Karelian Socks in Novita Venla - Downloadable PDF

Karelian Socks in Novita Venla – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Karelian Socks is a beautifully crafted colourwork sock pattern designed by Minna Metsänen and published by Novita. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a single pair of socks in size 38/39, featuring a richly patterned leg, a reinforced heel flap, and a shaped toe. The design draws on traditional Nordic colourwork aesthetics, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with stranded colourwork and working in the round on double-pointed needles.

Materials Used

Yarn

The pattern calls for Novita Venla, a 4-ply weight yarn, used in four distinct colours:

• (499) Charcoal – 50 g, used as the main background colour throughout the sock
• (182) Petrol – 50 g, used in the colourwork pattern
• (010) Off-white – 50 g, used in the colourwork pattern
• (543) Tomato – some, used as an accent in the colourwork pattern

The use of four colours gives the Karelian Socks their striking, folk-inspired appearance. Novita Venla is a fine 4-ply sock yarn well suited to detailed stranded colourwork at a tight gauge.

Needles

The pattern is worked on double-pointed needles (DPNs) sized 2½ mm (UK 12–13 / US 1–2), or the size required to achieve the correct gauge. The stitches are distributed across four needles, with the beginning of the round positioned between needles I and IV.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for a well-fitting sock. The stated gauge is 32 stitches of colourwork = 10 cm / 4 inches. Knitters should swatch before beginning, particularly as colourwork tension can differ from plain stockinette tension.

Techniques and Construction

Cast-On and Cuff

The sock begins with a cast-on of 92 stitches using the charcoal yarn, distributed evenly across four double-pointed needles (23 stitches per needle). The cuff is worked in 2×2 ribbing in the round (k2, p2) for 10 rounds, providing a stretchy, snug fit at the top of the sock.

Leg Colourwork

After one plain knit round, the colourwork pattern begins from row 1 of Chart I, working the full 92-stitch repeat. The leg is worked following Chart I through row 70, incorporating stranded colourwork in the round worked in stockinette stitch. Shaping is built into the leg through decreases: 1 stitch is decreased at the beginning and end of the round on rows 14, 32, 40, 52, and 61, reducing the stitch count to 82 stitches. On row 70, a further 8 stitches are decreased evenly, bringing the total to 74 stitches. This gradual shaping gives the leg a subtle taper that follows the natural contour of the lower leg.

Reinforced Heel Flap

The heel is worked back and forth in rows on 37 stitches (needles I and IV combined), using the charcoal yarn only. Three stitches are decreased on the first purl row, leaving 34 stitches for the heel flap. The heel is worked in a reinforced stitch pattern, which adds durability to this high-wear area:

• Row 1 (RS): Slip 1 (yarn in back), k1, repeated to end
• Row 2 (WS): Slip 1 (yarn in back), purl to end

These two rows are repeated a total of 17 times (