Nuoska

DESCRIPTION

They say there are over 200 words for snow in the Finnish language. ‘Nuoska’ means packing snow, a type of sticky snow perfect for making snowmen.

Nuoska socks evoke memories of childhood winters with dripping icicles and frost flowers growing on windows. These sport-weight socks are knit from the toe up in two colors. Contrasting toes and cuffs gradually transform into the main color with short and simple colorwork sections. The majority of the socks are knit in the main color in a delicate, flowery stitch pattern made with knit-below stitches. Right and left socks are identical and can be worked two at a time.

The socks come in three sizes (54, 60, or 66 stitches). Both foot and leg length are adjustable to your liking and measurements. You can also easily adapt the pattern for fingering-weight yarn.

The pattern includes written instructions and a step-by-step photo tutorial for the frost flowers pattern. The icicle colorwork patterns are charted only. The pattern is written with both metric and US terminology.

Share your socks with the hashtags #⁠nuoskasocks and #⁠talviknits.

SIZES

• S [M, L]
• 54 [60, 66] sts
• To fit shoe size EU 38–40 [41–43, 44–46] / US 6½–8 [8½–10, 11–13]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

• Foot circumference: approx. 21 [23, 25.5] cm / 8¼ [9, 10]”
• Foot length: approx. 23 [25, 27.5] cm / 9 [9¾, 11]” or fully adjustable
• Leg length from cuff to top of heel flap: approx. 18 [20, 22.5] cm / 7 [8, 8¾]” or adjustable within pattern

Choose a size with approx. 10% of negative ease.

MATERIALS

Yarn

Tukuwool Sock (80% wool, 20% nylon, 160 m/50 g, 175 yd/1.76 oz), 2 colors

• Main color (MC): 02 Humu, 2 skeins
• Contrasting color (CC): H26 Kajo, 1 skein

Or sport-weight sock yarn, 2 colors

• MC: approx. 245 [255, 285] m / 265 [280, 315] yd
• CC: approx. 75 [75, 85] m / 80 [80, 95] yd

Choose two colors with a good amount of contrast between them. To show off the frost flowers stitch pattern, solid or semi-solid colors are recommended for MC.

Needles

• 3.0 mm / US #2½ double-pointed or circular needle(s) for working small circumferences in the round (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions

• Colorwork yarn guide (optional)
• Darning needle

GAUGE

26 sts × 34 rnds = 10 cm / 4” in stockinette, blocked

TECHNIQUES USED

The pattern uses the following techniques: working small circumferences in the round, stranded colorwork, knit-below stitches, and German short rows. Ability to follow colorwork charts is essential. The pattern assumes knowledge of a cast-on and bind-off method for toe-up socks; references are given for a few alternatives.

REFERENCES

• 5 Ways to Cast on Toe-up Socks
• Color dominance
• German Short Rows
• 5 Stretchy Bind-off Methods
• 5 More Stretchy Bind-off Methods

This pattern was originally released for Knit Fest Winter 2020. Yarn for the pattern was generously provided by Tukuwool and Lankakauppa TitiTyy.