Orchid Socks Bring More Fun with Cables and Lace

Just the other day I was talking about combining cables and lace to make a fun knitting pattern that uses lots of skills and brings different textures to the party, with the example of a cable and lace shawl. Here’s another version of the same idea, this time in socks.

The Orchid socks from Mirella Moments are worked from the top down, with a twisted rib stitch on the cuff and panels of cables and lace worked down the leg and the top of the foot.

It uses a heel flap worked with slipped stitches, a gusset for the foot and a wedge-shaped toe.

The pattern comes in a single size (a women’s medium, worked with 60 stitches). You could make it bigger or smaller by adding or removing a repeat, but since lace is stretchy there’s probably some variation in the size of feet this sock will comfortably cover.

The designer used a solid color sock yarn but I think this one would be pretty in a tonal yarn, too, or something multicolored with longer color runs. You don’t want a yarn that’s too busy or it will detract from the pattern.

This is a free pattern available from Mirella Moments.

Looking for more Sock patterns to knit? Check out our dedicated Sock Knitting Patterns board on Pinterest. A couple of great sock knitting patterns I’ve shared recently include Roam (If You Want to) and these shorty Sneaker Socks, which are a perfect way to use up leftovers from other sock knitting projects.

Or if you’re looking for a way to use sock yarn that isn’t socks, I’ve collected a whole bunch of shawl knitting patterns that use a skein or so of sock yarn. They’re perfect for that single skein you bought on vacation or on sale that you never figured out what to do with!

[Photo: Mirella Moments]

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I know that my posts can be read at different times of year and in different years by different people, but as I write this we’re on teh cusp of summer. And I know a lot of people don’t knit as much, and certainly don’t wear a lot of knits in the summer, but I want to encourage you to make and to wear your makes no matter the temperature.

To introduce you to the joys of summer garment knitting, I offer the Tied Vest from Lion Brand Yarn.

This easy project is great to make and wear throughout the year but it’s especially good for summer. It’s worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, mostly in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch edging. The I-cord ties are worked directly onto the garment so you don’t have to sew them on.

The project uses worsted weight yarn, and calls for a blend of cotton and hemp that’s great for warm weather.

There are eight size options, ranging from a finished chest measurement of 35 to 62.5 inches, or 89 to 159 cm. That makes it sound like it should be worn with at least a few inches of positive ease, but the pattern doesn’t specify.

The ties at the front give it a casual look and make it great to wear over a tank top or T-shirt when the weather is warm.

I also think this one would be good to knit in wool or a warmer fiber, too, to make a version you could wear more comfortably in the winter months, too. Though of course you could layer the summer version over a long-sleeved shirt and wear it throughout the year, too.

The tied vest is a free pattern available from Lion Brand. You can also purchase a kit that includes the yarn and optional needles and stitch markers if you need them.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Knit an Easy Hooded Vest

Knit Vests to Help Transition to Warmer Weather

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