Socktober: Wildflower Trail socks Novita Nalle
Niina Laitinen is one of Finland’s most popular knitting pattern designers – and for good reason! These utterly charming Wildflower Trail socks are a masterclass in cabling, with a pattern that will keep you on your toes until the final stitch. The socks are knitted using Novita Nalle yarn, which is available in an enormous range of gorgeous hues, perhaps even in the colour of your favourite flower. Don’t forget to check out Niina Laitinen’s other Socktober designs, Forest Trail and Nature Trail.
Designer
Niina Laitinen
Size(s)
38/39
Finished dimensions
suitable for 35–40 cm calf circumference
Yarn demand
Novita Nalle (539) raspberry 200 g
Needles and other supplies
Recommended needles Novita 3 mm double pointed, or as required to meet gauge, and cable needle
Finished dimensions
suitable for 35–40 cm calf circumference
Gauge swatch As per chart and pattern
Knitting tension 24 sts and 30 rows in stocking stitch = 10 cm.
Before you start Please be aware that you will need to adjust the distribution of your stitches as you work, as some of the cables will extend across two needles. Take extra care to check that the distribution is correct before embarking on the heel and heel decreases.
Leg
Cast on 76 sts and divide onto four needles as follows: 23 sts on Needle 1, 15 sts on Needle 2, 15 sts on Needle 3 and 23 sts on Needle 4. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round.
Work in cable pattern from Row 1 of Chart A. Work Rows 1–42.
Before you start Row 43, redistribute your stitches as follows: 24-14-14-24 sts. Works chart rows 43–114 and make decreases as per chart = 58 sts.
Once you have worked the entire chart, redistribute the stitches in preparation for the heel as follows: 15–14–14–15 sts.
Heel
Now start the heel flap by knitting the sts on Needle 1 onto Needle 4 = 30 sts. Decrease by 2 as you do so = 28 sts. Leave the remaining sts for now.
Turn your work and continue in heel stitch:
Row 1 (WS): slip one st with yarn in back (s1wyib), and purl remaining sts to end. Turn your work.
Row 2 (RS): *slip one st with yarn in back (sl1wyib), k1*, repeat *–* to end.
Repeat Rounds 1–2 14 times = 28 rows.
Work one more WS row here before starting the heel decreases: continue in heel stitch as above. Work the RS row until 9 sts remain. Now slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over (skp) and turn your work. Sl1, purl 10 st, p2tog and turn work. Sl1, knit until 8 sts remain, skp. Continue to work these decreases from the sides, always keeping 12 sts in the middle of your work. When no more side sts remain, divide your heel sts between two needles, 6 sts on each. Knit the 6 sts on the right-hand needle. This is now the beginning of a new row.
Foot
Using the left needle (with 6 sts already on it), pick up 16 sts from the left side of the heel flap. Knit the 6 sts on the heel flap and knit the picked up stitches through the back loop (tbl). Work the stitches on Needle 2 and Needle 3 as per Row 1 of Chart B. Using the needle with 6 sts already on it, pick up 16 sts from the right side of the heel flap. Knit these picked up sts tbl and knit the 6 heel flap sts. You now have 72 sts.
Continue to work the stitches on Needle 1 and Needle 4 in stocking stitch and resume the cable pattern according to Chart B on Needle 2 and Needle 3. Now work the gusset decreases: k2tog at end of Needle 1 and skp at the beginning of Needle 4. Repeat these decreases every other row until you have 56 sts, 14 on each needle.
Once you have completed all 48 rows of Chart B after the heel, start the toe decreases.
Toe decreases (wedge decreases): k2tog at the start of Needle 1 and Needle 3, k1. Work sts on Needle 2 and Needle 3 according to Chart C. At the start of Needle 4, k1 and skp. Decrease as above on every other round until 9 sts remain on each needle. Now work decreases on every round. When 8 sts remain, break yarn, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and finish off.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Weave in any loose ends and steam gently to finish.
Finished dimensions
suitable for 35–40 cm calf circumference
Gauge swatch As per chart and pattern
Knitting tension 24 sts and 30 rows in stocking stitch = 10 cm.
Before you start Please be aware that you will need to adjust the distribution of your stitches as you work, as some of the cables will extend across two needles. Take extra care to check that the distribution is correct before embarking on the heel and heel decreases.
Leg
Cast on 76 sts and divide onto four needles as follows: 23 sts on Needle 1, 15 sts on Needle 2, 15 sts on Needle 3 and 23 sts on Needle 4. Needle 1 marks the start of a new round.
Work in cable pattern from Row 1 of Chart A. Work Rows 1–42.
Before you start Row 43, redistribute your stitches as follows: 24-14-14-24 sts. Works chart rows 43–114 and make decreases as per chart = 58 sts.
Once you have worked the entire chart, redistribute the stitches in preparation for the heel as follows: 15–14–14–15 sts.
Heel
Now start the heel flap by knitting the sts on Needle 1 onto Needle 4 = 30 sts. Decrease by 2 as you do so = 28 sts. Leave the remaining sts for now.
Turn your work and continue in heel stitch:
Row 1 (WS): slip one st with yarn in back (s1wyib), and purl remaining sts to end. Turn your work.
Row 2 (RS): *slip one st with yarn in back (sl1wyib), k1*, repeat *–* to end.
Repeat Rounds 1–2 14 times = 28 rows.
Work one more WS row here before starting the heel decreases: continue in heel stitch as above. Work the RS row until 9 sts remain. Now slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over (skp) and turn your work. Sl1, purl 10 st, p2tog and turn work. Sl1, knit until 8 sts remain, skp. Continue to work these decreases from the sides, always keeping 12 sts in the middle of your work. When no more side sts remain, divide your heel sts between two needles, 6 sts on each. Knit the 6 sts on the right-hand needle. This is now the beginning of a new row.
Foot
Using the left needle (with 6 sts already on it), pick up 16 sts from the left side of the heel flap. Knit the 6 sts on the heel flap and knit the picked up stitches through the back loop (tbl). Work the stitches on Needle 2 and Needle 3 as per Row 1 of Chart B. Using the needle with 6 sts already on it, pick up 16 sts from the right side of the heel flap. Knit these picked up sts tbl and knit the 6 heel flap sts. You now have 72 sts.
Continue to work the stitches on Needle 1 and Needle 4 in stocking stitch and resume the cable pattern according to Chart B on Needle 2 and Needle 3. Now work the gusset decreases: k2tog at end of Needle 1 and skp at the beginning of Needle 4. Repeat these decreases every other row until you have 56 sts, 14 on each needle.
Once you have completed all 48 rows of Chart B after the heel, start the toe decreases.
Toe decreases (wedge decreases): k2tog at the start of Needle 1 and Needle 3, k1. Work sts on Needle 2 and Needle 3 according to Chart C. At the start of Needle 4, k1 and skp. Decrease as above on every other round until 9 sts remain on each needle. Now work decreases on every round. When 8 sts remain, break yarn, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and finish off.
Repeat to make second sock.
Finishing
Weave in any loose ends and steam gently to finish.
