Touch of Elegance Socks

Touch of Elegance Socks were designed as an elegant choice for using a skein of my hand dyed Merino Cashmere Nylon sock yarn in a rich Old Gold colour. For this luxurious yarn I wanted to add a touch of texture to the sock.

There is nothing quite as beautiful as a skein of hand dyed yarn. I love hand dyeing sock yarn. There is a touch of alchemy about the dyeing process. Part of the joy is that the depth and richness of the colours will still surprise you even if you have an understanding of colour theory.

The Merino Cashmere Nylon sock yarn takes the dye amazingly well. Hand Dyed Merino Cashmere Nylon Sock Yarn is a wonderful squishy soft yarn perfect for knitting socks, scarves, shawls, gloves and many other projects. The nylon content adds strength while the cashmere adds an element of luxury. 

Yarn:

I decided to use an exquisite old gold semi solid hand dyed Merino Cashmere Nylon sock yarn as the main colour (MC) for these socks.

I combined this with some of the skein of Halloween Hoolie sock yarn (with a touch of sparkle) hand dyed by A Fine Fish yarns as the contrast colour (CC) for the cuffs, heels and toes.

Needles:

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

Tension:

I knit my socks to fit a UK shoe size 5/6 using a tension of 32 sts/44 rounds = 10×10 cm (4″x4″) which works out at 8 sts/11 rounds = 2.5×2.5cm (1″x1″) when knitting stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) in the round.

Abbreviations:

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

Cuff:

Cast on 60 stitches using 3.25mm don using Old Gold (MC). Change to 2.75 mm dpns.

• Next, work the first row of k1, p1 rib. Divide over 4 needles as you work this row. 15 stitches on each needle.
• Join into a round being careful not to twist the stitches.
• Change to CC and k1, p1 rib for 2 rounds.
• Change to MC and k1, p1 rib for 2 rounds.
• Change to CC and k1, p1 rib for 12 rounds.
• Then, k1 round.

Leg:

Change to MC for knitting the leg section.

Note: As the pattern is worked over a repeat of 2 stitches it is very easy to make the sock larger or smaller. See the posts for the Basic Sock Pattern in 6 Sizes for help with knitting a larger or smaller sized sock.

Textured Stitch Pattern:

• Round 1: k
• Round 2: k
• Round 3: (k1, p1) repeat to end of round.
• Round 4: k

These 4 rounds worked over a repeat of 2 stitches create the textured stitch pattern for this sock.

• Repeat the pattern rounds 1-4 twelve times in total.
• On the next round, knit needles 1, 2 and 3 (45 stitches)
• Then change to the CC yarn and knit across needle 4 of this round, then needle 1 of the next round, turn.

The Heel:

Heel Flap:

You are ready to work the heel flap over half of the total number of stitches (30 sts), working in rows rather than rounds.

• Row 1: *sl 1, p1; rep from * to end.
• Row 2: sl 1, knit to end.
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 fifteen times more. A total of 32 rows.

Dutch or Square Heel Turn:

I love knitting the Dutch or Square Heel Turn has become my “go to” heel particularly on socks that I am knitting while travelling as I don’t have to think at all when I’m knitting this heel. There really is virtually no counting to be done!

• Set up: p20, p2tog, turn
• Row 1: sl 1, k10, ssk, turn
• Row 2: sl 1, p10, p2tog, turn
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 12 stitches are left, ending with row 1. In this final row, change to the MC at the half way point.

Gusset:

Continue knitting, without turning, as you will now be knitting in rounds again. You will be knitting (stocking stitch) the gusset and sole. The instep stitches will be worked in the textured stitch pattern.

• Pick up and knit 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap. (Needle 1)
• Knit across the 30 instep stitches. (Needles 2 and 3)
• Pick up and knit 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap. Then knit across the first 6 stitches of the heel. (Needle 4)

This is the starting point for the following rounds.

Before you start the next round, slip the next 6 heel stitches onto needle 1. Needles 1 and 4 should have 24 stitches on each. Needles 2 and 3 should have 15 stitches on each.

• Next round: K6, k18 tbl, (p1, k1) 15 times, k18 tbl, k6
• Next: knit

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
• Round 3: Needle 1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; Needles 2 and 3: (p1, k1) 15 times; Needle 4: k1, ssk, k to end of needle.
• Round 4: k

Repeat rounds 1-4 three more times, then round 1 once more, until there are 15 stitches on each of the 4 needles. (60 stitches)

Foot:

Stitch Pattern for the Foot:

• Round 1: k
• Round 2: k
• Round 3: k15, (p1, k1) 15 times, k15
• Round 4: k

For knitting the foot, start on Round 2 of the Stitch Pattern for the Foot. Work 11 repeats of the pattern ending on Round 1 of the repeat (44 rounds for the foot).

On this final Round 1, k45 using MC, then change to CC and k15.

Classic Toe:

The toe is worked in stocking stitch using CC.

• 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 7 sts on each needle. (28 stitches).
• Then repeat round 1 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:

Weave in all loose ends. Then I washed and blocked the socks on sock blockers. I just find that it gives the stitches a lovely even finish. It isn’t necessary if you are intending putting the socks straight into your sock drawer but it gives them a lovely finish if you are giving the socks away as a gift.

 

I love how the Touch of Elegance Socks turned out. They are a little bit of luxury for my feet and I just adore wearing them! The Hand Dyed Merino Cashmere Nylon Sock Yarn is available in a glorious selection of colours in the Yarn Shop here. I love using small amounts of left over sock yarn for knitting contrasting cuffs, heels and toes on my socks.

Neil took these beautiful photographs in the small courtyard at my sister’s home in Brittany. We chose two spots. The first was standing on a large slab of Breton slate in front of the old slate wall. The second had me perched on top of an old tree stump with the ash bucket lying beside it.