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| Photo above © The Editors of Go-Crafty |
Spruce Socks. Photos © Originally Lovely
Spruce Socks by Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely are a beautifully detailed pair of top-down knitted socks featuring tiny spruce trees along the outer ankle.
Designed with fingering-weight sock yarn, these socks combine classic sock construction with slipped stitches and small cable techniques to create the distinctive evergreen motif. The pattern includes four adult sizes from S through XL and instructions for either Magic Loop or double-pointed needles.
The feature that makes these socks immediately recognizable is the spruce tree motif positioned on the outer ankle.
Instead of using traditional stranded colorwork, the design creates texture within a single-color sock using slipped stitches, increases, decreases and small cable movements.
The result is subtle enough for everyday wear but detailed enough to make the socks especially attractive for winter and holiday knitting.
Spruce Socks are a particularly interesting choice if you love the look of seasonal knitted motifs but don't necessarily want to manage several yarn colors at once.
The spruce trees are formed through stitch manipulation rather than conventional stranded knitting.
This allows the tree motif to emerge from the texture of the knitted fabric itself.
The pattern includes four sizes: S (M, L, XL).
Finished foot circumferences are approximately:
The designer provides approximate women's and men's US shoe-size guidance as well, making this a versatile unisex sock pattern.
Approximate women's US shoe sizes are:
Approximate men's US shoe sizes are:
Foot circumference is generally the more useful measurement when selecting your pattern size, while foot length can be adjusted during knitting.
Spruce Socks are constructed one at a time from the cuff down.
After the cuff and decorative ankle section are completed, the pattern transitions into a traditional heel-flap construction.
The gusset is then formed before the foot continues in stockinette stitch toward the toe.
The spruce tree design is intended to sit on the outer ankle of each sock.
This means the left and right socks need slightly different positioning when the knitting reaches the heel section.
The pattern includes separate adjustment instructions so that after the heel flap is positioned, the decorative trees remain on the outside of each ankle rather than both appearing on the same side.
The heel uses a classic heel flap, heel turn and gusset construction.
This is a useful technique to learn because heel-flap socks offer a familiar fit and make it possible to reinforce the back of the heel through slipped stitches.
After turning the heel, stitches are picked up along the heel flap and gusset decreases gradually return the sock to its original stitch count.
Once the heel and gusset are complete, the foot is worked in stockinette stitch.
This section can be adjusted to suit the wearer's actual foot length. The designer instructs knitters to begin the toe shaping before reaching the desired total length.
This is particularly useful because shoe size alone doesn't always provide the best indication of knitted sock length.
After the toe decreases are complete, the remaining stitches are grafted together using Kitchener stitch.
Grafting creates a smooth join across the toe rather than a bulky seam, which is especially desirable for socks that will be worn inside shoes.
The pattern is written so you can knit the socks using either Magic Loop or double-pointed needles (DPNs).
Both methods use US 1 (2.25 mm) needles, or the size required to achieve the correct gauge.
This flexibility lets you use whichever small-circumference knitting technique you find most comfortable.
Spruce Socks use approximately 330–450 yards (302–411 m) of fingering-weight yarn, depending on size and any length adjustments.
The original sample was shown in Kenyarn Cirrus Fingering in the Sitka Spruce colorway.
A fingering-weight wool blend containing nylon is a practical choice for socks because it combines warmth with additional durability.
You don't need to use the original yarn to make Spruce Socks.
Look for a fingering-weight sock yarn that can produce the required gauge of 32 stitches per 4 inches in stockinette.
Because the spruce motif relies on visible stitch texture, a solid, tonal or lightly variegated yarn may show the trees more clearly than a very busy multicolored yarn.
The specified gauge is:
32 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
in stockinette stitch
Gauge is particularly important for socks because even a relatively small difference can noticeably change the finished circumference.
If necessary, adjust your needle size rather than automatically using the needle listed in the pattern.
Useful techniques for this project include:
Spruce Socks are best suited to a knitter who is already comfortable with basic knitting and wants to develop more sock-knitting skills.
The pattern combines small-circumference knitting, slipped stitches, simple cables, heel construction, picking up stitches and Kitchener grafting.
If you have already made a basic pair of socks, this can be an especially enjoyable next project because the construction remains familiar while the spruce motif introduces something new.
The tiny evergreen trees naturally give Spruce Socks a festive winter character.
They can work beautifully as Christmas socks without relying on bright red-and-green colorwork, especially when knitted in forest green, charcoal, cream or another wintry shade.
The same understated motif also makes them wearable throughout the colder months rather than limiting them to the holiday season.
A pair of hand-knitted socks makes a thoughtful gift, and the spruce detailing gives this design an extra handmade touch.
Because the pattern includes four circumferences and guidance for both men's and women's shoe sizes, you have considerably more sizing flexibility than with a one-size sock pattern.
Spruce Socks combine a dependable top-down sock construction with an unusual textured motif that makes the finished pair instantly recognizable.
The slipped-stitch spruce trees provide visual interest without requiring traditional stranded colorwork, while the heel flap, gusset and grafted toe give you a classic sock structure.
With four adult sizes, adjustable foot length and instructions for both Magic Loop and DPNs, the pattern also offers useful flexibility for different knitters and recipients.
The complete Spruce Socks by Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely are currently available as a paid digital knitting pattern from the designer's Ravelry store.
Get the Spruce Socks Knitting Pattern →
This pattern is not currently free. Pattern availability and pricing on external websites may change over time.
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| Photo above © Little Yellow Wheelbarrow |
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| Photo above © Susan Gressman |
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| Photo above © (Jessica) Mama In A Stitch |
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| Photo above © caramora |
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| Photo above © Gönülden Örgüler |
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| Photo above © (Natalia) All Knitted Lace |
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| Photo above © maanel |
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| Photo above © DisgruntledOwl |
Multnomah Shawl. Photo © Kate Ray / Hello Knitty
Multnomah by Kate Ray is a classic triangular shawl knitting pattern that combines a simple garter-stitch body with a beautiful Feather and Fan lace border.
Originally published in 2009 through Hello Knitty, Multnomah has become an enduring favorite among shawl knitters. It uses fingering-weight yarn and approximately 412 yards (377 m) for the original size, making it a lovely project for a special skein of sock yarn.
Availability update: the original Hello Knitty source is now out of print, but the free pattern has been preserved in an archived copy. More information and the archived pattern source are available through the pattern's current Ravelry record.
Multnomah has a wonderfully effective construction: the majority of the upper shawl is worked in relaxing garter stitch, while the lower section changes into a flowing Feather and Fan lace border.
The contrast between the simple body and decorative edge gives the shawl much of its character without requiring lace knitting throughout the entire project.
This also makes Multnomah an appealing introduction to knitted shawls for someone who wants a project with both straightforward knitting and a more decorative finishing section.
The shawl begins with a small number of stitches and gradually expands into its triangular shape.
Most of this first section is garter stitch, with increases used to create the growing shawl.
Garter stitch is particularly effective with hand-dyed and variegated fingering yarns because the simple texture allows the yarn's color changes to remain visible.
The lower portion introduces the classic Feather and Fan motif.
This traditional combination of increases and decreases creates the distinctive waves and openwork along the bottom of the shawl.
Once blocked, the Feather and Fan section opens beautifully and provides a decorative contrast to the dense garter-stitch body.
The original Multnomah was designed around approximately 412 yards (377 m) of fingering-weight yarn.
That makes the original size particularly attractive for the special skeins of sock yarn that many knitters have in their stash.
If your skein contains significantly less yarn, you may need to make a smaller version. If you have more yarn, the design can also be expanded.
Kate Ray's original sample used The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! in the Rainbow Scarab colorway.
The original project used essentially the entire skein, approximately 412 yards.
You do not need the original yarn to make Multnomah. A fingering-weight yarn that produces a fabric and gauge you enjoy can be substituted.
Multnomah works especially well with yarns where you want both the color and stitch pattern to remain visible.
Solid and tonal yarns can emphasize the Feather and Fan texture, while gently variegated or long-color-repeat yarns can create dramatic color movement across the growing triangular shape.
When substituting yarn, pay attention to total yardage rather than simply comparing the number of skeins.
The original pattern specifies a US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle at least 24 inches (60 cm) long.
The documented gauge is:
24 stitches and 21 garter ridges = 4 inches (10 cm)
in garter stitch
A circular needle is useful because the shawl eventually contains many stitches, even though the work itself is knitted flat rather than joined in the round.
The original Multnomah measures approximately:
44 inches across × 19 inches deep
This places the original design in the shawlette-to-small-shawl range, making it easy to wear around the neck as well as across the shoulders.
One of the most useful characteristics of the design is that the size can be adjusted.
Kate Ray documented alternative points for beginning the Feather and Fan border, allowing knitters to create smaller or larger versions of the original shawl.
You can also extend the lace section with additional repeats when you have enough yarn.
If you want a larger shawl, the garter-stitch section can be extended before beginning the lace border.
Because the Feather and Fan motif has a predictable stitch repeat, the designer documented several larger starting points for the lace section.
Keep in mind that every additional row becomes longer as the shawl grows, so larger versions can consume yarn much faster near the end of the project.
Multnomah can also be reduced if you have less than the original 412-yard recommendation.
Starting the Feather and Fan section earlier creates a smaller shawlette while retaining the defining combination of garter stitch and lace.
This flexibility makes the design useful when you want to work with a specific amount of treasured fingering-weight yarn.
Useful techniques for this project include:
Multnomah can be a very approachable first shawl for a knitter who already knows the basic knit stitch and is ready to learn simple increases, decreases and yarn overs.
The long garter-stitch section gives you time to become comfortable with the shawl's shaping before reaching the Feather and Fan border.
The lace section requires more attention, but it is based on a repeating motif rather than a large collection of unrelated lace patterns.
If full lace shawls feel intimidating, Multnomah provides a gentler introduction.
Only the border uses the Feather and Fan lace motif, so a mistake does not mean navigating lace across the entire shawl.
Using stitch markers and checking your stitch counts regularly can make the transition into the lace section much easier.
A lifeline can be particularly helpful when knitting the Feather and Fan border.
Threading a contrasting strand through the stitches after a correct repeat gives you a safe point to return to if you discover a mistake later.
This simple precaution can save a great deal of time when working long lace rows.
Don't judge the Feather and Fan border completely while it is still on the needles.
Lace often looks compressed before blocking. Washing the finished shawl and gently pinning it to shape allows the openwork and waves to become much more visible.
Always use a blocking method appropriate for the fiber content of your chosen yarn.
Multnomah became especially popular as a project for colorful sock yarn.
The garter-stitch body provides a relatively simple background for changing colors, while the Feather and Fan border adds texture without overwhelming the yarn.
This combination can be particularly effective with hand-dyed yarns and long color repeats.
Multnomah has remained remarkably popular since its original publication in 2009.
Thousands of knitters have made versions in different yarns, colors and sizes, demonstrating how adaptable the basic garter-and-lace structure can be.
Its enduring appeal comes from a useful balance: enough simple knitting to make the project relaxing, followed by enough lace to make the finished shawl feel special.
Multnomah is an excellent choice if you have a beautiful skein of fingering yarn and want something more decorative than a plain garter-stitch shawl without committing to complicated lace from beginning to end.
The triangular shape is practical to wear, the size is adjustable, and the Feather and Fan border gives the finished piece a classic wavy edge.
It is also a useful bridge between basic knitting and more advanced lace shawls.
Multnomah by Kate Ray was originally published free through Hello Knitty. That original website source is now out of print, but the pattern has been preserved in an archived copy.
The current Ravelry pattern record provides the pattern information and points knitters to the archived free version.
View the Multnomah Pattern & Archived Free Source →
The original Hello Knitty source is no longer active. Amazing Knitting does not host or reproduce the designer's complete pattern. Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated.
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| Photo above © wollball |