Leaf Socks

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size:

Finished sock circumference 6½ (7½, 8½, 9½)” to fit 7½ (8½, 9½, 10½)” foot circumference. Adjustable length.

1” negative ease recommended.

Shown in size 7½”.

Gauge: 32 sts and 11 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

 Artesano Definition Sock (75% Merino, 25% Polyamide; 437 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): 8362 Mushy Peas, 1 skein

Needles: US size 1 (2.5 mm): DPNs or 40” / [100 cm] circular

Notions: Markers; tapestry needle

Abbreviations

m1L BL: Make a loop in the working yarn, with the yarn leading to the ball at the front. Put the tip of the RH needle through the front of the loop and pull tight. Left-leaning single stitch increase.

m1R BL: Make a loop in the working yarn, with the yarn leading to the work at the front. Put the tip of the RH needle through the back of the loop and pull tight. Right-leaning single stitch increase.

Special Stitches

Judy’s Magic Cast-On

Hold two needle tips parallel to one another with the working tips pointing to the left. Loop the yarn around the bottom needle, with the yarn tail (approximately 30cm) at the front of the needles and the yarn going to the ball at the back of the needles. *Loop the yarn attached to the ball of yarn around the top needle, catching the free end to create the second stitch. Loop the yarn tail around the bottom needle, catching the tail from the stitch on the top needle. Repeat from * until you have the required number of stitches. Looking at the back of your stitches, you should see a row of purl bumps.

Reverse yo: Wrap the working yarn around the RH needle from back to front.

Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off Method

Row 1: Reverse yo, k1, pass the reverse yo over the st, *reverse yo, k1, pass the first st on the needle and the reverse yo over the st just worked; rep from * to end. Draw yarn through rem st and fasten off.

Spring Leaves Pattern

Small

Rnd 1: P1, k4, k2tog, p2, k3, p1 – 12 sts.
Rnd 2: P1, k3, k2tog, p2, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p1 – 13 sts.
Rnd 3: P1, k2, k2tog, p2, k5, p1 – 12 sts.
Rnd 4: P1, k1, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p1 – 13 sts.
Rnd 5: P1, yo, k2tog, yo, p2, k5, k2tog, p1 – 13 sts.
Rnd 6: P1, k3, p2, k4, k2tog, p1 – 12 sts.
Rnd 7: P1, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p2, k3, k2tog, p1 – 13 sts)
Rnd 8: P1, k5, p2, k2, k2tog, p1 – 12 sts.
Rnd 9: P1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k1, k2tog, p1 – 13 sts.
Rnd 10: P1, k5, k2tog, p2, yo, k2tog, yo, p1 – 13 sts.

Rep Rnds 1-10 for patt.

Medium

Rnd 1: P1, k6, k2tog, p2, k3, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 2: P1, k5, k2tog, p2, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p1 – 15 sts.
Rnd 3: P1, k4, k2tog, p2, k5, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 4: P1, k3, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p1 – 15 sts.
Rnd 5: P1, k2, k2tog, p2, k7, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 6: P1, k1, k2tog, p2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p1 – 15 sts.
Rnd 7: P1, yo, k2tog, yo, p2, k7, k2tog, p1 –15 sts.
Rnd 8: P1, k3, p2, k6, k2tog, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 9: P1, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p2, k5, k2tog, p1 – 15 sts.
Rnd 10: P1, k5, p2, k4, k2tog, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 11: P1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k3, k2tog, p1 – 15 sts.
Rnd 12: P1, k7, p2, k2, k2tog, p1 – 14 sts.
Rnd 13: P1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p2, k1, k2tog, p1 – 15 sts
Rnd 14: P1, k7, k2tog, p2, yo, k2tog, yo, p1 – 15 sts.

Rep Rnds 1-14 for patt.

Large

Rnd 1: P1, k8, k2tog, p2, k3, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 2: P1, k7, k2tog, p2, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 3: P1, k6, k2tog, p2, k5, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 4: P1, k5, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 5: P1, k4, k2tog, p2, k7, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 6: P1, k3, k2tog, p2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 7: P1, k2, k2tog, p2, k9, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 8: P1, k1, k2tog, p2, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 9: P1, yo, k2tog, yo, p2, k9, k2tog, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 10: P1, k3, p2, k8, k2tog, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 11: P1, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p2, k7, k2tog, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 12: P1, k5, p2, k6, k2tog, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 13: P1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k5, k2tog, p1 – 7 sts.
Rnd 14: P1, k7, p2, k4, k2tog, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 15: P1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p2, k3, k2tog, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 16: P1, k9, p2, k2, k2tog, p1 – 16 sts.
Rnd 17: P1, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p2, k1, k2tog, p1 – 17 sts.
Rnd 18: P1, k9, k2tog, p2, yo, k2tog, yo, p1 – 17 sts.

Rep Rnds 1-18 for patt.

Extra-Large

Rnd 1: P1, k10, k2tog, p2, k3, p1 – 18 sts,
Rnd 2: P1, k9, k2tog, p2, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 3: P1, k8, k2tog, p2, k5, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 4: P1, k7, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 5: P1, k6, k2tog, p2, k7, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 6: P1, k5, k2tog, p2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 7: P1, k4, k2tog, p2, k9, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 8: P1, k3, k2tog, p2, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 9: P1, k2, k2tog, p2, k11, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 10: P1, k1, k2tog, p2, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 11: P1, yo, k2tog, yo, p2, k11, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 12: P1, k3, p2, k10, k2tog, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 13: P1, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p2, k9, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 14: P1, k5, p2, k8, k2tog, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 15: P1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k7, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 16: P1, k7, p2, k6, k2tog, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 17: P1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p2, k5, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 18: P1, k9, p2, k4, k2tog, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 19: P1, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p2, k3, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 20: P1, k11, p2, k2, k2tog, p1 – 18 sts.
Rnd 21: P1, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, p2, k1, k2tog, p1 – 19 sts.
Rnd 22: P1, k11, k2tog, p2, yo, k2tog, yo, p1 – 19 sts.

Rep Rnds 1-22 for patt.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked from the toe up, with gusset increases and a slipped stitch heel. The socks are finished with a picot cuff.

This pattern is written to be needle-neutral, so can be knitted using a long circular and the magic loop technique if preferred.

Pattern

Toe

Using Judy’s Magic Cast-On method, CO 16 (20, 20, 24) sts [8 (10, 10, 12) sts per side]. Pm to mark start of rnd.

Rnd 1: K8 (10, 10, 12) tbl, pm, k to end.
Rnd 2: (Kfb, k to 2 sts before m, kfb, k1, sm) twice – 4 sts inc’d; 20 (24, 24, 28) total sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.

Rep Rnds 2-3, 9 (10, 12, 13) times in total – 52 (60, 68, 76) sts.

Foot

*Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern to m, sm, k to end.

Rep from * until sole (non-patterned, St st side) of the sock measured from the tip of the toe is 4 (4½, 5, 5½)” shorter than desired total foot length.

Note which Rnd of the Spring Leaves Pattern you start the gusset on and make sure you start the gusset of the second sock on the same pattern Rnd.

Gusset

Rnd 1: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern as est to m, sm, k1, m1R BL, k to st before m, m1L BL, k1 – 2 sts inc’d.

Rnd 2: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern as est to m, sm, k to end.

Rep Rnds 1-2, 12 (14, 16, 18) times total, then work Rnd 1 once more – 52 (60, 68, 76) gusset (non-patterned, St st) sts.

Heel Flap Increases

Note that the second Rnd is a partial rnd

Next Rnd: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern as est to m, sm, k13 (15, 17, 19), pm, k26 (30, 34, 38), pm, (k1, kfb, k2, kfb) 2 (3, 3, 3) times, k1 (0, 1, 1), kfb 1 (0, 1, 1) time, k1 (0, 0, 2).

Next Rnd: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern as est to m, sm, (k1, kfb, k2, kfb) 2 (3, 3, 3) times, k1 (0, 1, 1), kfb 1 (0, 1, 1) time, k1 (0, 0, 2), turn –

10 (12, 14, 14) sts inc’d; 5 (6, 7, 7) on each side of the heel; 62 (72, 82, 86) gusset sts.

Heel turn

The heel turn and heel flap are worked back and forth.

Short Row 1: K to 2 sts before m, w&t.
Short Row 2: P to 2 sts before m, w&t.
Short Row 3: K to 3 sts before m, w&t.
Short Row 4: P to 3 sts before m, w&t.

Cont in this manner, reducing the number of sts before the m every 2 rows until 8 (10, 12, 12) unwrapped sts rem in the centre, ending on a WS row.

Next Row: K to 2 sts before m, picking up the wraps as you go, ssk, including the final wrap in the ssk, turn.

Next Row: Sl1 pwise wyif, p to 2 sts before m, picking up the wraps as you go, p2tog, including the final wrap in the p2tog, turn.

Heel flap

Row 1: *Sl1 pwise wyib, k1; rep from * to 2 sts before m, sl1 pwsie wyib, remove m and ssk (one st before m and one st after m), turn – 1 st dec’d.
Row 2: Sl1 pwise wyif, p to 1 st before m, remove m and p2tog (one st before m and one st after m), turn – 1 st dec’d.
Row 3: *Sl1 pwise wyib, k1; rep from * to 2 sts before gap, sl1 pwise wyib, ssk, turn – 1 st dec’d.
Row 4: Sl1 pwise wyif, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, turn – 1 st dec’d.

Rep Rows 3-4 until 2 sts rem between the gap and m, ending on a WS row.

Next Row: *Sl1 pwise wyib, k1; rep from * to 2 sts before gap, sl1 pwise wyib, ssk, k1. Do not turn – 1 st dec’d.

Leg

Return to working in the rnd.

Rnd 1: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves Pattern to m, sm, k1, k2tog, k to end.
Rnd 2: Work Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) Spring Leaves pattern to end.

Note that the leg pattern must be started on an odd numbered rnd and the first patterned rnd should match the rnd just worked on the front of the sock. If you need to start the leg pattern on an even numbered rnd, move the start of Rnd marker to the start of the back of the leg and begin the leg pattern on the next odd numbered rnd.

Rep Rnd 2 until the leg is approx. 4½” long, measured from the base of the heel.

Cuff

Rnds 1-6: Knit.

Rnd 7: *K2tog, yo; rep from * to end.
Rnds 8-13: Knit.

BO all sts using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off Method, leaving a tail approx. 30” long for sewing the cuff down.
Finishing

Fold down the cuff at the yarn over rnd and loosely sew the first rnd to the last rnd on the inside, making sure to align the sts so the cuff does not twist. Weave in all ends. Wash and block as desired.