Lazy Lace Socks
by Danielle Romanetti
For the knitter who wants something extra but doesn!t want to work for it – these lace socks have an easily memorized pattern that is worked in only a small panel up the side of the sock. Pattern is written for sock sized 8” or 9” around.
Materials
- 350 yards heavy fingering weight yarn. Sample uses Socks that Rock® Mediumweight
- US#1.5 (2.5 mm) double pointed needles
Gauge
32 sts / 4″ / stockinette stitch in the round
Lace Panel
Row 1: P2, YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, P2
Row 2: P2, K5, P2 Row 3: P2, K1, YO, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K1. P2 Row 4: P2, K5, P2
Instructions
Cast on using Turkish cast on, cast on 30 stitches (15 on each of two needles)
Knit one round, working the stitches onto three needles (two needles with 7 or 8 stitches each for the top of the sock and one with 15), leaving the fourth as a working needle.
Increase row: Kfb, knit across to other end of toe, Kfb, repeat on other side of toe.
Knit one round.
Repeat the last two rounds, increasing one stitch on each end of each side of the toe (total of four increases per repeat) until there are a total of 50 stitches. (for wider foot, increase to 54 stitches)
Begin Lace Pattern
For left sock: Work lace panel, knit to end of round. For right sock, K16 (18), work lace panel and knit to end. Continue working in the round, working the lace panel and stockinette stitch until sock is approximately two inches from the total foot length. Then place 25 (27) heel stitches on one needle and 25 (27) instep stitches on another.
Heel
Row 1: K24 (25), move yarn forward as if to purl, slip the last stitch. Then turn your work.
Row 2: slip the first stitch, thus wrapping the first unworked stitch and purl across to last stitch, move the yarn back as if to knit and slip the last stitch.
Row 3: Slip the first stitch and knit across to the last stitch before the last wrapped stitch, bring yarn forward, slip one and turn.
Row 4: Slip the first stitch and purl across to the stitch before the last wrapped stitch, bring yarn back, slip one and turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 above until 9 unwrapped stitches remain in the middle, ending with row 4. (For a wider heel, leave ten stitches in the middle and five wrapped stitches on either side.)
Gusset
Row 1: Knit across the 9 stitches in the middle, knit the first wrapped stitch by picking up the wrap and knitting both the wrap and the stitch together. Move yarn forward as if to purl and slip the next stitch (you have just wrapped that stitch a second time).
Row 2: Slip the first double wrapped stitch and purl across the middle stitches to the first wrapped stitch. Purl that stitch by picking up the wrap and purling it with the stitch through the back loop. Move yarn back and slip the next stitch (which is now wrapped twice).
Continue last two rows, working the double wrapped stitches on the ends by picking up both wraps and working them together with the stitch.
Continue until you have all 25 (27) stitches, unwrapped, back on the heel needle.
Cuff
Divide the stitches evenly around all three needles and begin working in the round on all 50 (54) stitches, working the lace panel and stockinette stitch until sock is 2” shorter than desired height.
Work in K1, P1 ribbing for 2”.
Bind off loosely (you may want to us a size 7 or 8 needle to bind off with).