Whit's Knits: Lace Anklets

I love combining opposites, in this case a little funky with a dash of prissy. Alchemy's unusual colors bring an unexpected edge to these sweet lace anklets. The perfect recipe for some pep in the step.

This is a new yarn from Alchemy called Juniper. One hundred percent superfine merino and one hundred percent machine washable, it's an ideal sock yarn. I used two skeins to make two pairs of size 7 socks (if you're bigger than a size 7 1/2 and are very particular about the fit, you may need an extra skein).Quite a bargain!

Materials

• 2 skeins of Alchemy's Juniper, 100% superfine merino. These colors are "Dragon" and "Tangerine". If you make socks size 7 1/2 or smaller, two skeins will make two pairs of socks.

• A set of US #1 double pointed needles

• A set of US #2 double pointed needles

Pattern

Gauge

8 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Size

To fit average woman's feet: 7 inches in circumference (unstretched) and variable length

Ribbing

With the contrast yarn, cast 66 stitches onto three US #1 double pointed needles. Distribute the stitches so that there are 24 stitches on each of the first two needles and 18 stitches on the third needle.

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches. (I don't recommend using a stitch marker with this lace pattern because the beginning stitch keeps shifting. Instead, always treat the first stitch of the first needle as the beginning of the round. Just use the cast on tail to keep track of the first needle.)

Rounds 1 and 2: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: Knit.

Ankle

Change to the main yarn and the US #2 double pointed needles.

Round 1: *K4, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to end of round. (For Rounds 1-5, end each needle with a yo.)

Round 2: *K3, k2tog, k1, yo, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: *K2, k2tog, k2, yo, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4: *K1, k2tog, k3, yo, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: *K2tog, k4, yo, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: Slip the first stitch of the next needle to the end of the last needle, *yo, k4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (For Rounds 6-10, end each needle with a k2tog.)

Round 7: *K1, yo, k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 8: *K2, yo, k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: *K3, yo, k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 10: *K4, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-10 .

Then, repeat Rounds 1-5.

Heel Flap

Knit 17 stitches and turn the work so the purl side is facing you.

Purl 34 stitches.

Arrange the stitches so that these 34 stitches are on one needle. Put the remaining stitches on hold on two needles (16 stitches each).

The 34 stitches are the beginning of the heel flap. For this section, you will work back and forth on just these stitches, turning the work between each row.

Row 1 (right side): *Slip 1 purlwise, k1, repeat from * to end of 34 stitches.

Row 2: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of 34 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 sixteen more times.

Turn the Heel

Still working just the heel flap stitches...

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 purlwise, k18, ssk, k1, turn the work so the wrong side is facing you. (21 stitches on the left needle and 12 stitches on the right needle)

Row 2: Slip 1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1, turn the work. (20 stitches on the left needle and 12 stitches on the right)

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 20 stitches remain on the needle.

Gusset

Knit across the 20 heel stitches.

With the same needle (now called "Needle #1"): pick up 19 stitches along the heel flap. (39 stitches on Needle #1)

With a new needle (Needle #2): [k2tog, yo, k4] 5 times, k2. (32 stitches on Needle #2)

With a new needle (Needle #3): pick up 19 stitches along the other side of the heel flap. (19 stitches on Needle #3)

Still with Needle #3: knit 10 stitches from Needle #1.

This is now the beginning of the round (right in the middle of the heel).

Round 1: Needle #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1, [k1, yo, k3, k2tog] 5 times, k1. #3- K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: #1- Knit. #2- K1, [k2, yo, k2, k2tog] 5 times, k1. #3- Knit to end.

Round 3: #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1, [k3, yo, k1, k2tog] 5 times, k1. #3- K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 4: #1- Knit. #2- K1, [k4, yo, k2tog] 5 times, k1. #3- Knit to end.

Round 5: #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1, [k4, k2tog, yo] 5 times, k1. #3- K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 6: #1- Knit. #2- K1, [k3, k2tog, k1, yo] 5 times, k1. #3- Knit to end.

Round 7: #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1, [k2, k2tog, k2, yo] 5 times, k1. #3- K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 8: #1- Knit. #2- K1 [k1, k2tog, k3, yo] 5 times, k1. #3- Knit to end.

Round 9: #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1 [k2tog, k4, yo] 5 times, k1. #3- K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 10: #1- Knit. #2- [K2tog, yo k4] 5 times. k2. #3- Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1-10.

Repeat Rounds 1-5. (16 stitches on Needles #1 and #3, and 32 stitches on Needle #2)

Foot

Continue knitting Rounds 1-10 (starting with Round 6). Eliminate the decreases at the end of Needle #1 and the beginning of Needle #3 so you are just knitting the stitches on those needles every round.

Repeat Rounds 1-10 until the piece measures 2 inches less than the desired final length, measuring from the back edge of the heel and stretching the fabric so it is fairly taut (imagine a foot in there!).

Here's a guideline for final sock lengths:

US size 6 shoe (European 37) = 9 inches

US size 7 shoe (38) = 9 1/4 inches

US size 8 shoe (39) = 9 5/8 inches

US size 9 shoe (40) = 10 inches

I'm making socks to fit a size 7 shoe, so I knit the foot until it measures 7 1/4 inches (9 1/4 inches minus 2 inches).

Toe

Round 1: Needle #1- Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #2- K1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. #3- k1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 32 total stitches remain. (8 stitches on Needles #1 and #3, and 16 stitches on Needle #2)

Then, repeat Round 1 until 12 total stitches remain. (3 stitches on Needles #1 and #3, and 6 stitches on Needle #2)

With Needle #3, knit the 3 stitches from Needle #1 so that there are 6 stitches on each of two needles.

Use the Kitchener Stitch to close the toe.

Weave in the ends and don't forget to make another!