Nepeta Sock Pattern

I loved the colours in the skein of Hand Dyed Opal Sock Yarn – Nepeta colour way and couldn’t resist winding it into a ball as soon as it was dry. Glorious summer colours in a skein of sock yarn. I adore this colour combination and the beautiful catmint and hardy geraniums became the colour inspiration for these socks. I’ve always loved analogous colour schemes particularly on the cool side of the colour spectrum. This sock yarn goes from violet purples through purple to sky blue, silvery green and teal greens.

I knew there would be a lovely swirling movement in the colours as I knit the socks and decided to use garter stitch stripes to add some texture to the legs. As I wanted the swirl to continue evenly down the leg I decided to knit the heel flap and turn the heel using the other end of the ball.

Nepeta Sock Pattern

Yarn

• 1 skein of Hand Dyed Opal Sock Yarn

Needles

• 3.25 mm double pointed needle (dpn) for casting on
• 2.75 mm (set of 5) dpns for knitting socks
• tapestry needle for finishing

Tension

The tension for this sock is 20 rows and 16 stitches / 5cm (2 inch) square in stocking stitch (stockinette). 8 stitches / 2.5cm (1 inch).

Abbreviations

double pointed needle(s) – dpn(s); stitch(es) – st(s); knit – k; purl – p; knit two stitches together – k2tog; yarn over – yo; slip slip knit – ssk; purl two stitches together – p2tog;

Cuff

• Cast on 60 sts using 3.25 mm don using the long tail cast on or a different stretchy cast on.
• Join into the round as you knit the first round using 2.75 mm dpns, 15 sts on each needle.
• Knit 14 rounds using k1, p1 ribbing.

Leg

I love the texture of the garter stitch stripes on the leg of the sock. Stripes are never boring there are so many different looks that can be created using stripes and they always look elegant and are fun to knit.

• Rounds 1, 3 and 5: knit
• Rounds 2, 4 and 6: purl
• Rounds 7-14: knit
• Repeat Rounds 2-14 once more.
• Then repeat Rounds 2-7 once more.
• Knit the next 21 rounds to complete the leg. If you want your socks to be a bit longer, you could add additional rounds at this point. I finished the leg at the Centre Back.

Heel

Heel Flap

After finishing the leg you’ll be working the heel flap over half of the total number of stitches, working in rows rather than rounds.

As I didn’t want to lose the elegant swirl of the colours in the hand dyed yarn, I decided to knit the heel flap using the other end of the ball of yarn.

Using the ‘new’ yarn, knit across needle 4 and then knit across needle 1, then turn.

• Row 1: k2, *sl 1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2
• Row 2: k
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 fourteen times more. A total of 30 rows.

Turn the Heel

• Row 1: p17, p2tog, p1, turn.
• Row 2: sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
• Row 3: sl 1, p6 (1 stitch remains before the ‘gap’), p2tog (combines the stitch before the ‘gap’ and the stitch after the gap), p1, turn.
• Row 4: sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
• Row 5: sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
• Row 6: sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, turn.
• Row 7: sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
• Row 8: sl 1, k11, ssk, k1, turn.
• Row 9: sl 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.
• Row 10: sl 1, k13, ssk, k1, turn.
• Row 11: sl 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn.
• Row 12: knit 9 stitches. Then change to the original yarn to continue knitting the sock, knit to the last 3 stitches, ssk, k1.  (18 stitches)

Gusset

Continue knitting, without turning, as you will now be knitting in rounds again.

• Pick up and knit 16 stitches along the edge of the heel flap. (Needle 1)
• Knit across the 30 instep stitches. (Needles 2 and 3)
• Pick up and knit 16 stitches along the edge of the heel flap. Then knit across the first 9 stitches of the heel. (Needle 4)

This is the starting point for the following rounds.

Before you start the next round, slip the next 9 heel stitches onto needle 1. Needles 1 and 4 should have 25 stitches on each. Needles 2 and 3 should have 15 stitches on each.

Gusset Shaping

• Round 1: Needle 1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; Needles 2 and 3: k; Needle 4: k1, ssk, k to end of needle.
• Round 2: K

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until there are 15 stitches on each needle.

Foot

• Knit 41 rounds or the number of rounds that you need for your foot.

Please note that the Nepeta Sock Pattern is a one size free pattern. The sock is easy to try on after the heel has been completed and while you are knitting the foot. The toe shaping is worked over a length of 6cm (2 3/8 inches) which will help you decide when to stop knitting rounds for the foot and still allow for some negative ease.

Classic Toe

• Round 1: Needles 1 and 3: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; Needles 2 and 4: k1, ssk, k to end of needle.
• Round 2: k
• Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until there are 4 sts on each needle. (16 stitches).

Making sure that the toe stitches align with the heel, slip the stitches from needle 4 onto needle 1 and the stitches from needle 3 onto needle 2. 8 stitches on each needle.

• Graft the toe stitches using Kitchener Stitch.

Finishing the Nepeta Socks

Weave in all loose ends. I washed and blocked these socks as I was going to photograph them. For socks knit using hand dyed sock yarn it is worthwhile washing them before wearing them to make sure that any excess dye is removed (particularly if they are a gift). You don’t want to find yourself with colourful feet.

Have fun knitting your own colourful, gorgeous and comfortable pair of socks.