This Japanese lace pattern is so intricate with its twists and loops and lovely lacy swirls, as I was working it I thought to myself, “This is like lace on steroids!” And so, the name was born. The top of the foot carries only the purls and knits from the leg pattern. The busy textures of the detailed lace leg would be lost in a shoe, and I sensed it might be uncomfortable to wear. So, the current instep design allows some flow of the leg pattern, but it yields greater comfort for wear. You will find one or two stitches that may be new to you. These are explained in the abbreviations section as well as in the legend. The pattern has both chart and written instructions.The stitches employed in this sock pattern can be found in the Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible, by Hitomi Shida.