DROPLET SOCKS An original design by Wei S. Leong INTRODUCTION The Droplet Socks were inspired by water droplets of condensation that form on my windows in winter. Growing on the outside of my window sills are some bright yellow lichen the lichen and the droplets have been combined in my choice of lichen-coloured yarn and stitch pattern to bring you the Droplet Socks. The stitch pattern is a very simple lace pattern of alternating yarn overs and K2tog and SSK. Twisted stitch ribbing creates defined rivulets between the droplets. The droplets begin as small beads at the top of the cuff and turn into longer droplets towards the toes. The sock is constructed top down. Use your favourite heel and toe construction to customise the sock to your foot! The length can easily be altered by knitting more or less repeats of the pattern. MATERIALS 2 x 50g Knitsch 100% merino sock yarn (167m/182yd per skein) in the West Janney colourway 2.5mm DPN needles (for a snugger fit, use 2.25mm) GAUGE 8s x 12r = 1 /2.5cm in stocking stitch on 2.5mm needles.
DEFINITIONS K2tbl knit two stitches through the back loops P2tbl purl two stitches through the back loops K2tog knit two together SSK slip, slip, knit YO yarn over SIZING To fit the average woman s foot (US 7/8, UK 5/6, EU 38/39). INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEGINNER SOCK KNITTERS Cast on 64 stitches, divide over three needles and join in the round. Start cuff: *P2, K2*; rep * to * until cuff measures 5cm. Start leg: Repeat the 8 stitch pattern in Chart A across the row. Knit rows 1 16 of Chart A twice. Repeat the 8 stitch pattern in Chart B across the row. Knit rows 17 36 of Chart B once and then rows 17 26 once (leg is approx. 6.5 /17cm from cast on). Heel: Divide for the heel as follows: Move one purl stitch at the beginning of the row backwards to the last needle. Now transfer 32 stitches from the beginning of the row onto one needle. These stitches will become the heel. There will be one purl stitch on either end of the needle. Leave aside the other 32 stitches on the remaining two needles. Knit only the 32 heel stitches as follows: RS: S1, K2tbl, *P2, K2tbl*; rep * to * to last stitch, P1 (32 stitches) WS: S1, P2tbl, *K2, P2tbl*; rep * to * to last stitch, K1 (32 stitches) Repeat these two rows back and forth 15 times in total. Turn heel on next RS row: RS: S1, K17, Ktog, K1, turn. WS: S1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn. RS: S1, K6, K2tog, K1, turn. WS: S1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn.
Continue slipping the first stitch and working two stitches together over the gap until you have used up all the heel stitches. 18 stitches remain. Gusset: Knit across heel stitches. Using the needle with the 18 heel stitches on it, pick up 15 stitches down the side of heel (Needle 1). Using a new needle, knit 32 stitches across the top of the foot in pattern, beginning where you left off on the last half of Chart B (rows 27 36) (Needle 2). Use another needle to pick up 15 stitches on the other side of the heel and knit 9 of the heel stitches from Needle 1 (Needle 3). (80 stitches). You now have 24 gusset/sole stitches on Needle 1; 32 top of foot stitches on Needle 2; and 24 gusset/sole stitches on Needle 3. Continue knitting the 32 top of the foot stitches from row 27 of Chart B, and switch to Chart C when row 36 of Chart B is complete. At the same time, form gusset with Needles 1 and 3 as follows: Round One: Needle 1: Knit until there are 3 stitches left on needle, K2tog, K1. Needle 2: Continue Chart B (move on to Chart C when B is done), no reductions. Needle 3: K1, SSK, knit to end of needle. Round Two: Needle 1: Knit in stocking stitch. Needle 2: Continue chart pattern. Needle 3: Knit in stocking stitch. Continue knitting Rounds 1 and 2, decreasing stitches until you have 64 stitches on the needles again. (Needle 1: 16 sole stitches, Needle 2: 32 top of foot stitches, Needle 3: 16 sole stitches). Foot: Stocking stitch all sole stitches and continue to follow Chart C for all top of foot stitches until 1.5 repeats are complete (rows 37 64 once and then 37 50 once) or until foot measures 5.5 from beginning of gusset or to suit the length of your foot (tip: if you are unsure about how long to knit the foot, a good guide is to try the sock on, and start the toe shaping when the foot reaches the tip of your little toe). Toe: Starting at Needle 1, begin toe as follows. Needle one: knit to last three stiches, K2tog, K1 Needle two: K1, SSK, knit to last three stitches, K2tog, K1. Needle three: K1, SSK, knit to end. Next row: Knit all stitches without decreasing. Continue to decrease alternate rows as above until you are left with 10 stitches on each side of the foot. Kitchener stitch these two sets of 10 stitches together. Break yarn, weave in loose ends.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXPERIENCED SOCK KNITTERS Cast on 64 stitches. Cuff: Knit 5cm/2 in (P2, K2) double rib (note that the row starts with P2). Leg Knit Chart A across row. Two repeats of Chart A in total. Change to Chart B, knit Chart B across row, one and a half repeats of Chart B in total (stop at Row 26 on second repeat). Divide for the heel 32 stitches position stitches so that there is one purl at the beginning and end of row. Heel stitches are: RS: S1, K2tbl, *P2, K2tb*; rep * to * to last stitch, P1. WS: S1, P2tbl, *K2, P2tbl*; rep * to * to last stitch, K1 Knit a total of 15 repeats of the above two rows. Turn heel: RS: S1, K17, Ktog, K1, turn WS: S1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn Continue to reduce as usual until the heel is completed (18 stitches). Pick up gusset stitches (15 stitches from each side). Knit the remaining half repeat of Chart B (rows 27-36) for the top of the foot while reducing stitches for the gusset in stocking stitch. When all gusset stitches are finished (64 stiches total remain), continue knitting the sole in stocking stitch. Begin Chart C when Chart B is completed. Continue knitting Chart C for the top of the foot and stocking stitch for the sole until you get the right length for your foot. In my case, it was 1.5 repeats of Chart C (stopping at row 50 on second repeat). Reduce stitches for toe in your preferred style and graft the remaining stitches. I stopped at 10 stitches on each side. Now do another one, and you are finished!
CHARTS FOR DROPLET SOCKS CHART A CHART B CHART C ᴥ ᴥ 16 ᴥ ᴥ 36 ᴥ ᴥ 64 / ᴥ ᴥ 15 \ ᴥ ᴥ 35 \ ᴥ ᴥ 63 ᴥ ᴥ 14 ᴥ ᴥ 34 ᴥ ᴥ 62 \ ᴥ ᴥ 13 / ᴥ ᴥ 33 / ᴥ ᴥ 61 ᴥ ᴥ 12 ᴥ ᴥ 32 ᴥ ᴥ 60 / ᴥ ᴥ 11 \ ᴥ ᴥ 31 \ ᴥ ᴥ 59 ᴥ ᴥ 10 ᴥ ᴥ 30 ᴥ ᴥ 58 \ ᴥ ᴥ 9 / ᴥ ᴥ 29 / ᴥ ᴥ 57 ᴥ ᴥ 8 ᴥ ᴥ 28 ᴥ ᴥ 56 ᴥ ᴥ / 7 \ ᴥ ᴥ 27 \ ᴥ ᴥ 55 ᴥ ᴥ 6 ᴥ ᴥ 26 ᴥ ᴥ 54 ᴥ ᴥ \ 5 ᴥ ᴥ \ 25 / ᴥ ᴥ 53 ᴥ ᴥ 4 ᴥ ᴥ 24 ᴥ ᴥ 52 ᴥ ᴥ / 3 ᴥ ᴥ / 23 \ ᴥ ᴥ 51 ᴥ ᴥ 2 ᴥ ᴥ 22 ᴥ ᴥ 50 ᴥ ᴥ \ 1 ᴥ ᴥ \ 21 ᴥ ᴥ \ 49 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ᴥ ᴥ 20 ᴥ ᴥ 48 8 stitch repeat ᴥ ᴥ / 19 ᴥ ᴥ / 47 ᴥ ᴥ 18 ᴥ ᴥ 46 ᴥ ᴥ \ 17 ᴥ ᴥ \ 45 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ᴥ ᴥ 44 8 stitch repeat ᴥ ᴥ / 43 KEY ᴥ ᴥ 42 ᴥ ᴥ \ 41 Knit (K) ᴥ ᴥ 40 Purl (P) ᴥ ᴥ / 39 ᴥ knit though the back loop (ktbl) (RS) ᴥ ᴥ 38 / knit two together (K2tog) ᴥ ᴥ \ 37 yarn over (YO) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 \ slip, slip, knit (SSK) 8 stitch repeat