Hearts For You

By Sabine Riefler

These lovely socks are the perfect gift for a dear friend or relative. Not only will they give the recipient warm feet, they also symbolise your warm feelings towards this person. The intriguing bobble hearts are an easy and yet effective pattern and because the main sock is knitted in stocking stitch, the socks are still pleasantly quick to knit.

Photographs: Michael Riefler Model: Sabine Riefler

Size
S(M, L)
Finished measurements: width around ankle/foot: 19(20, 21)cm/7½(8, 8½)inches, to fit actual ankle width: 21(23, 25)cm/8½(9, 10)inches. This will provide you with a sock that is not too tight, but doesn't droop either.
Shown in size S

Requirements
Yarn: 1 x 100g ball Opal Uni (75% superwash wool/25% polyamide, 425m/100g) in colour: 1412
Needles: 1 set of 2.25 mm/US 1 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain correct tension.
Notions: stitch marker (optional)

Tension
30 sts and 42 rows = 10cm/4inches in stocking stitch

Abbreviations
c2: k2tog, do not slip sts from needle, but k first st again, slip sts to right hand needle,
B: make bobble - k5 sts front and back into 1 st, then slip first 4 sts made over the last st made.
sryo: sl st to right hand needle with yarn in front, then pull yarn over the needle – it looks now as if there are two sts, you are not making a yarn over, you just pull it to the back! = sryo double stitch. This double stich is always knit/purled together as one st. Do not make increases!

The Inside Loop list of standard abbreviations can be found here.

Instructions
Leg:
Using the long tail cast on method, cast on 64sts. Distribute evenly over 4 dpns and join to work in the round, pm.

Now commence working heart pattern, either from written directions below or using the chart:

Rows 1 & 2: *k2, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 3: *c2, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 4 to 6: *k2 p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 7: *c2, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 8: *k2, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Rows 9 & 10: *k2, p14, repeat from * to end of round
Row 11: *c2, p3, B, p5, B, p4, repeat from * to end of round
Row 12: *k2, p3, k1, p5, k1, p4, repeat from * to end of round
Row 13: *k2, p2, B, k1, B, p3, B, k1, B, p3, repeat from * to end of round
Row 14: *k2, p2, k3, p3, k3, p3, repeat from * to end of round
Row 15: *c2, p1, B, k3, B, p1, B, k3, B, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 16: *k2, p1, k5, p1, k5, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 17: *k2, p1, B, k4, B, k4, B, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 18: *k2, p1, k11, p2, repeat from * to end of round
Row 19: *c2, p2, B, k7, B, p3, repeat from * to end of round
Row 20: *k2, p2, k9, p3, repeat from * to end of round
Row 21: *k2, p3, B, k5, B, p4, repeat from * to end of round
Row 22: *k2, p3, k7 p4, repeat from * to end of round
Row 23: *c2, p4, B, k3, B, p5, repeat from * to end of round
Row 24: *k2, p4, k5, p5, repeat from * to end of round
Row 25: *k2, p5, B, k1, B, p6, repeat from * to end of round
Row 26: *k2, p5, k3, p6, repeat from * to end of round
Row 27: *c2, p6, B, p7, repeat from * to end of round
Row 28: *k2, p6, k1, p7, repeat from * to end of round
Row 29 & 30: *k2, p14, repeat from * to end of round

Decrease on next row:
Size S: *k2tog, k6, repeat from * to end of round - 56sts
Size M: *k2tog, k14, repeat from * to end of round - 60sts
Size L: no decreases made - 64sts

Work in st st until leg measures approx. 15cm/6inches or desired length.

Short-Row Heel:
The short row heel will be worked in st st, back and forth over half the stitches. If you are familiar with a different short row heel or prefer any other heel, work your preferred heel.

After you have completed your last row on the leg, k 28(30, 32)sts onto one needle; you will work heel over these sts.

Next row: turn, make a sryo as described above. Put sryo onto spare needle, p27(29, 31), turn, make a sryo as described above. Put sryo onto spare needle. *k to the end of row, turn, make a sryo, put sryo onto spare needle, p to the end of row, turn, make a sryo, put sryo onto spare needle.*
Repeat from * to * until 10(10, 12)sts are left on main needle, work one round overall sts - 56(60, 64)sts.

Now k acrosssts on main needle, k1 from spare needle, turn, sryo, p across main needle, p one from spare needle, turn, sryo,** k sts of main needle including sryo st (double st worked as one), k1 from spare needle, turn, sryo, p across main needle, p sryo double st as one, p one from spare needle, turn, sryo,**. Repeat from ** to ** until all sts from spare needles have been worked.

Foot:
Redistribute sts evenly over 4 needles – 14(15, 16)sts per needle. Put marker at middle of the heel to denote beginning of the round. Continue in st st until foot is 5cm/2inches shorter than desired length.

Round Toe:
Size S - Round 1: Work evenly; 14sts on each needle
Size M - Round 1: k2tog at beginning of each needle; 14 sts on each needle
Size L - Round 1: Work evenly, 16sts on each needle.

Note: for the next 21 rounds, when 2 sets of numbers are given they are for S and M (L)

Round 2: [k2tog, k5(6), k2tog, k5(6)] on each needle
Rounds 3 – 7: k
Round 8: [k2tog, k4(5), k2tog, k4(5)] on each needle
Rounds 9 – 12: k
Round 13: [k2tog, k3(4), k2tog, k3(4)] on each needle
Rounds 14 – 16: k
Round 17: [k2tog, k2(3), k2tog, k2(3)] on each needle
Rounds 18 – 19: k
Round 20: [k2tog, k1(2), k2tog, k1(2)] on each needle
Round 21: k

S and M sizes only:
Round 22: k2tog

L size only:
Round 22: [k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1] on each needle
Round 23: k
Round 24: k2tog

All sizes:
Cut yarn and pull through all 8 sts.

Alternative Band-Toe (not shown in pictures):
Be sure that sts are divided evenly. Decrease as follows:

Needles 1 & 3: k to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
Needles 2 & 4: k1, ssk
Work decreases on rounds 1, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15 and 17 of toe. From round 18 onwards, decrease on every row until 8sts are left, cut yarn and pull through all 8sts.

Finishing
Weave in all loose ends and block if desired.

About the Yarn
Opal Uni is a hardwearing wool blend sock yarn available in a range of colours. An alternative yarn that knits at the same tension is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock.

About the Designer
SaRi has been a knitter for a long time and is still very excited about knitting and designing. Her musings on knitting can be read on her blog, SaRi’s Mindful Knitting.

Contact SaRi