Elves in the Woods by Amy Jansen

Elves in the Woods

Knitting
January 2012
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
34 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches
in stocking stitch, unblocked and unstretched
US 2 - 2.75 mm
400 yards (366 m)
English
This pattern is available for $8.00 USD buy it now

Toe-up socks with cabled tree roots on the feet growing into lace leaves on the legs. Perfect for hidden elves! These socks have two unusual design features: one is that the foot pattern extends onto the gussets, so there is no blank triangle on each side of the heel; the other is that I have used German short rows to turn the heel – no wrapping involved! The pattern is written for two-at-a-time on one circular needle knitting, but can be worked equally well one-at-a-time and/or on dpns.

This pattern was designed using Enchanted Knoll Farm’s Shimmy Toes sock yarn, but any sock yarn with good definition for the cables will work well.

Size - here I have given the dimensions for my socks. Most of these dimensions are adjustable, as explained below.

Measurements of unstretched, unblocked sock: Foot length 24cm/9 ½“; Foot circumference 16cm/6 ½”; Leg circumference 16cm/6 ½“; Leg length approximately 25 cm/10”.

To fit: Foot length 24-25.5cm/9½-10”; Circumference around ball of foot 22-23cm/8½ - 9”; Leg circumference 22-23cm/8½ - 9”. Leg length adjustable.

This sock pattern requires 60 stitches around the foot and leg to work. If you know that you can obtain fit with a sock of 60 stitches, then this pattern will work for you, since the foot length and leg length are adjustable. If you cannot obtain fit with this number of stitches, by adjusting yarn weight and/or needle size, then this pattern will not work for you!

Other sizes can be obtained by adjusting needle size and/or yarn weight. For example if your foot is 8” in circumference, you will need to obtain a gauge of approximately 38 stitches to 4” (unstretched and unblocked). You can adjust the foot length by starting at a different point in the foot pattern.

Skill level: Intermediate - Experienced - skills required include casting-on for toe-up socks, cables, lace, knitting in the round, short rows, chart reading (all techniques used either include links to on-line tutorials or are described in detail). A determined beginner sock knitter should be able to use this pattern!

The pattern has been test-knit by 3 lovely Ravelers: hotcheese, abitknottie and quilterx.