Make these 1930s-style socks to team with peep-toe shoes
If you want to keep your toes warm on an autumn evening, there is nothing nicer than the feel of this merino wool and cashmere blend on your feet.
The lacy diamond design, which gives these socks a pretty 1930s look, is taken from a vintage pattern for a pair of bed socks. We have added a cuff for a lacy finishing touch, which gives the socks an extra-feminine feel and means they work well with pretty floral prints and high heels. For people who find knitting on four needles difficult, these socks are easy to knit in 4-ply yarn on two needles and can be sewn up afterwards.
What you'll need
One pair of 3.25mm needles
Rowan Cashsoft 4-ply (57% extra-fine merino, 33% acrylic microfibre, 10% cashmere, 180m/197 yards): 2 x 50g balls, shade 426 Mosaic
Measurements
To fit 23-24cm/9-91⁄2 in foot.
Length of leg from bottom of heel (cuff folded) 16.5cm/61⁄2 in.
Tension
28 sts and 36 rows measure 10cm/4in using 3.25mm needles (or size needed to obtain given tension).
How to knit
Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 55 sts.
Work in k1, p2 rib for 4cm/11⁄2in.
Work in st st for 4cm/11⁄2in.
Diamond panel
Row 1 K27, yfwd, k2tog tbl, k26.
Row 2 and alt rows K1, p to last st, k1.
Row 3 K25, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, k2tog tbl, k25.
Row 5 K24, k2tog, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k2tog tbl, k24.
Row 7 K23, (k2tog, yfwd) twice, k1, (yfwd, k2tog tbl) twice, k23.
Row 9 K22, (k2tog, yfwd) twice, k3, (yfwd, k2tog tbl) twice, k22.
Row 11 K24, yfwd, k2tog tbl, yfwd, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k24.
Row 13 K25, yfwd, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k25.
Row 15 K26, yfwd, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, k26.
Row 16 K1, p to last st, k1.
Rows 5-16 form the diamond panel.
Work 2 rows in st st.
Instep
Keeping diamond patt correct, work instep as follows:
Row 1 K23, (k2tog, yfwd) twice, k1, (yfwd, k2tog tbl) twice, k9.
Slip rem 14 sts and first 14 sts of row onto scrap yarn. Noting that 14 fewer sts will be worked in st st at both ends of needle, cont to work diamond panel as at beg, starting with row9. Cont until 5 diamonds in all have been worked, finishing with row 16 of panel.
Next row K13, yfwd, k2tog, k12.
Cont in st st until work measures 15cm/6in (for a 24cm/91⁄2in foot) from where sts were divided, finishing at the end of a p row.
Shape toe
Row 1 K1, k2tog tbl, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2 K1, p to last st, k1.
Rep these 2 rows 7 more times.
Slip rem 11 sts onto a piece of yarn.
Heel
Slip groups of 14 sts onto 1 needle placing open edges tog. With RS facing, join yarn and work as follows on the 28 sts on needle.
Row 1 Sl 1, k to last st, turn.
Row 2 Sl 1, p to last st, turn.
Row 3 Sl 1, k to last 2 sts, turn.
Row 4 Sl 1, p to last 2 sts, turn.
Cont in this manner working 1 st less on every row until the row sl 1, p to last 9 sts, turn' has been worked.
Next row Sl 1, k to last 8 sts, turn.
Next row Sl 1, p to last 8 sts, turn.
Next row Sl 1, k to last 7 sts, turn.
Next row Sl 1, p to last 7 sts, turn.
Cont in this manner working 1 more st on every row until all sts are worked onto one needle again.
Cont in st st until work measures same as first half up to toe shaping, dec 1 st at end of last row. 27 sts.
Shape toe as for first half, then graft the 2 groups of sts tog.
Cuff
With WS facing, pick up and k 56 sts from cuff edge.
Knit next WS row to form a ridge.
Next row K, inc to 71 as follows: k2, (M1, k4) 5 times; (M1, k3) 4 times; (M1, k4) 5 times; M1, k2.
Begin pattern as follows:
Row 1 Knit.
Row 2 (K3, yfwd, k3tog, yfwd, k1) to last st, k1.
Row 3 Knit.
Row 4 (K2, yfwd, k1, k3tog, k1, yfwd) to last st, k1.
Rep these 4 rows until cuff covers rib and the first 2.5cm/1in of st st. Knit 3 rows, cast off loosely.
Work another sock in the same way.
Finishing
Block or press carefully. Using a flat seam, join side and back seams. Press seams.
This pattern is from 'Country Weekend Socks' by Madeline Weston.
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