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Wild Grapes Sock Pattern

Materials Needed -- Two Skeins Louet Gems Sock Yarn, 50 gr/185 yards per skein

Two Circular Needles Addi Size 1 (2.5 mm) -or- Size Needed to make Gauge

Stitch Markers; Darning Needle

Gauge -- 8 stitches stockinette to one inch, 12 rows in lace pattern to one inch

Using one circular needle, cast on 60 stitches using the knitted cast on. Place 30 stitches onto the second circular needle, join, and knit in the round K2P2 rib for one inch.

Knit one round even, increasing by one stitch after stitch 30 and after stitch 60. You will now have 31 stitches on each circular needle.

This is the Bunches of Grapes Lace Pattern from Wendy D. Johnson's book, Wendyknits: My Never Ending Adventures in Yarn, as published in her Grape Arbor Shawl pattern.

Blank box -- knit stitch

/ -- slip, slip, knit

\ -- knit two together

o -- yarn over

Knit the above 12 row lace pattern, from bottom row to top row, starting at lower right hand corner of chart, until you have repeated the chart 5 times or to desired length (this should be six inches in leg length). I have diagrammed the chart for 31 stitches, repeat each row on the second circular needle. The lace pattern will extend all the way to the toe on the front side of the sock, and will end with the heel on the back side of the sock. NOTE: you must end on an even row prior to starting heel, and preferably end on row 6 or 12. On the last knit row prior to starting heel, on the first circular needle of your round, knit together the last two stitches so that you have 30 stitches on the first circular needle.

Heel; On Needle 1(the one with 30 stitches) --

Row 1 -- slip first stitch as if to purl, *K1, Slip 1*, repeat between * until last stitch, K1.

Row 2 -- slip first stitch as if to purl, purl 28 stitches, K1.

Repeat the above 2 rows fourteen more times.

Turning the Heel --

Row 1 -- K 17 stitches, K2tog, K1, Turn

Row 2 -- Slip 1, P5, Slip Slip Purl (ssp), p1, Turn

Row 3 -- Slip 1, K6, K2Tog, K1, turn

Row 4 -- Slip 1, P7, ssp, P1, Turn

Row 5 -- Slip 1, K8, K2Tog, K1, Turn

Row 6 -- Slip 1, P9, ssp, P1, Turn

Row 7 -- Slip 1, K10, K2Tog, K1, Turn

Row 8 -- Slip 1, P11, ssp, P1, Turn

Row 9 -- Slip 1, K12, K2Tog, K1, Turn

Row 10 -- Slip 1, P13, ssp, P1, Turn

Row 11 -- Slip 1, K14, K2Tog, K1, Turn

Row 12 -- Slip 1, P15, ssp, P1, Turn

Row 13 -- K 18.

Picking Up Gusset Stitches --

With the same needle, pick up 15 stitches in the loops along the heel flap. Pick up one stitch in the junction of the heel flap and the instep. Place Marker. Knit from the second needle to the first needle across the first 16 stitches of the instep stitches following lace pattern illustrated above, starting with the row immediately after you stopped. Note: Stitch 16 is the center stitch of the single lace motif and I found this to be easiest when working those rows; on the second needle you would then continue that particular row with the yarn over and ssp.

Drop the first needle, and pick up your second needle. Knit across the remaining 15 stitches of the instep in pattern. Place marker. Pick up one stitch in the juntion of the heel flat and the instep. Pick up 15 stitches in the loops along the heel flap. Knit from the first needle the first 9 stitches. This will evenly divide the stitches between the two needles.

Knitting the Gusset/Gusset Decreases --

Row 1 -- Knit 9, Knit 14 TBL (through the back loop), K2 Tog (marker here), continue instep lace patterning to next marker, SSK, knit 14 TBL, K9

Row 2 -- Knit 21, K2T, k1 (marker here) continue instep lace patterning to next marker, K1, SSK, Knit 21

Row 3 -- Knit all stitches, continuing lace patterning on instep

Row 4-- Knit 20, K2T, k1 (marker here), continue instep lace patterning to next marker, K1, SSK, K20

Row 5 and all following odd rows -- Knit as row 3

Row 6 and all following even rows -- Knit as started, continuing to decrease one stitch each side, continuing lace patterning on instep.

When you have 15 heel stitches left on each needle, continue knitting foot of sock (keeping lace patterning on instep) until sock is two inches from end of big toe, ending with either row 6 or row 12. When you have finished knitting the foot and are ready to begin the toe, k2tog at the end of the instep row on the second needle so that there is 30 stitches for the instep. Move the 16th stitch from the first needle to the second needle so that you have 30 stitches even on each needle.

Toe --

You will knit all stitches now, and decrease every other round.

Row 1 -- Knit 12, K2Tog, k2, SSK, k12 on each needle

Row 2 -- and all even numbered rounds, K all stitches

Round 3 -- K11, K2 Tog, K2, SSK, K11 on each needle.

Round 5 and all odd numbered rounds, continue knitting one stitch fewer before and after decreases. Stop when you have a total of 10 stitches left on each needle. Knit 1 round, then knit 5 stitches more, and rearrange the stitches so that the sock is face front rather than profile. Graft together the 10 stitches using the kitchener stitch. Weave in the ends.

Knit second sock same as first.

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