Kierre socks (English version)

Corkscrew-like twists

Pattern and photo © Merja Holli 

Translation by Lydia Sagath/nantiopa
nantiopa.wordpress.com

(Here are more photos in the Finnish version.) 

The pattern twists around the foot in the same direction in both the left and the right sock. ”Kierre” is the Finnish word for spiral, twist, or spin.

Yarn: Novita Nalle 90 g

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5

Size: EU 38-39/US 8/UK 6

Abbreviations:

K: knit
P: purl
k1tbl: knit 1 through back loop
sl1: slip 1
cn: cable needle
psso: pass slip stitch over

Cuff:

CO 60s. Work a twisted 1x1 rib (k1tbl, p1). Divide the stitches on four DPNs with 14, 16, 14, 16 stitches on needles 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. Work the rib for 8 rows or as many rows as you want.

Start the twist pattern according to the chart on needles 1 and 3.

Sl 1 st to cn, hold in front, k1 from LH needle, k1 from cn, *k1tbl, p1* x3. Sl 1st to cn, hold in front, k1, k1 from cn, k until end of needle 2, repeat.

Work the twisting pattern until the cuff is about 15-16 cm or 6 inches long and the pattern has made one whole round around the sock (row 1 on chart). With this cuff length the beginning of the round will be on the front side of the sock, but by weaving in the tail well from the CO it won’t be noticeable).

Heel:

The two first needles hold 30 sts in total. Knit the heel flap in stockinette, continuing the twisting rib chart on these stitches (see twist pattern on WS).

Twist pattern on WS:

Row 1 (WS): P18, sl 1 on cn, p1, p1 from cn, *k1, p1tbl* x3, sl1 on cn, p1, p1 from cn, turn work.

Row 2 (RS):  Sl1 kwise, follow chart, work remaining stitches in stockinette, turn work

Row 3 (WS): Sl1 kwise, knit as row 1 but move pattern with one stitch (see chart).

Sl1 kwise in the beginning of every row on both RS and WS (you’ll have an easier time to pick these up afterwards).

Turning the Heel:

Begin the heel decreases, when there are 3 sts left of the twist pattern on the needle(s) holding your heel flap (26 rows). Do the first decrease on the WS.

Row 1 (WS): P until 9sts remain, k2tog, turn work.

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 kwise, k until 9sts remain, sl1k1psso, turn work.

Row 3 (WS): Sl1 kwise, p until 8sts remain, k2tog, turn work.

Row 4 (RS): Sl1 kwise, k until 8sts remain, sl1k1psso, turn work.

Keep on decreasing in the same way until you’ve decreased all of the side stitches of the heel flap and only the ceter 14sts remain.

Gusset and instep:

Pick up and ktbl 15sts from the left side of the heel flap and 1st from in between the needles. K needles 2 and 3 continuing the twisting pattern as per usual. Pick up and ktbl 15sts from the right side of the heel flap and 1st from in between the needles.

Start working the chart on the next row on the right side of the heel on the stitches you picked up:

Needle 1: K until 2sts remain, k2tog

Needle 2 and 3: work stockinette/chart

Needle 4: Sl1k1psso, k4, start twisting pattern (this is equal to the 5th row of the chart).

Continue the gusset decreases on every row until you have 13sts on needles 1 and 4 respectively (56sts total). Continue the stockinette/twisting pattern on all stitches, until you end one of your pattern repeats in the middle of the sole of the sock (in the end of needle 4).

Divide your stitches evenly on all needles (14sts per needle). Continue working the foot until the other pattern repeat reaches the end of needle 3 (foot lenght ca. 19cm/7.5”).

Toe decreases:

K2tog in the end of needles 1 and 3 and sl1k1psso in the beginning of needles 2 and 4. Continue the pattern repeat until it ends in the toe decreases. Work the decreases on every other row x6, then on every row, until 2sts remain on each needle (8sts total). Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Weave in ends. Knit the second sock in the same way.

Chart

I would be happy if you leave a comment, how did you manage to knit Kierre socks. You need also tell me if there are some errors in translation or in my instructions.