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 7½ and are very particular about the fit, you may need an extra skein).Quite a bargain! -Whitney
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoLaceAnklets. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Alchemy’s Juniper, 100% superfine merino. These colors are “Dragon” and “Tangerine”. If you make socks size 7½ or smaller, two skeins will make two pairs of socks.
- A set of US 1 (2.5 mm) double pointed needles
- A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
Shop our wonderful collection of fingering-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Gauge
32 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
To fit average woman’s feet: 7 inches in circumference (unstretched) and variable length
Pattern
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) = 9¼ inches
US size 8 shoe (39) = 9⅝ 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 7¼ inches (9¼ 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!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Thank you so much for the easy to follow directions you provide. I have made the oven mitt and will move on to the footies! I appreciate all the work you do on this site so that others can knit along.
cg
vancouver, wa
I’ve been remiss in thanking you all for the wonderful projects you post — thanks! But as I was printing the above, I thought: hmm, maybe they can get their webmaster to include a “print the pattern in PDF form” method in the future? That would be great!
Otherwise, thanks for the continual eye candy of color and projects!
(and yes, I see you on Twitter, too!) 🙂
Maryjo
Dear Designer of these lovely socks,
These are beautiful and like the fool that I am, I have never knitted socks before and I am attempting these! And I am stuck.
I am on the ankle bit, and I’ve finished Round 5 and I am assuming that needle one and two need to always have 24 stitches and on the third needle you have 18 stitches. I’ve ended Round 5 on a YO as directed. However I do not understand the instructions for Round 6. Do I slip one stitch from needle one onto needle three? If I do that, needle three will have a YO, then a slipped stitch at the end of it (therefore a total of 19 stitches, not 18). If I carry on the stitches as directed on needle one for Round 6 then I will not have enough stitches to complete the sequence and end with a k2tog as instead of having 24 stitches (which would allow you to do yo, k4 k2tog as the instructions say) you only have 23.
Maybe I am being a fool but I am desperate to be able to get this right and am stuck! Please help me someone! Thank you kindly.x
Hi Jae,
I admire your bravery! The good news is, you seem to have a very good understanding of the situation and you’re close to getting it!
So, yes, you do finish Round 5 with the yarn over and then slip the first stitch from Needle 1 so it is the last stitch of Needle 3 (which does mean that temporarily you have 19 stitches on Needle 3 – don’t worry!).
Make sure to start Round 6 with a yarn over. Then, at the end of Needle 1, when it is time to do the final k2tog, you need to slip the first stitch from Needle 2 to the end of Needle 1, so that there are two stitches to knit together. For the rest of the round, do the same thing at the end each needle. This will maintain the right number of stitches on each needle and make the lace pattern a lot easier to follow.
I hope this helps – lace patterns on double pointed needles can get a bit tricky! Please let me know if you need more clarification.
Whitney
Thank you for answering this question – got me through round 6! Worked the first needle of round 7 and again I only have 1 stitch left and need to k2tog. Do we continue taking a stitch from the next needle for rounds 7-10? TIA
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for writing in! Yes that is correct, you will continue taking a stitch from the next needle for the following rounds as needed to complete the decreases!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi
Love you patterns. Just wondered what this lace would work out in a blanket?
Thanks
Bex
Hi Bex,
Sounds great! Maybe add some garter stitch edging and you'll have a beautiful diagonal lace blanket!
Whitney
Working on the lace anklets…was happy to see your comment clarifying making the count come out correctly. However, I have started this anklet multiple times trying to do it with the Magic Loop technique……………never could get it…….I know I must have been missing something and perhaps it cannot be done that way?????????????? Thanks……I am 77 and determined to figure this out! Helen Hope
How do I get an answer????????? Helen
Hi Helen,
I'm sorry for taking a few days to answer your question! Yes, you can knit these socks with the Magic Loop method. In fact, anything you can knit on double pointed needles can instead be knit with a Magic Loop. If you are new to Magic Loop knitting, you may benefit from this video: http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/magic-loop .
One tricky thing you may have faced was occasionally needing to finish a needle with a yarn over. That can be a bit confusing and can also easily get lost in the shuffle of switching needles.
Otherwise, I'm not sure what's happening to your poor sock! If you let me know where the problems start, maybe I can better pinpoint the problem. Please let me know!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
I am not sure I understand how to repeat the pattern when I'm done rows 1-10 of the ankle. Do I slip back the last stitch from needle 3 to needle 1, or I keep going as it is?
Thanks.
HI Fannie,
You should just keep going as written, knitting the 4 stitches at the beginning of Round 1.
I'm not totally sure I understand the question, so if there is some reason that I'm not thinking of that you're wondering about slipping the last stitch to needle 1, please let me know!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
hi im am so confused, ive tried to start this pattern several times. when i get to the second row i keep getting less stitches than i am supposed to, i am knitting on double pointed needles. what am i doing wrong?
Thanks
Hi Alayna,
My best guess is that you're misinterpreting the "yarn over", a very common mistake. Keep in mind that a yarn over doesn't involve knitting a stitch. A yarn over is actually just the act of bringing the yarn forward into the purl position (in this case, at least). That's it!
For a more thorough explanation, here's our Yarn Over video tutorial: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/knitting-tutorials-increases/2013/11/11/yarn-over-yo.html
If you're still having problems, please let us know and we'll sort it out!!
Whitney
Thank you for this beautiful cuff down sock pattern. I would like to knit this with toe up method using circular needles. Can you please help me to convert it to toe up using the magic loop method? Much appreciated, many thanks!
Hi Janet,
Thank you so much for the kind words and for reaching out! Unfortunately we don’t have instructions for knitting these socks toe-up, but if you have a plain toe-up 64-stitch sock pattern that you like, you should be able to modify it to use this lace stitch! After you have finished the toe increases and are all set up for magic loop, you should have 32 stitches on each side of the circular needle. On the instep stitches, you can follow the stitch pattern from Needle #2 of the gusset, which would be:
Round 1: K1, [k1, yo, k3, k2tog] 5 times, k1
Round 2: K1, [k2, yo, k2, k2tog] 5 times, k1
Round 3: K1, [k3, yo, k1, k2tog] 5 times, k1
Round 4: K1, [k4, yo, k2tog] 5 times, k1
Round 5: K1, [k4, k2tog, yo] 5 times, k1
Round 6: K1, [k3, k2tog, k1, yo] 5 times, k1
Round 7: K1, [k2, k2tog, k2, yo] 5 times, k1
Round 8: K1 [k1, k2tog, k3, yo] 5 times, k1
Round 9: K1 [k2tog, k4, yo] 5 times, k1
Round 10: [K2tog, yo k4] 5 times. k2
You can repeat this 10-row pattern on the instep stitches until the foot is your desired length, and then follow the heel instructions in your pattern. After that, you will need to increase two stitches to 66 stitches total, and can then follow the lace pattern for the leg of the sock as written!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Do you still sell this yarn? If not, what would you recommend as a replacement? thanks
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we no longer cary this yarn. I recommend using our yarn Posy, MADELINETOSH Tosh Merino Light, or Koigu KPPPM + KPM! I also suggest working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure that your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thanks for those substitutes! how much yardage is needed for the main color for both socks? thanks
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your response! One skein of each color in any of the suggested yarns should be plenty!
Warmly,
Gianna