Dragonscale Socks

Free Knitting Pattern

SIZE

One Size – Adjustable

The circumference of the sock can be adjusted by working additional toe increases at the beginning. The Dragonscale Lace pattern is centred on the front of the sock regardless of the circumference.The extra stitches increased for a larger circumference, ie., a wider sock, will sit on either side of the Dragonscale Lace pattern and will be worked in stockinette stitch.

The Dragonscale Lace is a 25-stitch pattern, in order to accommodate the entire repeat on the front of the sock, the smallest circumference, ie., the narrowest sock, should have 50 sts in the round, 25 sts on the front and 25 sts on the back. Begin by casting on the number of stitches stated in the CAST-ON & TOE INCREASES Section, make increases as described and try on the toe as-you-go. Once the toe has reached the desired circumference, working out the magic number in the FOOT Section and continue working following the instructions.

Adjust the length of the foot and the leg simply by working more rounds than stated until the desired length is reached.

You Will Need

Needles: 2.75 mm (US 2) 40-60 cm (16-24”) circular needles for magic loop knitting.

Yarn: 50g/ 200m (or more) of Fingering/ sock weight yarn.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Gauge

25 stitches x 18 rounds = 8.8 cm x 8.6 cm (3.5” x 3.4”) in lace pattern.

Abbreviations

k knit

ktbl knit through back of the loop

kfb knit front and back in the same stitch

yo yarn over

ssk slip 2 sts as if to knit, Insert left needle through front of the two sts and knit together - decrease 1 st

k2tog knit 2 sts together - decrease 1 st

yo yarn over

skp sl a st wyif, k2tog, psso - decrease 2 sts

psso pass slipped stitch over

DS Double Stitch in German Short Rows

DPN(s) double pointed needles

M stitch marker

PM place stitch marker

SM slip stitch marker to the right needle as you work

RM remove stitch marker

st(s) stitch(es)

sl slip

MDS Make Double Stitch in German Short Rows. To make a double stitch, insert needles as if to purl with yarn in front. Slip stitch off the needle, pull working yarn strongly to back, so the slipped st falls to the back and the stitch in the row below is pulled up over the right hand needle.

N1(2) Needle 1(2)

Pattern Notes

The Dragonscale socks are knit toe-up.

This pattern is written for working in the round using the magic loop method. Substitute Needle 1 with DPN 1 & 2 and Needle 2 with DPN 3 & 4 when working with DPNS.

Split the yarn in half equally before you start, ie., split a 50g ball into two 25g cakes, and a 100g ball into two 50g cakes. Make sure you have equal amount of yarn available for both socks.

Chart

Pattern Instructions

Cast on & Toe Increases

CO 11 sts using Figure 8 Toe-up Sock Caston. – 22sts in total cast on; 11 sts on the Needle 1, and 11 sts on Needle 2

Rnd 1 (N1): Ktbl to end of needle.

(N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 2 (N1): Kfb, k to 1 st before end of needle, kfb.

(N2): Kfb, k to 1 st before end of needle, kfb. – 4 sts inc’d

Rnd 3: K to end of rnd.

Work Rounds 2-3 at least 6 more times or until the desired circumference is reached*. – at least 50 sts in the round, 25 sts on Needle 1 and 25 sts on the Back.

*Try the toe on as-you-go to determine the number of increases needed.

Depending on your knitting style, your toe may or may not be flipped inside-out. Make sure the public side of the toe is now facing outward, ie., the right side of stockinette stitch, with the working yarn coming from the last stitch on Needle 2.

Foot

First half of the stitches – stitches on Needle 1, will form the font of the sock; second half of the stitches – stitches on Needle 2 will from the sole of the sock. The Dragonscale lace pattern will be worked only on the front of the sock in this section. The Dragonscale lace pattern is charted, see above for the chart. The sole of the sock will be worked in stockinette stitch.

Work out your magic number, to handle any extra sts you used with the formula below.

Magic Number = (number of sts on Needle 1 – 25) /2.

For example, if you have 31 sts on Needle 1. Your magic number = (31-25)/ 2 = 6/2 = 3!

Fill in your magic number in the blanks below and work sock accordingly. The lace pattern section (whatever is between the two ‘k___’ instructions below) is also charted above.

Rnd 1 (N1): K___, k1, ssk, k5, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1, yo, k5, k2tog, k1, k___. (N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 2 (N1): K___, k1, ssk, k4, yo, k3, yo, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3, yo, k4, k2tog, k1, k ___. (N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 3 (N1): K___, k1, ssk, k3, yo, k5, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5, yo, k3, k2tog, k1, k___.

(N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 4 (N1): K___, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k5, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, k___.

(N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 5 (N1): K___, k1, ssk, k1, yo, k3, yo, k4, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4, yo, k3, yo, k1, k2tog, k1.

(N2): K to end of needle.

Rnd 6 (N1): K___, K1, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, k___.

(N2): K to end of needle.

Work Rounds 1-6 until the foot of sock reaches the centre of your (or the wearer’s) ankle bone or 1.5”/ 3.8 cm before the desired length.

*You may end on any of the 6 rounds, just make sure to knit the correct round in pattern when resume knitting across Needle 1.

Heel

This pattern uses the German Short Row Heel. The heel is worked on only Needle 2 unless otherwise specified.

First half of Heel

Having just worked the last stitch on Needle 2, turn work. Begin knitting flat across stitches on Needle 2.

Row 1 (WS): MDS, p to end of needle. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): MDS, k to DS made from previous row. Turn.

Row 3 (WS): MDS, p to DS made from previous row. Turn.

Work Rows 2-3 until you have an equal number of DS on each side and about 1/3 of normal stitches left in the middle of the heel.

For example, If you are working with 27 heel sts on Needle 2, you will have 9 DS on the left, 9 sts in the middle and 9 DS on the right. If you are working with 31 heel sts, you will have 10 DS on the left, 11 sts in the middle and 10 DS on the right. If you are working with 35 heel sts, you will have 12 DS on the left, 11 sts in the middle and 12 DS on the right.

Next row (RS, N2): K to the end of the needle, PM2 after the last 'normal' st, work each DS as a single st. You should have unworked DS sts at the start of the needle, a section of 'normal' stitches with a SM after it and the worked DS sts at the end of the needle.

Work across Needle 1 in pattern. For example, If you worked a Rnd 3 in the foot section, then resume knitting across Needle 1 following the instructions for Rnd 4 (N1) here.

Return to working Needle 2, work each DS as a single st, PM1 at the end of the DS sts.

The markers should now be marking the ‘normal stitches section’ in the middle and you have worked the first part of Row 1 (RS) below.

Second Half of Heel

Row 1 (RS): K to M1, SM, k to M2, RM, k1. Turn.

Row 2 (WS): MDS, p to M2, RM, p1. Turn.

Row 3 (RS): MDS, k to DS, k1. Turn

Row 4 (WS): MDS, p to DS, p1. Turn.

Work Rows 3-4 until the ‘p1’ of Row 4 reaches the last stitch on the needle. You should have just turned your work, with 1 DS at the end of the your LH needle.

Next Row (RS): MDS, k to DS, k DS as 1 single st.

Your heel is now complete.

Resume knitting in the round as usual from the next section onwards.

Leg

Unlike the foot of the sock, the Dragonscale lace will be worked on both Needle 1 and Needle 2 in the LEG section, ie., there will be a lace panel on the front of the leg and a lace panel at the back as well. Continue knitting in pattern, following the instructions for Rounds 1-6. For example, If you completed Rnd 4 (N1) in the HEEL section, then resume knitting in the round following the instructions for Rnd 5 below.

Fill in your magic number in the blanks below.

Rnd 1: *K___, k1, ssk, k5, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1, yo, k5, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 2: *K___, k1, ssk, k4, yo, k3, yo, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3, yo, k4, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 3: *K___, k1, ssk, k3, yo, k5, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5, yo, k3, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 4: *K___, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k5, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 5: K___, k1, ssk, k1, yo, k3, yo, k4, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4, yo, k3, yo, k1, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 6: K___, k1, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, k___; rep from * to end of rnd.

Work Rounds 1-6 until leg desired length. A minimum of 12.5 cm/ 5” is recommend.

Cuff

This sock uses a Simple Twisted Rib Cuff.

Set-up Rnd: K2tog, p1, *k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 1: *K1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.

Work Round 1 to a minimum of 2.5 cm/ 1” or desired cuff length.

Bind off all stitches using the Waitress Cast-off.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends.