Rudolfus Socks
Minna Metsänen has designed these charming Christmas socks, featuring a playful reindeer motif and full of the Christmas spirit. These lovely colourwork socks will bring anyone comfort and joy during the darkest time of the year – which means they are ideal both as a present and for yourself. The pattern features four different sizes for children, women and men. Why not knit a pair of Rudolfus socks for everyone so that the whole family can have their matching Christmas surprise!
Designer
Minna Metsänen
Size(s)
34(38)40(42) (EUR); foot length is adjustable Size of sample 34
Yarn demand
Novita Nalle (010) Off White 50(60)70(80) g (523) Lingonberry 40(50)60(70) g (043) Stone 30(40)50(60) g (392) Nature 20(30)40(50) g Novita Wonder Wool DK (064) False Morel 15(20)25(30) g
Needles and other supplies
Double-pointed needles Novita 3 mm (US 2½) or size needed
Stitch patterns Twisted ribbing in the round: *k1 through back loop, p1*, repeat *–*. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rounds. Colourwork in the round: work stockinette st following the chart and instructions.Twist the yarns around each other on the WS to avoid long floats(at different points on back-to-back rows).Always take the contrasting colour from under the main colour. This will make the contrasting colour the dominant colour and you’ll get a neat result.
Gauge 26 sts in colourwork = 10 cm / 4 in
Construction The socks are knitted from cuff to toe.
Leg
Using Stone, cast on 54(60)66(72) sts and divide them across four needles as follows: 13, 14, 14 and 13 sts (15, 15, 15 and 15 sts) 17, 16, 16 and 17 sts (18, 18, 18 and 18) sts.The beginning of round is between needles I and IV, at the centre back.Join for working in the round. Work twisted ribbing for 2 rounds.Switch to Off White and work 6(8)8(10) more rounds in twisted ribbing.Knit 1 round using Off White.
Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart I(II)III(IV). Repeat the 6 st pattern 9(10)11(12) times.Work rows 2–15 of the chart.
Proceed as follows:
Size 34: Work row 16 and increase 1 st on needles I and IV = 56 sts, 14 sts per needle.
Size 38: Work rows 16−17 = 60 sts, 15 sts per needle.
Size 40: Work row 16.Work row 17 and decrease 1 st on needles I and IV = 64 sts, 16 sts per needle.
Size 42: Work row 16.Work row 17 and decrease 1 st on all needles = 68 sts, 17 sts per needle.
Continue on row 17(18)18(18) of chart I(II)III(IV), repeating the 14(15)16(17) st pattern 4 times.Work rows 18(19)19(19)–44(52)52(52) of the chart.The leg now measures approx. 18(20)20(21) cm / 7(7.75)7.75(8.25) in.Break yarns.
Heel
Set up the heel flap by placing all sts from needles I and IV onto the same needle = 28(30)32(34) sts.Leave the other sts on hold.Use Stone to knit the heel flap.Knit the heel flap sts, evenly decreasing 2 sts = 26(28)30(32) sts.
Turn work and begin reinforced stitch pattern:
Row 1 (WS): slip 1 with yarn in back, purl to end.Turn work.
Row 2 (RS): *slip 1 with yarn in back, k1*, repeat *–* to end.Turn work.
Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 13(14)15(16) times, then work row 1 once more = 27(29)31(33) rows.
Begin turning the heel: Work reinforced pattern as established.Work the RS row until 9(10)11(12) sts remain.Skp (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over), turn work.Slip 1, p8(8)8(8), p2tog, turn work.Slip 1, work to last 8(9)10(11) sts, skp.Continue in this manner, decreasing at the ends with 10(10)10(10) sts in the centre.When only the centre sts remain, divide the heel sts onto two needles, 5 sts each.The beginning of round is now here, at the centre of the heel.Leave the Stone yarn on hold.
Foot
Using the left needle with 5 sts, pick up 13(14)15(16) sts from the left end of the heel flap + 1 st from between the flap and needle II.Proceed with Off White.Knit the 5 heel flap sts and knit the picked-up sts through the back loop.Needles II and III: knit all sts.Using the needle with 5 sts, pick up 13(14)15(16) sts from the right end of the flap + 1 st from between needle III and the flap. Knit the picked-up sts through the back loop and k5.
With these 66(70)74(78) stsand the Off White yarn, knit 1 round and begin gusset decreases: at the end of needle I, k2tog; at the beginning of needle IV, skp.Now work following chart V: work rows 1–7, repeating the 2 st pattern. Repeat the gusset decreases on every other round. Note: The decreases will break the pattern.Work the decreases with the colour required by the pattern.
Work row 8 of chart V, repeating the 4 st pattern and working the last gusset decreases.Decrease with the colour required by the pattern.56(60)64(68) sts now on the needles, 14(15)16(17) sts each.
Work rows 9–10 of the chart, then keep repeating rows 11–16 until the foot measures approx. 16(19)22(24) cm / 6.25(7.5)8.75(9.5) in or desired length.Finish after either row 13 or row 16.
If you finished after row 13, proceed following chart VII.If you finished after row 16, proceed following chart VI.Work rows 17–20 of the chart.Use Off White for the rest of the sock.Knit 1 round and decrease 1 st at the midpoint of each needle = 52(56)60(64) sts.
Now begin toe decreases:at the end of needles I and III, k2tog, k1; at the beginning of needles II and IV, k1, skp.Decrease as established on every other round until 24(28)32(36) sts remain.Then work the decreases on every round.When 8 sts remain, break yarn, pull it through the sts and securely weave in.
Knit the other sock in the same manner.
Finishing
Steam the socks lightly.
Embroider the eyes using duplicate sts and the Nature yarn. Embroider the noses using Lingonberry: first work a duplicate st and then make 3 satin stitches at the same spot.
Rudolfus Socks
Size(s)
34(38)40(42) (EUR); foot length is adjustable Size of sample 34
Yarn demand
Novita Nalle (010) Off White 50(60)70(80) g (523) Lingonberry 40(50)60(70) g (043) Stone 30(40)50(60) g (392) Nature 20(30)40(50) g Novita Wonder Wool DK (064) False Morel 15(20)25(30) g
Needles and other supplies
Double-pointed needles Novita 3 mm (US 2½) or size needed
Stitch patterns Twisted ribbing in the round: *k1 through back loop, p1*, repeat *–*. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rounds. Colourwork in the round: work stockinette st following the chart and instructions.Twist the yarns around each other on the WS to avoid long floats(at different points on back-to-back rows).Always take the contrasting colour from under the main colour. This will make the contrasting colour the dominant colour and you’ll get a neat result.
Gauge 26 sts in colourwork = 10 cm / 4 in
Construction The socks are knitted from cuff to toe.
Leg
Using Stone, cast on 54(60)66(72) sts and divide them across four needles as follows: 13, 14, 14 and 13 sts (15, 15, 15 and 15 sts) 17, 16, 16 and 17 sts (18, 18, 18 and 18) sts.The beginning of round is between needles I and IV, at the centre back.Join for working in the round. Work twisted ribbing for 2 rounds.Switch to Off White and work 6(8)8(10) more rounds in twisted ribbing.Knit 1 round using Off White.
Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart I(II)III(IV). Repeat the 6 st pattern 9(10)11(12) times.Work rows 2–15 of the chart.
Proceed as follows:
Size 34: Work row 16 and increase 1 st on needles I and IV = 56 sts, 14 sts per needle.
Size 38: Work rows 16−17 = 60 sts, 15 sts per needle.
Size 40: Work row 16.Work row 17 and decrease 1 st on needles I and IV = 64 sts, 16 sts per needle.
Size 42: Work row 16.Work row 17 and decrease 1 st on all needles = 68 sts, 17 sts per needle.
Continue on row 17(18)18(18) of chart I(II)III(IV), repeating the 14(15)16(17) st pattern 4 times.Work rows 18(19)19(19)–44(52)52(52) of the chart.The leg now measures approx. 18(20)20(21) cm / 7(7.75)7.75(8.25) in.Break yarns.
Heel
Set up the heel flap by placing all sts from needles I and IV onto the same needle = 28(30)32(34) sts.Leave the other sts on hold.Use Stone to knit the heel flap.Knit the heel flap sts, evenly decreasing 2 sts = 26(28)30(32) sts.
Turn work and begin reinforced stitch pattern:
Row 1 (WS): slip 1 with yarn in back, purl to end.Turn work.
Row 2 (RS): *slip 1 with yarn in back, k1*, repeat *–* to end.Turn work.
Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 13(14)15(16) times, then work row 1 once more = 27(29)31(33) rows.
Begin turning the heel: Work reinforced pattern as established.Work the RS row until 9(10)11(12) sts remain.Skp (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over), turn work.Slip 1, p8(8)8(8), p2tog, turn work.Slip 1, work to last 8(9)10(11) sts, skp.Continue in this manner, decreasing at the ends with 10(10)10(10) sts in the centre.When only the centre sts remain, divide the heel sts onto two needles, 5 sts each.The beginning of round is now here, at the centre of the heel.Leave the Stone yarn on hold.
Foot
Using the left needle with 5 sts, pick up 13(14)15(16) sts from the left end of the heel flap + 1 st from between the flap and needle II.Proceed with Off White.Knit the 5 heel flap sts and knit the picked-up sts through the back loop.Needles II and III: knit all sts.Using the needle with 5 sts, pick up 13(14)15(16) sts from the right end of the flap + 1 st from between needle III and the flap. Knit the picked-up sts through the back loop and k5.
With these 66(70)74(78) stsand the Off White yarn, knit 1 round and begin gusset decreases: at the end of needle I, k2tog; at the beginning of needle IV, skp.Now work following chart V: work rows 1–7, repeating the 2 st pattern. Repeat the gusset decreases on every other round. Note: The decreases will break the pattern.Work the decreases with the colour required by the pattern.
Work row 8 of chart V, repeating the 4 st pattern and working the last gusset decreases.Decrease with the colour required by the pattern.56(60)64(68) sts now on the needles, 14(15)16(17) sts each.
Work rows 9–10 of the chart, then keep repeating rows 11–16 until the foot measures approx. 16(19)22(24) cm / 6.25(7.5)8.75(9.5) in or desired length.Finish after either row 13 or row 16.
If you finished after row 13, proceed following chart VII.If you finished after row 16, proceed following chart VI.Work rows 17–20 of the chart.Use Off White for the rest of the sock.Knit 1 round and decrease 1 st at the midpoint of each needle = 52(56)60(64) sts.
Now begin toe decreases:at the end of needles I and III, k2tog, k1; at the beginning of needles II and IV, k1, skp.Decrease as established on every other round until 24(28)32(36) sts remain.Then work the decreases on every round.When 8 sts remain, break yarn, pull it through the sts and securely weave in.
Knit the other sock in the same manner.
Finishing
Steam the socks lightly.
Embroider the eyes using duplicate sts and the Nature yarn. Embroider the noses using Lingonberry: first work a duplicate st and then make 3 satin stitches at the same spot.
