Stardust socks Novita Venla

Start

Using Off White cast on 96 sts and divide them onto four needles, 24 sts each. The beginning of round is between needles I and IV. Work 1 round of ribbing using Off White: *k1, p1*, repeat *-*. Then work 5 rounds of corrugated ribbing. Work 2 rounds in stockinette st using Off White.

Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart I. Repeat the 12 st pattern 8 times. Work rows 2-17 of the chart.

Work rows 18-24. Repeat the 2 st pattern 48 times.

Work row 25, evenly decreasing 3 sts = 93 sts. Distribution: 24 sts on needle I, 23 sts each on needles II, III and IV.

Continue on row 1 of chart II. From now on begin the round at the midpoint of the cable pattern (see arrow): work 3 sts Off White and 1 st Tomato, repeat the 12 st colourwork pattern 7 times, work the 1 st at the left end of the chart, work 1 st Tomato and 3 sts Off White. Now keep repeating rows 2-13, working the cable turns on rows 5 and 11.

Note: After working rows 2-13 once, work rows 2-4 once more. On the next round begin decreases on both sides of the cable pattern: work 4 sts following the chart, skp using the colour needed for the pattern (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over), work to last 6 sts, k2tog using the colour needed, work to end of round. Repeat the decreases on every 6th round (on the cable turn rounds) 9 more times = 73 sts. Note that the pattern repeats will not be full ones because of the decreases. As you keep decreasing move sts from needle II onto needle I and from needle III onto needle IV so that there are 18 sts each on needles II and III.

After you have repeated rows 2-13 7 times in total, the leg measures approx. 35 cm.

Begin the heel flap: knit the sts on needle I onto needle IV following the patterns = 37 sts. Leave the other sts on hold and turn work. Break off Tomato and continue with Off White. Purl to end, evenly decreasing 2 sts so that there are 14 sts before the cable and 15 sts after it on the RS = 35 sts.

Begin the reinforced st pattern and resume the cable pattern:

Row 1: (RS) *slip 1 with yarn in back, k1*, repeat *-* 6 times in total, slip 1, p1, work the 6 cable sts, p1, *slip 1, k1*, repeat *-* to end. Turn work.

Row 2: (WS) slip 1 with yarn in back, p13, k1, p6, k1, purl to end. Turn work.

Repeat rows 1-2 a total of 16 times (= 32 rows), working the cable turns on every 6th row as established.

With all sts, continue working the reinforced st pattern and begin turning the heel: work until 14 sts remain at the left end of the heel flap. Skp (= slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over), turn work. Slip 1, p8, p2tog, turn work. Slip 1, work to last 13 sts, skp. Continue in this manner, decreasing at the ends with 10 sts in the middle. When only the middle sts remain, divide the sts onto two needles, 5 sts each. Break off the Off White yarn.

Using needle I pick up 16 sts from the left end of the heel flap + 2 sts from between the needles. Using needle IV pick up 16 sts from the other end of the flap + 2 sts from between the needles. 82 sts now on the needles.

Resume the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart III. Knit the picked-up sts through the back loop. Work rows 2-11. Work gusset decreases at the end of needle I and beginning of needle IV following the chart. 72 sts now on the needles.

Continue on row 12 of the chart. Keep repeating rows 13-24 until you reach the toe decreases. When the foot measures approx. 19 cm, knit 1 round using Off White, decreasing 2 sts on each needle = 64 sts, 16 sts per needle.

Use Off White for the rest of the piece. 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 2nd round until 12 sts remain on each needle. Then work the decreases on every round. When 12 sts remain, break yarn, pull it through the sts and securely weave in.

Knit the other sock in the same manner.

Finishing

Lightly steam the socks.