Koigu Lace Socks
It rained and rained all weekend, but I had a wonderful time indoors lazing around with some old friends. I also seriously overate some excellent Bengali food. Of all the Indian cuisines, Bengali food has never really been my favourite but I’m slowly learning to trying to appreciate its subtleties and even cook a little bit of it from time to time. I’m planning to spend some quality time in the kitchen in Calcutta this summer learning some tips from ze mother-in-law. Anyway. In the meantime: socks are done! Took nearly a month, but well worth the frogging, the time taken and the effort to adapt a pattern to my liking.
Specs:
Yarn: Koigu 100% merino (forgot the colour!)
Pattern: my own combination of Wendy’s Toe Up Sock Pattern using short row toes and heels and the Double Eyelet Rib pattern from Barbara Walker’s first Treasury of Knitting Patterns.
Pattern notes:
Gauge: 8.5 stitches over stockinette, on size 0 takumi bamboo dpns.
I cast on 64 stitches, and after completing the toe, I knit 8 stockinette rounds. Then I knit the rib pattern on half the stitches (32) for the top of the foot and stockinette for the other half (32). The rib pattern is over 4 rounds and goes fairly simply, like this:
Rounds 1, 2 and 4: p3, (k5, p2) thrice, k5, p3, knit remaining 32 stitches for bottom of foot
Rd 3: p3 (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p2) thrice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k 32.
I knit as established until it was time to do the heel (2 inches less than the length I wanted for the sock). After doing the short-row heel, I decreased one stitch, since the rib pattern is a multiple of seven. So, 63 stitches for the cuff.
Rounds 1, 2, & 4: (p2, k5) all around
Rd 3: (p2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk) all around
Loose casting off was crucial and I picked the Russian one: p1, loosen the stitch just purled, place back on left needle, purl together with next stitch, continue till all stitches cast off. See photos of the process here.
Variations (for the future!): I’d probably do more plain rounds in between the patterned round, to make it go faster. Also, the pattern is over 7 stitches, but to make the sock slightly wider or tighter, it’s easier to just insert one purl stitch in between the rib panels, either in each purl band or in alternate ones. Doesn’t alter the pattern that much, and you avoid having to increase 7 stitches for a whole extra pattern repeat.
For once I’m not complaining that the weather got cooler again. Now I can just wear these to work tomorrow:
