Snapdragon Socks Free Knitting Pattern
Get your summer knitting on with Snapdragon Socks - my new free summer lace ankle sock knitting pattern!
My favorite summer knitting projects are socks - they’re small, so they don’t cover you when it’s scorching heat outside! It also makes them a portable project that is easy to take on holidays with you. I’m so happy to bring a new summer sock pattern to you called Snapdragon Socks! These summery shorties with a lace panel on the instep were inspired by my favorite flowers - snapdragons! Easy to memorize and follow lace pattern means you can enjoy relaxing knitting without the need to peek into the pattern too often.
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GET THE SNAPDRAGON SOCKS:
Snapdragon Socks
Free Knitting Pattern
These summery shorties are easy and pleasant to knit! Choose one of the three sizes listed - 1 (2, 3) and follow the directions for your size later in the instructions section. Each instruction that differs depending on the size will be listed in the exact same format - for example, k 8 (9, 10), which means: for size 1 - k8, for size 2 - k9, and size 3 - k10.
If you’ve never worked with a knitting pattern before, I recommend that you first read my blog post about knitting from a pattern.
Please keep in mind that this pattern is for personal use only.
Sizes
1 (2, 3). Finished sock circumference is 17.5 (20, 22.5) cm / approx. 7 (8, 9)”. Choose a size that is 1 - 2.5 cm (0.5 - 1”) smaller than your foot circumference. Foot length is adjustable - for a good fit, knit a sock approx. 1.5 cm (0.5”) shorter than your actual foot length.
Tools & Supplies
yarn
For these socks, you’ll need approximately 160 (180, 200) m - 175 (200, 220) yds of fingering weight (category 1 - super fine) yarn. I chose light pink speckled hand-dyed sock yarn from a local yarn dyer that’s been sitting in my stash for far too long! If you’re in need of some recommendations, any of these yarns should work well in this pattern!
needles
2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needles 80 - 100 cm (32 - 40”), or to fit gauge
other notions
Stitch marker, tapestry needle and scissors.
Gauge
32 stitches x 44 rounds in 10x10 cm (4x4”) in stockinette stitch, blocked
Pattern Notes
This pattern has been written for the magic loop method, however, it can be worked on DPNs if preferred. In this case, instead of dividing stitches into 2 equal parts, divide them into 4 equal parts - 2 for front/instep and 2 for back/sole.
You can easily modify these shorties to ankle or full-length socks. After finishing the cuff, if you want to have a lace panel on the front of the leg only, work the following instruction on NA and stockinette stitch on NB. If you want to have the lace panel decorating both the front and back of the leg, work the following instruction on NA and NB.
If you include this modification - remember to continue the lace stitch panel seamlessly through the gusset section.
NA (or NA & NB): k 5 (7, 9), work next rnd of lace panel, k 6 (8, 10).
Stitch count changes and totals are noted in italic.
Stitch Guide
stockinette stitch
All rnds: k all sts until end of rnd.
lace panel chart
The lace panel is worked over 17 sts.
CHART
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Rnd 1: *p2, k3* 3 times, p2.
Rnd 2: p2, yo, cdd, yo, p2, k3, p2, yo, cdd, yo, p2.
Rnds 3-14: work Rnds 1-2 six times.
Rnd 15: same as Rnd 1.
Rnd 16: p2, k3, p2, yo, cdd, yo, p2, k3, p2.
Rnds 17-22: work Rnds 15-16 three times.
Abbreviations
cdd - central double decrease - slip 2 sts knitwise, k1 st, pass the slipped stitches over the worked stitch (2 sts dec)
dec - decreased
k - knit
k2tog - knit 2 sts together (1 st dec)
NA / NB - needle A / needle B
p - purl
p2tog - purl 2 sts together
rnd(s) - round(s)
RS / WS - right side / wrong side
sl1wyib - slip 1 st purlwise with yarn in back
sl1wyif - slip 1 st purlwise with yarn in front
ssk - slip 1 st knitwise, slip 1 st knitwise, knit the slipped sts together through the back loop (1 st dec)
st(s) - stitch(es)
tw - turn work
yo - yarn over
** - work instruction between asterisks given number of times or until given moment
Instructions
cuff
Cast on 56 (64, 72) sts using an elastic cast on (for example Old Norwegian Cast On). Divide sts evenly between two needles, join to work in the round and place a beginning of round marker. The first half of the stitches will be referred to as NA (these will be your front / instep stitches) and the second half will be referred to as NB (these will be your back / sole stitches).
Work Rnd 1 a total of 8 times.
Rnd 1: *k1, p1* until end of rnd.
Try on the cuff - if you have a small ankle, you may consider working a few more rounds of the cuff for a better fit.
heel flap
K until end of NA. Heel flap will be worked in rows on NB only over 28 (32, 36) sts. Work Rows 1-2 once.
Row 1 (RS): k until end of needle.
Row 2 (WS): sl1wyif, p until end of needle.
Next, work Rows 3-4 a total of 13 (15, 17) times.
Row 3 (RS): sl1wyib, k until end of needle.
Row 4 (WS): sl1wyif, p until end of needle.
28 (32, 36) rows of heel flap worked in total.
heel turn
Heel turn is worked in rows as well on NB only. Work Rows 1-2 once.
Row 1 (RS): sl1wyib, k 16 (18, 20), ssk, k1, tw. 27 (31, 35) sts.
Row 2 (WS): sl1wyif, p7, p2tog, p1, tw. 26 (30, 34) sts.
Next, work Rows 3-4 a total of 4 (5, 6) times - 8 (10, 12) rows in total.
Row 3 (RS): sl1wyib, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, tw. 1 st dec.
Row 4 (WS): sl1wyif, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, tw. 1 st dec.
18 (20, 22) sts remaining on NB.
gusset
Work a set-up round once.
Set-up rnd: NB: k 9 (10, 11), place marker for new beginning of rnd, k 9 (10, 11), pick up and knit 15 (17, 19) sts along the heel flap edge,
NA: k 5 (7, 9), work Rnd 1 of lace panel, k 6 (8, 10), NB: pick up and knit 15 (17, 19) sts along the other heel flap edge, k until end of rnd.
48 (54, 60) sts on NB - 76 (86, 96) sts in total.
Next, work Rnds 1-2 a total of 10 (11, 12) times - 20 (22, 24) rnds in total.
Rnd 1: NB: k until 3 sts left on the needle, k2tog, k1, NA: k 5 (7, 9), work next rnd of lace panel, k 6 (8, 10), NB: k1, ssk, k until end of rnd. 2 sts dec.
Rnd 2: NB: k until end of needle, NA: k 5 (7, 9), work next rnd of lace panel, k 6 (8, 10), NB: k until end of rnd.
28 (32, 36) sts on NB - 56 (64, 72) sts in total.
foot
Remove current beginning of round marker. K until the end of the needle (NB) and place a new marker. Continue working in pattern on the instep (NA) and stockinette stitch on the sole (NB) until the sock is approx. 3.5 (4, 4.5) cm /approx 1.5 (1.5, 1.75)” shorter than desired.
toe
Work a set-up round once.
Set-up rnd: k all sts.
Next, work Rnds 1-2 a total of 7 (8, 9) times - 14 (16, 18) rnds in total.
Rnd 1: * k1, ssk, k until 3 sts left on the needle, k2tog, k1* twice. 4 sts dec.
Rnd 2: k all sts.
Next, work Rnd 1 once more for all sizes. 24 (28, 32) sts left in total on both needles.
finishing
Graft remaining sts together, weave in ends and wet block.
I hope you enjoyed knitting your lace shorties! If you share your project on Instagram, please tag me with @whileberry.creative and #knitwithwhileberry so I can see your lovely knit!
