Geschoppte Nalle Taika Socken in Novita - Downloadable PDF

Novita Nalle Taika Geschoppte Socken – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

This free downloadable PDF pattern by designer Sara Rönnback for Novita presents a pair of geschoppte Socken (gusset-heel socks) worked in the round on double-pointed needles. The pattern is written in German and covers four shoe sizes, making it a versatile choice for knitters who want to craft fitted, comfortable socks for children and adults alike. Rated at an intermediate difficulty level, this project is well suited to knitters who are already comfortable with basic sock construction and are ready to explore a classic heel technique.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a pair of knitted socks with a traditional geschoppte (gusset or wedge) heel construction. This style of heel is a time-honoured technique in German-language sock knitting, creating a well-fitted, reinforced heel cup that distributes wear evenly and provides an excellent anatomical fit. The socks are worked entirely in the round from the cuff down, finishing with a shaped toe.

Sizes Covered

• Shoe size 30 – suitable for smaller children
• Shoe size 34 – suitable for older children
• Shoe size 38 – suitable for smaller adult feet
• Shoe size 42 – suitable for larger adult feet

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Novita Nalle Taika, a DK weight yarn from the Finnish brand Novita. The colourway used in the sample is Reisig. Yarn quantities are as follows:

• Sizes 30 and 34: approximately 200 g of Novita Nalle Taika
• Sizes 38 and 42: approximately 250 g of Novita Nalle Taika

Novita Nalle Taika is a popular choice for sock knitting due to its durability and the appealing self-striping or tonal colour effects typical of the Nalle range, which add visual interest without requiring any colour changes by the knitter.

Needles

The pattern recommends a Novita double-pointed needle set (Nadelspiel) in size 3 mm, or whichever needle size is needed to achieve the correct tension swatch. Using a set of double-pointed needles is standard for sock knitting in the round, allowing the work to be distributed across multiple needles and turned smoothly at the heel.

Tension / Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is important for a well-fitting sock. The pattern specifies gauge swatches worked in the following stitch patterns:

• Rib pattern in the round: *2 stitches knit, 2 stitches purl*, repeated
• Stocking stitch (glatt rechts) in the round: all rounds knitted
• Reverse stocking stitch (glatt links) in the round: all rounds purled

Techniques Used

The construction of these socks draws on several classic knitting techniques that intermediate knitters will find both educational and satisfying to practise:

• Working in the round on a set of double-pointed needles throughout the cuff, leg, and foot
• 2×2 ribbing (2 stitches knit, 2 stitches purl) for the cuff, providing elasticity and a neat finish
• Geschoppte (gusset) heel construction – a traditional short-row style heel worked back and forth in rows, with stitches picked up or decreased at the edges to form the characteristic wedge shape
• Short-row turning with slipped stitches – the heel is shaped by turning the work mid-row, slipping the first stitch of each row, and working decreases at the edges (including a simple Überzug, or pass slipped stitch over, on the right-side rows, and a left-leaning decrease on the wrong-side rows)