"Winter is Here" Sock Pattern

 I was keen to try out stranded colourwork and also wanted to have a go at something inspired by Latvian Mittens. I own a copy of Maruta Grasmane's Mittens of Latvia so it has heavily influenced my choice of pattern. I liked the round patterns as well as the bold snowflake. They are in fact suns and symbolise renewal, life and transformation or rebirth. 

This is the result. It is a top down knitted sock with a heel flap and turned heel, gusset construction. In colourwork socks the heel diagonal can often be too tight because there is less stretch possible than would be the case in other socks. For that reason it is necessary to pick up enough stitches along the edge of the heel flap to account for this. I find that measuring the heel diagonal and picking up stitches in gauge helps.

If H is the heel diagonal measurement (widest measurement around the heel) and G is the stitch gauge then you need a total of

HxG/10 stitches around the heel.

These stitches are the sum of the instep stitches across the top of the foot, the sole stitches left over after turning the heel and the stitches picked up along the two sides of the heel flap.

(The picture right was taken before I had enough stitches for the gusset).

If you would like to buy this pattern it has been included in the October 2019 Issue 18 edition of Addicted to Sock Knitting ezine or you can buy the pattern separately in my ravelry store.

Buy "Winter is Here" Socks pattern on ravelry

Subscribe to the Addicted to Sock Knitting ezine (you need issue 18 for this pattern).

Leaf Lace Socks

Leaf Lace Socks by Knitting Emporium on ravelry

My newest design is inspired by the leaves that we find all around us. I went out sketching recently on a lovely winter's day and the result was this pattern.

The stitch patterns are from Hitomi Shida's Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible . I like to play with the patterns and mix and match them to suit my design, which is what I have done here.


The socks are knitted top down in the round with a heel flap and turned heel. I know you should use wool with something in it to make the toes and heels sturdier but I love the feel of 100% wool so I have gone with Bergere de France Merinos 2.5 for these but any 4 ply sock yarn in a solid colour would be suitable. Here is a copy of the pattern information page.