Socktober: Late Summer Socks Novita Nalle
Designed by German knitwear designer Kerstin Balke, the Late Summer wool socks feature a striking graphic pattern. In typical Balke fashion, also known as Stine & Stitch, the socks use vibrant colours. The pink and orange shades of the Novita Nalle yarn evoke the glorious sunsets of late summer. The socks are finished with a short-row heel. See also Kerstin Balke's other Socktober socks: by the Sea and Harlequin.
Designer
Kerstin Balke
Size(s)
38(39)
Yarn demand
Novita Nalle (264) Papaya 50 g (622) Sahara 50 g (539) Raspberry 50 g
Needles and other supplies
Recommended needles Novita 3 mm double pointed, or as required to meet gauge, and 2 stitch markers
Gauge swatch Ribbing in the round: *k2, p2*, repeat *–*. Flat stocking stitch: knit right side (RS) and purl wrong side (WS). Colourwork: work all rows in stocking stitch as shown in chart and pattern instructions.
Tension 30 sts and 36 rows of colourwork = 10 cm
TechniqueDouble stitch/German short rows: After you’ve turned your work slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in front (SL1PW wyif), lift your yarn up and over the needle, pulling on it until it creates a double stitch (DS). When you next reach the DS, work it as a single stitch, ie. under both legs.
Leg
Cast on 60(64) sts using Papaya and divide onto four needles, 15(16) sts each. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round. Join to work in the round and knit 2 rounds of rib stitch. Join in Sahara and work in rib for 10 rounds.
Start the colourwork at Row 1 of Chart 1 and repeat the 4 st pattern 15(16) times. Work chart rows 2–27. Now work rows 1–18. The leg should now measure approx. 17 cm. Break yarn.
Heel
Work a short-row heel using Sahara.
Row 1 (RS): Work the sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4 onto a single needle = 30(32). Using stitch markers, divide sts into three sections as follows: 10, 10 and 10 sts (11, 10 and 11 sts). Leave the sts on Needle 2 and Needle for the time being. Work the 30(32) sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4 in flat stocking stitch and shape the heel with German short rows.
Row 2 (WS): Turn work, make DS and purl the sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4.
Row 3 (RS): Turn work, make DS and knit to previous DS.
Row 4 (WS): Turn work, make DS and purl to previous DS.
Repeat Rows 3–4 until you have 10(11) DS at both ends and 10(10) regular sts in the middle and you have reached the first stitch marker. Work 2 rounds in stocking stitch in the round. On the first round, work all DS as a single stitch. You have now reached the first stitch marker.
Continue to work German short rows here.
Round 1 (RS): work the 10 middle sts and k1 after stitch marker, turn work.
Round 2 (WS): Make DS, purl middle sts and p1 after stitch marker. Turn work.
Round 3 (RS): Make DS, knit all sts to next DS, work DS as single st, k1 and turn work.
Round 4 (WS): Make DS, purl all sts to next DS, work DS as single st, p1 and turn work.
Repeat Rows 3–4 until you have 1 DS at each end. Divide heel sts back onto two needles by knitting 14(15) sts onto Needle 4 in addition to DS.
Foot
Resume colourwork from Row 21 of Chart 1 and work the remaining DS as a single st. Now work Rows 22–27 and 1–27. Continue according to Row 1 of Chart 2. Work chart rows 2–12. Finish the rest of the sock in Papaya. Work in stocking stitch in the round until the foot measures 20(21) cm.
Now start the toe decreases: k2tog at the end of Needle 1 and Needle 3 + k1 and at the start of Needle 2 and Needle 4 k1 and ssk tbl (slip two stitches individually knitwise to right needle, return sts to the left needle and knit together through the back loop). Work the decreases as above on every second round until 24 sts remain. Now repeat the decreases on every round until 8 sts remain. Break yarn and draw through the stitches to fasten off. Weave in end.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Steam gently to finish.
Gauge swatch Ribbing in the round: *k2, p2*, repeat *–*. Flat stocking stitch: knit right side (RS) and purl wrong side (WS). Colourwork: work all rows in stocking stitch as shown in chart and pattern instructions.
Tension 30 sts and 36 rows of colourwork = 10 cm
TechniqueDouble stitch/German short rows: After you’ve turned your work slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in front (SL1PW wyif), lift your yarn up and over the needle, pulling on it until it creates a double stitch (DS). When you next reach the DS, work it as a single stitch, ie. under both legs.
Leg
Cast on 60(64) sts using Papaya and divide onto four needles, 15(16) sts each. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round. Join to work in the round and knit 2 rounds of rib stitch. Join in Sahara and work in rib for 10 rounds.
Start the colourwork at Row 1 of Chart 1 and repeat the 4 st pattern 15(16) times. Work chart rows 2–27. Now work rows 1–18. The leg should now measure approx. 17 cm. Break yarn.
Heel
Work a short-row heel using Sahara.
Row 1 (RS): Work the sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4 onto a single needle = 30(32). Using stitch markers, divide sts into three sections as follows: 10, 10 and 10 sts (11, 10 and 11 sts). Leave the sts on Needle 2 and Needle for the time being. Work the 30(32) sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4 in flat stocking stitch and shape the heel with German short rows.
Row 2 (WS): Turn work, make DS and purl the sts on Needle 1 and Needle 4.
Row 3 (RS): Turn work, make DS and knit to previous DS.
Row 4 (WS): Turn work, make DS and purl to previous DS.
Repeat Rows 3–4 until you have 10(11) DS at both ends and 10(10) regular sts in the middle and you have reached the first stitch marker. Work 2 rounds in stocking stitch in the round. On the first round, work all DS as a single stitch. You have now reached the first stitch marker.
Continue to work German short rows here.
Round 1 (RS): work the 10 middle sts and k1 after stitch marker, turn work.
Round 2 (WS): Make DS, purl middle sts and p1 after stitch marker. Turn work.
Round 3 (RS): Make DS, knit all sts to next DS, work DS as single st, k1 and turn work.
Round 4 (WS): Make DS, purl all sts to next DS, work DS as single st, p1 and turn work.
Repeat Rows 3–4 until you have 1 DS at each end. Divide heel sts back onto two needles by knitting 14(15) sts onto Needle 4 in addition to DS.
Foot
Resume colourwork from Row 21 of Chart 1 and work the remaining DS as a single st. Now work Rows 22–27 and 1–27. Continue according to Row 1 of Chart 2. Work chart rows 2–12. Finish the rest of the sock in Papaya. Work in stocking stitch in the round until the foot measures 20(21) cm.
Now start the toe decreases: k2tog at the end of Needle 1 and Needle 3 + k1 and at the start of Needle 2 and Needle 4 k1 and ssk tbl (slip two stitches individually knitwise to right needle, return sts to the left needle and knit together through the back loop). Work the decreases as above on every second round until 24 sts remain. Now repeat the decreases on every round until 8 sts remain. Break yarn and draw through the stitches to fasten off. Weave in end.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Steam gently to finish.
