Blowing Leaves Socks

Blowing Leaves Socks by Kari Verge

What is Being Made

The Blowing Leaves Socks are a knitted sock pattern designed for women in two sizes: Medium and Large. This downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Kari Verge creates a complete pair of socks featuring a decorative leaf motif worked into the leg of the finished garment. The socks are constructed using the popular top-down method, beginning at the cuff and working down to the foot and heel.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level sock pattern employs several essential sock-knitting techniques to create a well-fitting, durable garment:

• In-the-round construction: The socks are knit in the round using a set of double-pointed needles, which creates seamless fabric and allows for continuous circular knitting
• Ribbed cuff: The pattern begins with a 2x2 ribbed cuff that provides stretch and helps the socks stay in place on the leg
• Charted colorwork or texture: Chart A is worked repeatedly across the leg section, creating the distinctive blowing leaves design through stitch manipulation or color changes
• Heel construction: The pattern includes a traditional heel flap and heel turn, with stitches picked up along the edges to create a reinforced heel pocket that withstands wear
• Gusset shaping: Strategic decreases are incorporated to shape the sock around the ankle and foot for a custom fit

Stitches Used

The Blowing Leaves Socks utilize fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for sock construction:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the sock, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a gauge of 36 stitches and 52 rows over 4 inches
• 2x2 ribbing: Used for the cuff section, alternating knit and purl stitches in groups of two to create vertical lines of texture
• Knit stitches: The foundation of the leg and foot sections
• Decreases: Knit two together (k2tog) decreases are used for shaping, particularly around the heel gusset area
• Chart-based stitches: Chart A contains the specific stitch pattern for the blowing leaves motif, worked over 16 rows and repeated five times across the leg

Materials and Specifications

The pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the proper fit and fabric characteristics:

• Yarn: Fingering weight or 4-ply sock yarn, approximately 450 yards total for both socks in the round
• Needles: A set of 2.25mm/US 1 double-pointed needles (or needles sized to obtain the specified gauge)
• Notions: Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a measuring tape for checking length and gauge
• Gauge: 36 stitches and 52 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is critical for achieving proper sock fit

Pattern Details

The Blowing Leaves Socks pattern is structured in clear sections. The cuff is cast on with 60 stitches for Medium or 80 stitches for Large, then worked in 2x2 ribbing for approximately 1.5 inches. The leg features Chart A, which is repeated five complete times to create the blowing leaves design. The heel section includes a traditional heel flap with picked-up stitches and shaping decreases. This intermediate-level pattern is ideal for knitters with basic sock experience who are ready to incorporate charted stitch patterns into their sock construction. The downloadable PDF format allows for easy printing and reference while working.