Novita Venla: Aattoyö (Christmas Night) colourwork socks
Designed by Kati Rahikainen, the Aattoyö socks are full of delightful details depicting a starry Christmas night and a mountain hare that sees Santa and his sleigh rise above the fells. The cuffs of the socks are adorned by a texture inspired by Christmas trees, the legs feature Santa himself travelling through the snow with his reindeer, and in the toes, there are animals in their winter coats, looking on in wonder. The red details of Santa’s suit, along with Rudolph’s nose, are embroidered on the finished sock. The socks are knitted using Novita Venla.
Designer
Kati Rahikainen
Size(s)
39
Yarn demand
Novita Venla (010) Off White 100 g (170) Navy 100 g some red Venla-weight yarn for embroidering
Needles and other supplies
Double-pointed needles Novita 2-2.5 mm (UK 13-14 / US 0-1½ and 2.5-3 mm (UK 11-12 / US 1½-2½) or sizes needed
Stitch patterns Textured ribbing in the round: work following the chart and instructions. Colourwork in the round: work following the chart and instructions.
Gauge 30 sts and 38 rows in colourwork with larger needles = 10 cm / 4 in
Using the smaller needles and Navy, cast on 90 sts and divide them onto four needles. The beginning of round is between needles I and IV, at the back midpoint.
Begin the textured rib pattern on row 1 of chart I. Repeat the 18 st pattern 5 times. Work rows 2–40 of the chart.
Knit 1 round with Navy and evenly increase 2 sts = 92 sts.
Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart II. Work the 92 st pattern. Work rows 2–52 of the chart. Work the calf decreases following the chart. 86 sts on the needles.
Now work rows 53–112 of chart III. Work the calf decreases following the chart. 68 sts on the needles. Redistribute the sts so that there are 17 sts on all needles.
Begin the hourglass heel using Navy.
Row 1: (RS) using Navy knit the sts of needle I, then turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch on the right-hand needle. Purl the remaining sts on needles I and IV, then turn work.
Row 3: (RS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch. Knit to double st, turn work.
Row 4: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch. Purl to double st, turn work.
Keep working short rows as established until there are 12 sts in the centre and you are between needles IV and I, at the beginning of round. The heel is now shaped like a triangle.
With all sts, work one round following row 113 of chart IV. Work the loops of the double sts together. You are again at the beginning of round, between needles IV and I. Proceed with Navy.
Hourglass heel increases:
Row 1: (RS) k7 on needle I, turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, purl needle I, p7 on needle IV, turn work.
Row 3: (RS) slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, knit needle IV, k8 on needle I (knit the loops of the double st together), turn work.
Row 4: (WS) slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, purl needle I, p8 on needle IV (purl the loops of the double st together), turn work.
Keep working long rows as established: on each row, make a double st at the beginning and at the end work 1 st more (work the loops of the double st together). Work until all sts are back on the needles and you’ve just worked needle IV on a RS row. You are now at the beginning of round, between needles IV and I.
With all sts, resume the colourwork pattern on row 114 of row IV. Work rows 115–161 of the chart.
After completing the pattern, work stockinette st in the round using Off White for 2 rounds or until the sock covers the fifth toe.
Begin toe decreases: at the end of needles I and III, k2tog, k1; at the beginning of needles II and IV, k1, skp (slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over). Work the decreases on every other round 9 times in total. Then repeat the decreases on every round until 8 sts remain. Break yarn, pull it through the sts and tighten. Weave in ends.
Finishing
Embroider the red details (Santa, Rudolph’s nose) using duplicate sts. Weave in. Steam the socks lightly.
Stitch patterns Textured ribbing in the round: work following the chart and instructions. Colourwork in the round: work following the chart and instructions.
Gauge 30 sts and 38 rows in colourwork with larger needles = 10 cm / 4 in
Using the smaller needles and Navy, cast on 90 sts and divide them onto four needles. The beginning of round is between needles I and IV, at the back midpoint.
Begin the textured rib pattern on row 1 of chart I. Repeat the 18 st pattern 5 times. Work rows 2–40 of the chart.
Knit 1 round with Navy and evenly increase 2 sts = 92 sts.
Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart II. Work the 92 st pattern. Work rows 2–52 of the chart. Work the calf decreases following the chart. 86 sts on the needles.
Now work rows 53–112 of chart III. Work the calf decreases following the chart. 68 sts on the needles. Redistribute the sts so that there are 17 sts on all needles.
Begin the hourglass heel using Navy.
Row 1: (RS) using Navy knit the sts of needle I, then turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch on the right-hand needle. Purl the remaining sts on needles I and IV, then turn work.
Row 3: (RS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch. Knit to double st, turn work.
Row 4: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch. Purl to double st, turn work.
Keep working short rows as established until there are 12 sts in the centre and you are between needles IV and I, at the beginning of round. The heel is now shaped like a triangle.
With all sts, work one round following row 113 of chart IV. Work the loops of the double sts together. You are again at the beginning of round, between needles IV and I. Proceed with Navy.
Hourglass heel increases:
Row 1: (RS) k7 on needle I, turn work.
Row 2: (WS) Slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, purl needle I, p7 on needle IV, turn work.
Row 3: (RS) slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, knit needle IV, k8 on needle I (knit the loops of the double st together), turn work.
Row 4: (WS) slip 1 purlwise and tighten the yarn so that the loops form a double stitch, purl needle I, p8 on needle IV (purl the loops of the double st together), turn work.
Keep working long rows as established: on each row, make a double st at the beginning and at the end work 1 st more (work the loops of the double st together). Work until all sts are back on the needles and you’ve just worked needle IV on a RS row. You are now at the beginning of round, between needles IV and I.
With all sts, resume the colourwork pattern on row 114 of row IV. Work rows 115–161 of the chart.
After completing the pattern, work stockinette st in the round using Off White for 2 rounds or until the sock covers the fifth toe.
Begin toe decreases: at the end of needles I and III, k2tog, k1; at the beginning of needles II and IV, k1, skp (slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over). Work the decreases on every other round 9 times in total. Then repeat the decreases on every round until 8 sts remain. Break yarn, pull it through the sts and tighten. Weave in ends.
Finishing
Embroider the red details (Santa, Rudolph’s nose) using duplicate sts. Weave in. Steam the socks lightly.
