Hello!
While I’ve been out and about quite a bit over the past few weeks and had to squeeze in some work, too, there was also plenty of time for knitting. One project that has recently slid off my needles is a pair of Linea Socks. It’s the second pair I’ve made from that beautiful book 52 Weeks of Socks.
This design, by Finnish designer Minna Sorvala, has diamonds on the top of feet and legs, flanked by columns of twisted stitches and small honeycomb cables.
I felt rather daunted at the start, but knitting four rows here, six rows there and just following the clear instructions and the chart the socks grew more quickly than I expected. While knitting, I took some photos of interesting details, hoping my pictures and notes will be of use to anyone else who’d like to make the same socks.
The Linea Socks are knit from the toe up and have a fairly blunt toe. Using a circular needle, I cast on with Judy’s magic cast-on. (There are many videos explaining this technique clearly, like this one.)
These are socks with a gusset, which imho makes for a much better fit than gusset-less socks. In the pattern, the increases for the gusset are made between the top and bottom needles. At first, I followed the pattern, but got holes.
This was not what I was looking for, so I ripped back a few rows and made the increases one stitch from the sides. Much better.
The heels of the socks are reinforced using a pattern of slip stitches. I hope you can see it in the photo below.
To bind off, I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off. (For a long time I called it Jenny’s bind-off, but it really is Jeny with one n – a good video here). How wonderful to be immortalized like Judy or Jeny for inventing a clever knitting technique! Unstretched, this stretchy bind-off is zigzaggy along the ribbing at the top.
Stretched when worn, it looks neat and feels comfortable.
And here they are all finished – my Linea Socks.
There is one tiny error in chart B, for the back of the leg. The second stitch from the left should be knit through the back of the loop, instead of worked like an ordinary knit stitch. For the rest, the pattern is very clear and the Linea Socks were a joy to knit.
- Pattern: Linea by Minna Sorvala
- Size made: 2nd size
- Yarn: Schachenmayr Regia Premium Silk 4-ply (100 g/400 m), shade 31
- Needles: 2.5 mm/US 1½
- My Ravelry notes: here
These socks remind me of a series of funny old cartoons – La Linea. It’s amazing how much can be done with one simple line. It’s just like knitting, really – one thread, endless possibilities.
Beautiful socks. Thank you for all your tips. I enjoy hearing from you and looking at your knitting. The sights and walks are wonderful.
Thank you – it’s so good to hear that you’re enjoying my words and pictures.
Beautiful! Really very special socks, love them in this light colour, it shows the pattern really well.
Thank you, they were a pleasure to knit.