Pansy Socks in Novita Venla - Downloadable PDF

Pansy Socks in Novita Venla – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Pansy Socks is a colorwork knitting pattern designed by Minna Metsänen and worked in Novita Venla yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a single size of toe-up sock sized for European shoe size 38. The design features a repeating floral-inspired colorwork motif worked in three colors, combined with a classic hourglass heel construction. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic sock construction and are ready to explore stranded colorwork in the round.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pair of knitted socks with a richly patterned colorwork body. The socks are constructed from the toe up, beginning with a provisional crochet cast-on and working upward through the foot, heel, and leg. The colorwork panel runs continuously along the foot and leg, creating a visually striking design with a repeating 14-stitch motif worked over a 30-row repeat.

Design Details and Colorwork

The sock uses three colors of Novita Venla yarn:

• Lupine (764) – the main color, used for less than 100 g per pair
• Off White (010) – a contrast color, used for less than 50 g
• Saffron (285) – a third accent color, used in small quantities

The colorwork chart begins at row 1 and the 14-stitch pattern is repeated five times across the round, totaling 70 stitches at the widest point of the foot. Rows 2 through 31 form the repeating section of the chart, which continues up the leg of the sock. The interplay of Lupine, Off White, and Saffron creates the pansy-inspired floral pattern that gives the sock its name.

Construction Techniques

Toe-Up Construction with Provisional Cast-On

The sock begins at the toe using a Lupine chain of 12 stitches as a provisional cast-on, worked with a crochet hook. Stitches are then picked up from both edges of the chain — 12 stitches from each side — giving a starting count of 24 stitches distributed across four double-pointed needles, with 6 stitches on each needle. This method creates a seamless, rounded toe with no visible join.

Toe Shaping with Yarn Over Increases

After the initial setup, the toe is shaped using yarn over increases worked at the beginning of needles I and III and at the end of needles II and IV. These yarn overs are worked on every other round and are knitted through the back loop on the following round to close the hole, creating a neat, decorative increase line. Increases continue until there are 17 stitches on each needle, followed by one additional increase round on needles I and II only, bringing the total to 70 stitches.

Hourglass Heel

When the sock measures 18 cm from the toe, the hourglass heel is worked using Lupine only, pausing the colorwork pattern. The hourglass heel is a short-row heel construction that creates a well-fitted, rounded heel cup without the need for picking up stitches along a heel flap. Short rows are worked by turning the work and creating double stitches — a technique where a stitch is slipped purlwise and the yarn is tightened so that the loops of the slipped stitch come over the needle, effectively wrapping the stitch to prevent holes at the turning points. Turning continues, working progressively fewer stitches each time, until 14 regular stitches remain in the center. The heel is then worked back outward, incorporating the double stitches as the work progresses.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Stockinette stitch in the round – all stitches are knitted every round, used throughout the toe, heel, and as the base fabric for colorwork
• Stranded colorwork – worked in stockinette