Free Pattern: Alpine Socks

The alpine socks are inspired by cosy evenings and long winter walks. The socks are a satisfyingly quick and simple knit and easy to adapt to any size. Pattern is toe up and written for magic loop but is easily adaptable to DPNs.

Yarn: DK weight yarn in at least two colours, 100g main colour plus 20g contrasting colours.

Needles: 4.5mm circular needles or DPNs. Or size required to reach

the gauge.

Gauge: 10cm (4 inches) = 18 sts, 24 rows

Stitches:

· K (knit)

· P (purl)

· Ktbl (knit one stitch through the back loop)

· w&t (wrap and turn)

· yo (yarn over)

Sizing: The pattern is written for a UK size 9 foot, however it can be easily adapted by adding or removing stitches in multiples of 4. I recommend using the fish lips kiss method to get a super great fitting sock. This is a separate, paid for pattern. However it’s a great resource for any sock knitter and I highly recommend downloading it here. The pattern is written toe up but as the chart is symmetrical can easily be worked top down too.

Pattern

Cast on:

I like to use Judy’s magic cast-on for toe-up socks (free tutorial here) and cast on both socks at a time on long circular needles.

Cast on 12 stiches for each sock (6 per needle). The rest of the pattern is written per sock, if you are knitting two at a time repeat each row of the pattern for both socks.

Toe:

Round 1: *K1, yo, K to last st on needle, yo, K1* twice. (4 sts increased)

Round 2: *K1, Ktbl, K to last two sts on needle, Ktbl, K1* twice.

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until total of 44 stitches (22 on each needle) or until you reach your desired width, ensure that your total number of stitches per sock is a multiple of 4.

Foot:

K all rounds until foot reaches approx. 3.5 inches / 9 cm shorter than the foot length.

Heel:

I like to knit the "Fish Lips Kiss Heel", this is a separate, paid for pattern. However it’s a great resource for any sock knitter and I highly recommend downloading it here.

However you can use any heel technique you prefer for example the short rows (free tutorial here):

On half the stitches of each sock:

Row 1: K all st until 1 st remains, w&t

Row 2: P all st until 1 st remains, w&t

Row 3: K until 1st before wrapped st from previous row, w&t

Row 4: P until 1st before wrapped st from previous row, w&t

Repeat rows 3 & R 4 until you have 6 "live" unwrapped st in the middle. Finish on a Purl Row.

Row 5: K to first wrapped st. Pick up the wrap and K it together with the wrapped st, w&t. (2 wraps around this stitch)

Row 6: P to first wrapped st. Pick up the wrap and P it together with the wrapped st, w&t.

Row 7: K to the double-wrapped st, pick up both wraps and K them to tog with the wrapped st, w&t.

Row 8: P to the double-wrapped st, pick up both wraps and P them tog with the wrapped st, w&t.

Rep rows 7 & 8 until all wraps have been picked up and worked together with their respective sts.

Leg:

Continue working K in the round until you are approx. 2cm above the heel.

Knit the pattern chart below:

Finishing:

After finishing the chart continue to K rounds for another 1cm.

K1, P1 for 8 rounds.

Cast off using a stretchy cast-off method, free tutorial here.

Weave in the ends & wash and block.