Fishnet Anklets - the purl bee

Thursday

Apr222010

Whit's Knits: Fishnet Anklets

Vintage knitting patterns are filled with mesh stockings, lace "evening gloves" and form fitting sweater sets. As life as gotten more and more hectic, knitting needles have gotten bigger and bigger, and hand knits have gotten, well, bulkier and bulkier. Occasional lumpiness has its charm, but do we really want to be less sassy than our Victorian ancestors? Here is a pattern that will never be accused of frumpiness, but which takes into account our very busy lives: quick to make but not at an unflattering two stitches to the inch!

It seemed like a pair of Fishnet Anklets called for something beyond traditional sock wool, so I made these with Koigu's very special Mori yarn. Spun and dyed like the Koigu Premium Merino that we all love, the Mori is 50% merino and 50% mulberry silk. The shine and luxury of the silk are just what these socks needed!

The Materials

1 skein of Koigu's Mori, 50% Merino Wool and 50% Mulberry Silk. I made one pair with pink #M1155 and one pair with orange #M1240.

A set of US #1 1/2 double pointed needles.

A set of US #4 double pointed needles.

The Pattern

Gauge

6 1/2 stitches = 1 inch with the larger needles in stockinette stitch

Finished Size

Variable, to fit most women's feet.

Cuff

With a set of US #1 1/2 double pointed needles, cast on 72 stitches.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 eight more times.

Leg

Changing to US #4 double pointed needles,

Round 1: K1, *[k2tog] 8 times, k2, repeat from * two more times, [k2tog] 8 times, k1. (40 stitches)

Round 2: *Yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 2 thirty three more times or until piece measures 3 3/4 inches from the cast on edge (do not stretch to measure).

The Heel Flap

Knit 10 stitches and turn the work so the purl side of the fabric is facing you.

Purl 20 stitches. (The 20 stitches that you just purled are the beginning of the heel flap. For this section, you will be working back and forth on just these 20 stitches.)

Arrange the stitches so that the 20 heel flap stitches are on one needle. Put the remaining stitches on hold on two needles (10 stitches each).

(Again, work the following rows back and forth, turning the work between each row.)

Row 1 (right side): *Slip 1 purlwise, k1, repeat from * to end of 20 stitches.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of 20 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 nine more times.

Turning the Heel

Still just working the heel flap stitches:

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 purlwise, K10, ssk, k1, turn the work so the wrong side is facing you and there are 13 stitches on the left needle and 6 stitches on the right needle.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, p3, p2tog, p1, turn the work.

Row 3: Slip 1 purlwise, knit to 1 stitch before the gap, ssk (with the stitch before the gap and the stitch after the gap), k1, turn.

Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to 1 stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all the heel stitches have been worked and 12 stitches remain on the needle.

The Gusset

Knit across the 12 heel stitches.

With the same needle (now called "needle #1"), pick up 11 stitches along the heel flap. (23 stitches)

With a new needle (needle #2), [yo, k2tog] 10 times across the 20 stitches that have been on hold.

With a new needle (needle #3), pick up 11 stitches along the other side of the heel flap.

Still with needle #3, knit 6 stitches from needle #1.

Now there are 17 stitches on needle #1, 20 stitches on needle #2, and 17 stitches on needle #3. Needle #1 is the beginning of the round (at the middle of the heel).