifth toe.

Begin the toe decreases: at the end of needles I and III: k2tog, k1, and at the beginning of needles II and IV, k1, skp. Continue working the lace pattern on needles II and III as long as you can. Repeat the decreases as before on every 2nd round until 6 sts remain on each needle. Then repeat the decreases on every round.

When 8 sts remain, break the yarn, pull it through the sts and securely weave in the ends. Knit the other sock to match.

Finishing

Lightly steam the socks. Fold the lacing on the cuff.