Southern Belle Socks

Southern Belle Socks by Elizabeth Ravenwood

What Is Being Made

Southern Belle Socks is a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Elizabeth Ravenwood that creates delicate, lace-patterned socks available in three sizes: Toddler (US Baby size 5), Child (US Child size 1), and Women's Medium (US sizes 8-9). The pattern uses a charming lace stitch pattern that creates an elegant, openwork design suitable for special occasions or everyday wear.

Finished Measurements

The socks are designed with the following finished measurements:

• Toddler size: 4.5" circumference and 4.5" foot length
• Child size: 6.5" circumference and 7.5" foot length
• Women's Medium size: 8.5" circumference and 9" foot length

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs circular knitting techniques, worked on double-pointed needles to create seamless socks from the cuff down. The construction uses the stockinette stitch as the base fabric, with a specialized lace stitch pattern incorporated throughout. The lace pattern features yarn overs and decreases that create an openwork design characteristic of delicate sock construction.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

Southern Belle Socks utilizes several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric worked circularly, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• Yarn overs (yo): Used to create the openwork lace pattern and add decorative eyelet details
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in the lace pattern
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that balances the yarn overs
• Slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sk2p): A centered double decrease that creates definition in the lace design

The lace pattern repeats across rounds, alternating between patterned rounds featuring yarn overs and decreases with plain knit rounds that allow the lace to develop and settle.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for KnitPicks Gloss Lace yarn in the colorway Bare #24178. This luxury yarn is composed of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Silk, providing both warmth and a subtle sheen. One 50-gram hank, which contains 440 yards, is sufficient for all three sizes, making this an economical project.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires Size 0 (2.0mm) double-pointed needles in a set of five, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 40 stitches and 60 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch worked circularly. Additional notions include a stitch marker in a contrasting color to mark the beginning of each round and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner-level pattern, Southern Belle Socks introduces knitters to lace techniques and circular knitting on double-pointed needles in a manageable project. While lace knitting requires attention to yarn overs and decreases, the pattern's straightforward repeat and clear instructions make it accessible to knitters new to these techniques.

Pattern Format

This design is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing crafters to access and print the complete instructions immediately. The pattern includes sizing information presented with the smallest size as the primary instruction and larger sizes noted in parentheses throughout, streamlining the knitting process.