Novita 7 Veljestä Nummi: Oksalla elämänpuun socks
Minttu Wikberg approaches her knitting patterns with the discerning eye of a professionally trained designer. Her best work, she says, is always based on an idea, story or memory that is particularly meaningful to her. Known for her skillful use of color, shape and pattern, Minttu is particularly fond of colorwork designs. Her Oksalla elämänpuun socks are inspired by a Finnish poem close to her heart.
Designer
Minttu Wikberg
Size(s)
38/39(42)
Yarn demand
Novita 7 Veljestä Nummi (952) Twilight 200 g (945) Frost 100 g
Needles and other supplies
Novita 3.5 mm (Size 4) double pointed or as required to meet gauge
Gauge swatches Two-color ribbing in the round: *k1 in Twilight, p1 in Frost*, repeat *–*. Stockinette in the round: knit all rounds. Colorwork: work all rows in stockinette in the round as shown in chart and pattern instructions. Anchor any floats longer than 4 stitches by twisting them around your working yarn on the WS. It’s a good idea to vary where you anchor the floats.
Knitting tension 22 sts of colorwork = 10 cm (4 in)
Leg
Cast on 66(70) sts using Twilight and divide onto four needles. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round.
Work in rib in the round for 3 cm (1.25 in). Work the next round in Twilight, increasing 4 sts evenly = 70(74) s.
Begin colorwork pattern as set in Row 1 of Chart I and work all rows. Decrease according to chart. Note that the leg decreases at the start and end of a round are worked on different rounds for a neat finish. Once you have worked the decreases, you will have 52(56) sts. Redistribute evenly across needles 13(14) sts on each.
Break off Frost and finish the sock in Twilight.
Heel
Work the sts on Needle 1 onto Needle 4 = 26(28) sts. Leave the remaining sts for now. Turn your work and continue in heel stitch:
Row 1 (WS): sl1 wyib, and purl remaining sts to end. Turn your work.
Row 2 (RS): *sl1wyib, k1*, repeat *–* to end. Turn your work.
Repeat Rows 1–2 13(14)times = 26(28) rows.
Work one more WS row here before starting the heel decreases: continue in heel stitch as above. Continue to work the RS row until until 9(10) sts remain. Now skp (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over) and turn your work. Sl1, p8(8), p2tog and turn work. Sl1, knit until 8(9) sts remain, skp and turn work. Continue to make decreases at the end of every row. The number of side sts will decrease by 1 on every row, while the middle sts remain the same (=10 sts). When the side sts have been used up, divide the heel flap sts between the two needles, 5 sts on each. On the next row (RS), start by k5. This is now the beginning of a new round.
Foot
Using your empty needle, pick up 13(14) sts from the left side of the heel flap +1 st from between the heel flap and Needle 2. Knit the 5 sts on the heel flap and knit the picked up sts tbl. Knit all sts on Needles 2 and 3. Using the needle with 5 sts already on it, pick up 13(14) sts from the right side of the heel flap + 1 st from between the heel flap and Needle 3. Knit these picked up sts through the back loop and knit the 5 heel flap sts. You will now have a total of64(68) sts on your needles.
Continue in stockinette as you begin gusset decreases: when 2 sts remain on Needle 1, k2tog and skp at the start of Needle 4. Repeat these decreases on every alternating row a further 7 times until 48(52) sts remain. Redistribute sts, 12(13) sts on each needle.
Continue in stockinette until the foot measures 20.5(22) cm = 8(8.75) in or covers the little toe.
Begin toe decreases here: at the end of Needle 1 and Needle 3, k2tog + k1 and at the start of Needle 2 and Needle 4 k1 and skp. Decrease as above on every alternating round until 7 sts remain on each needle. Now work decreases on every round. When 8 sts remain, bind off, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and weave in ends.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Weave in loose ends. Using the duplicate stitch method, embroider a flower onto the instep as shown in Chart 2.
Steam gently to finish.
Novita 7 Veljestä Nummi: Oksalla elämänpuun socks
Size(s)
38/39(42)
Yarn demand
Novita 7 Veljestä Nummi (952) Twilight 200 g (945) Frost 100 g
Needles and other supplies
Novita 3.5 mm (Size 4) double pointed or as required to meet gauge
Gauge swatches Two-color ribbing in the round: *k1 in Twilight, p1 in Frost*, repeat *–*. Stockinette in the round: knit all rounds. Colorwork: work all rows in stockinette in the round as shown in chart and pattern instructions. Anchor any floats longer than 4 stitches by twisting them around your working yarn on the WS. It’s a good idea to vary where you anchor the floats.
Knitting tension 22 sts of colorwork = 10 cm (4 in)
Leg
Cast on 66(70) sts using Twilight and divide onto four needles. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round.
Work in rib in the round for 3 cm (1.25 in). Work the next round in Twilight, increasing 4 sts evenly = 70(74) s.
Begin colorwork pattern as set in Row 1 of Chart I and work all rows. Decrease according to chart. Note that the leg decreases at the start and end of a round are worked on different rounds for a neat finish. Once you have worked the decreases, you will have 52(56) sts. Redistribute evenly across needles 13(14) sts on each.
Break off Frost and finish the sock in Twilight.
Heel
Work the sts on Needle 1 onto Needle 4 = 26(28) sts. Leave the remaining sts for now. Turn your work and continue in heel stitch:
Row 1 (WS): sl1 wyib, and purl remaining sts to end. Turn your work.
Row 2 (RS): *sl1wyib, k1*, repeat *–* to end. Turn your work.
Repeat Rows 1–2 13(14)times = 26(28) rows.
Work one more WS row here before starting the heel decreases: continue in heel stitch as above. Continue to work the RS row until until 9(10) sts remain. Now skp (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over) and turn your work. Sl1, p8(8), p2tog and turn work. Sl1, knit until 8(9) sts remain, skp and turn work. Continue to make decreases at the end of every row. The number of side sts will decrease by 1 on every row, while the middle sts remain the same (=10 sts). When the side sts have been used up, divide the heel flap sts between the two needles, 5 sts on each. On the next row (RS), start by k5. This is now the beginning of a new round.
Foot
Using your empty needle, pick up 13(14) sts from the left side of the heel flap +1 st from between the heel flap and Needle 2. Knit the 5 sts on the heel flap and knit the picked up sts tbl. Knit all sts on Needles 2 and 3. Using the needle with 5 sts already on it, pick up 13(14) sts from the right side of the heel flap + 1 st from between the heel flap and Needle 3. Knit these picked up sts through the back loop and knit the 5 heel flap sts. You will now have a total of64(68) sts on your needles.
Continue in stockinette as you begin gusset decreases: when 2 sts remain on Needle 1, k2tog and skp at the start of Needle 4. Repeat these decreases on every alternating row a further 7 times until 48(52) sts remain. Redistribute sts, 12(13) sts on each needle.
Continue in stockinette until the foot measures 20.5(22) cm = 8(8.75) in or covers the little toe.
Begin toe decreases here: at the end of Needle 1 and Needle 3, k2tog + k1 and at the start of Needle 2 and Needle 4 k1 and skp. Decrease as above on every alternating round until 7 sts remain on each needle. Now work decreases on every round. When 8 sts remain, bind off, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and weave in ends.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Weave in loose ends. Using the duplicate stitch method, embroider a flower onto the instep as shown in Chart 2.
Steam gently to finish.
