Oodi Socks in Novita Venla - Downloadable PDF

Oodi Socks in Novita Venla – Free Knitting Pattern by Sari Nordlund

The Oodi Socks are a beautifully crafted pair of adult knitted socks designed by Sari Nordlund and worked in Novita Venla yarn. This is a free downloadable PDF pattern rated at an intermediate difficulty level, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore more textured, decorative techniques. The finished socks are sized to fit a European shoe size 38/39, making them a one-size adult pattern with a classic, elegant fit.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a pair of knitted socks featuring a decorative cable panel running along the leg, a reinforced heel flap for durability, and a neatly turned French heel. The socks are worked entirely in the round from the cuff down, combining both textural and functional knitting techniques into a polished finished object. The cable detailing gives the socks a timeless, handcrafted aesthetic that elevates them beyond a basic sock pattern.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Novita Venla in shade 010 Off White, approximately 100 g required
• Needle Type: Double-pointed needles (DPNs) – Novita 2½ mm (UK 12½ / US 1½), or the size needed to achieve correct gauge
• Additional Supplies: A cable needle is required for working the cable pattern sections
• Yarn Weight: 4-ply (also known as fingering or sock weight), ideal for fine, close-fitting socks

Yarn Details – Novita Venla

Novita Venla is a Finnish 4-ply sock yarn from the well-known Nordic yarn brand Novita. Its fine weight and smooth construction make it particularly well-suited to sock knitting, allowing stitch definition to show clearly in both ribbing and cable patterns. The Off White (010) colorway used in this pattern allows the cable texture to stand out beautifully, highlighting the craftsmanship of the design.

Construction and Techniques

The Oodi Socks are constructed using a top-down method, beginning at the cuff and working down to the toe. The socks are knitted in the round on four double-pointed needles, with 64 stitches cast on and divided evenly – 16 stitches per needle. This is a standard approach to sock knitting that gives the knitter good control over each section of the sock as it progresses.

Cuff and Ribbing

The sock begins with a ribbed cuff worked in the round for 2.5 cm. Ribbing is a classic sock cuff technique that creates a stretchy, snug band to keep the sock in place on the leg. The elasticity of ribbing is achieved by alternating knit and purl stitches in a regular sequence, which draws the fabric inward and allows it to expand to fit the wearer's leg.

Cable Pattern – Chart I

Following the ribbing, knitters transition into the main leg pattern using Chart I, a 16-stitch, 16-row cable repeat. The cable motif is worked four times across the round, meaning the decorative pattern encircles the entire leg of the sock. Knitters begin on Row 1 of the chart, work through Rows 2–16, and then continue repeating Rows 1–16 until the leg measures 18 cm in total length. A cable needle is used to hold stitches temporarily while crossing cables, which is the defining technique of cable knitting. Cable patterns create raised, rope-like or twisted designs by deliberately crossing groups of stitches over one another, adding dimension and visual interest to the fabric.

Heel Flap

Once the leg is complete, the pattern moves into the heel flap construction. The stitches from Needle I are knitted onto