Women’s Lace Toe-Up Socks  «Don’t Forget The Lights»

Women’s Lace Toe-Up Socks “Don’t Forget The Lights” are an elegant and modern knitted design worked from the toe upward. The lace pattern creates a delicate, airy texture while the toe-up construction allows for easy adjustment of length and a comfortable, customized fit. This project is suitable for knitters familiar with basic sock techniques who want to explore lace in a practical, wearable form.

Designer: Kelle Mtnzenziez. Magazine The Knitter 62 Issue 194.

Materials, Tools, and Knitting Techniques

PATTERN NOTES

• Judy’s Magic Cast-On.
• Once Chart A is established, always count instep stitches as 30 (32:34) sts, even when the stitch count between markers varies due to the lace pattern.

STITCH PATTERNS

CHART A – MAIN LACE PATTERN

Rnd 1: K1tbl, P1, K2tog, yo, P9, C2F, P9, K2tog, yo, P1, K1tbl. 28 sts.

Rnd 2: K1tbl, P1, K2, P9, (K1tbl) twice, P9, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 3: K1tbl, P1, yo, SSK, P8, C2B, C2F, P8, yo, SSK, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 4: K1tbl, P1, K2, P8, K1tbl, K2, K1tbl, P8, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 5: (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into next st, P1, K2tog, yo, P7, C2B, (C2F) twice, P7, K2tog, yo, P1, (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into next st. 36 sts.

Rnd 6: K5, P1, K2, P7, K1tbl, P1, (K1tbl) twice, P1, K1tbl, P7, K2, P1, K5.

Rnd 7: SSK, K1, K2tog, P1, yo, SSK, P6, (C2B) twice, (C2F) twice, P6, yo, SSK, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog. 32 sts.

Rnd 8: K3, P1, K2, P6, K1tbl, P1, K1tbl, K2, K1tbl, P1, K1tbl, P6, K2, P1, K3.

Rnd 9: Sk2po, P1, K2tog, yo, P5, (C2B) twice, (C2F) 3 times, P5, K2tog, yo, P1, sk2po. 28 sts.

Rnd 10: K1tbl, P1, K2, P5, (K1tbl, P1) twice, (K1tbl) twice, (P1, K1tbl) twice, P5, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 11: K1tbl, P1, yo, SSK, P4, (C2B) 3 times, (C2F) 3 times, P4, yo, SSK, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 12: K1tbl, P1, K2, P4, (K1tbl, P1) twice, K1tbl, P2, (K1tbl, P1) twice, K1tbl, P4, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 13: K1tbl, P1, K2tog, yo, P3, (C2B) 3 times, P2, (C2F) 3 times, P3, K2tog, yo, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 14: K1tbl, P1, K2, P3, (K1tbl, P1) 3 times, K2, (P1, K1tbl) 3 times, P3, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 15: K1tbl, P1, yo, SSK, P2, (C2B) 3 times, P1, C2F, P1, (C2F) 3 times, P2, yo, SSK, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 16: K1tbl, P1, K2, P2, (K1tbl, P1) twice, K1tbl, P3, K1tbl, P2, (K1tbl, P1) twice, K1tbl, P2, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 17: (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into next st, P1, K2tog, yo, P3, (C2B) twice, P1, C2B, C2F, P1, (C2F) twice, P3, K2tog, yo, P1, (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into next st. 36 sts.

Rnd 18: K5, P1, K2, P3, K1tbl, P1, (K1tbl, P2) 3 times, K1tbl, P1, K1tbl, P3, K2, P1, K5.

Rnd 19: SSK, K1, K2tog, P1, yo, SSK, P2, (C2B) twice, P1, C2B, P2, C2F, P1, (C2F) twice, P2, yo, SSK, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog. 32 sts.

Rnd 20: K3, P1, K2, P2, K1tbl, P1, K1tbl, P2, K1tbl, P4, K1tbl, P2, K1tbl, P1, K1tbl, P2, K2, P1, K3.

Rnd 21: Sk2po, P1, K2tog, yo, P3, C2B, P2, C2F, P2, C2B, P2, C2F, P3, K2tog, yo, P1, sk2po. 28 sts.

Rnd 22: K1tbl, P1, K2, P3, K1tbl, P4, K1tbl, P2, K1tbl, P4, K1tbl, P3, K2, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 23: K1tbl, P1, yo, SSK, P2, (C2B, P4, C2F) twice, P2, yo, SSK, P1, K1tbl.

Rnd 24: K1tbl, P1, K2, P2, K1tbl, P6, (K1tbl) twice, P6, K1tbl, P2, K2, P1, K1tbl.

CHART B – BACK LACE PATTERN

Rnd 1: P0 (1:2), (K2tog, yo, P2, K1tbl, P2) 4 times, K2tog, yo, P0 (1:2). 30 (32:34) sts.

Rnd 2: P0 (1:2), (K2, P2, K1tbl, P2) 4 times, K2, P0 (1:2).

Rnd 3: P0 (1:2), (yo, SSK, P2, K1tbl, P2) 4 times, yo, SSK, P0 (1:2).

Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.

Rnd 5: P0 (1:2), (K2tog, yo, P2, (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into next st, P2) 4 times, K2tog, yo, P0 (1:2). 46 (48:50) sts.

Rnd 6: P0 (1:2), (K2, P2, K5, P2) 4 times, K2, P0 (1:2).

Rnd 7: P0 (1:2), (yo, SSK, P2, SSK, K1, K2tog, P2) 4 times, yo, SSK, P0 (1:2). 38 (32:34) sts.

Rnd 8: P0 (1:2), (K2, P2, K3, P2) 4 times, K2, P0 (1:2).

Rnd 9: P0 (1:2), (K2tog, yo, P2, sk2po, P2) 4 times, K2tog, yo, P0 (1:2). 30 (32:34) sts.

Rnds 10–11: Rep Rnds 2–3.

Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 2.

SIZE

Size	1	2	3
To fit foot circumference	20½ cm	21½ cm	22½ cm
	8 in	8½ in	8¾ in
Actual foot circumference	18 cm	19 cm	20 cm
	7 in	7½ in	7¾ in
Length (cuff to heel)	15 cm	15.5 cm	16 cm
	6 in	6¼ in	6½ in

YARN

Cascade Yarns Heritage
(4-ply weight; 75% superwash Merino wool, 25% nylon; 400 m / 437 yds per 100 g ball)

Colour used:

• Cinnamon (5640) — 1 × 100 g skein.

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

• Set of 2.25 mm (UK 13 / US 1–2) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles 80 cm long for Magic Loop method.
• Cable needle (cn).
• Stitch holder or spare needle.
• 2 stitch markers.

TENSION

• 30 sts and 54 rounds = 10 cm over stocking stitch using 2.25 mm needles.
• 38 sts and 54 rounds = 10 cm over the main pattern using 2.25 mm needles.

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS

C2B: Slip 1 st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, K1; K1 from cable needle.

C2F: Slip 1 st onto cable needle and hold at front of work, K1tbl; K1 from cable needle.

How to Knit lace Toe-Up Socks 

How to Start Knitting lace Toe-Up Socks 

To knit lace toe-up socks, stitches are cast on using Judy’s Magic Cast-On method. 

SOCK TOE

Using 2.25 mm DPNs and Judy’s Magic Cast-On method, cast on 20 (24:24) sts.

Rnd 1: K10 (12:12), pm, K10 (12:12), pm for beg of rnd.

Rnd 2: *K1, M1R, knit to 1 st before next marker, M1L, K1, slm; rep from * to end. 4 sts increased.

Rnds 3–6: Rep Rnd 2 a further 4 times. 40 (44:44) sts.

Rnd 7: Knit.

Rnd 8: *K1, M1R, knit to 1 st before next marker, M1L, K1, slm; rep from * to end. 4 sts inc’d.
Rnd 9: Knit.

Rep Rnds 8 and 9 until you have 60 (64:68) sts [30 (32:34) instep sts and 30 (32:34) sole sts].

FOOT

Rnd 1: P1 (2:3), work Rnd 1 of Main Lace Pattern (Chart A), P1 (2:3), slm, knit to end, slm.

This round establishes the position of the lace pattern and stockinette stitch sole.

Cont in patt as established, repeating Rnds 1–24 of Main Lace Pattern until work measures 13 (14:15) cm less than desired foot length to back of heel.

GUSSET

Increases are worked on sole sts to create the gusset. Maintain pattern continuity on instep sts.

Rnd 1: P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern, P1 (2:3), slm, K1, M1R, knit to 1 st before end, M1L, K1, slm.
Rnd 2: P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern, P1 (2:3), slm, knit to end, slm.

Rep last 2 rnds until you have 88 (94:100) sts [30 (32:34) instep sts and 58 (62:66) sole/gusset sts].

HEEL TURN

Next rnd: P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern, P1 (2:3), slm.
You will now work back and forth in rows on the 58 (62:66) gusset sts.

Place the 30 (32:34) instep sts on a holder or spare needle, making sure to note which round of the Main Lace Pattern was worked last.

Row 1 (RS): K31 (33:35), SSK, K1, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 pwise, P5, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1 kwise, knit to 1 st before gap, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1 pwise, purl to 1 st before gap, P2tog, P1, turn.

Rep Rows 3 and 4 until 2 sts remain unworked at each end of the heel (2 sts rem on each side of the gap), ending after a WS row.

You will now resume working in the round on all sts.

Next rnd: Sl 1 kwise, knit to 1 st before gap, SSK, K1, slm, P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern as established, P1 (2:3), slm, K1, K2tog (using 1 st before the gap and 1 st after the gap). 2 sts dec’d.

Next rnd: Knit to 2 sts before next marker, SSK, slm, P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern, P1 (2:3), slm, K2tog, knit to next marker (at start of instep patt) to reset beginning of rnd, slm.

60 (64:68) sts [30 (32:34) instep sts and 30 (32:34) sole sts].

LEG

Rnd 1: P1 (2:3), work Main Lace Pattern, P1 (2:3), slm, P0 (1:2), work Back Lace Pattern (Chart B), P0 (1:2), slm.

This round establishes the position of the front and back lace patterns.

Cont in patt until 2 full repeats of the Main Lace Pattern have been completed, or until leg reaches desired length.

Note: You may repeat Rnds 1–4 of Back Lace Pattern until the front pattern (instep) aligns with the back pattern (that is, when Rnd 5 or Rnd 17 of Main Lace Pattern is worked simultaneously with Rnd 5 of Chart B).

CUFF

Note: You may remove the first marker on the next round, leaving only the beginning-of-round marker.

Next rnd: Purl.

Rib rnd: *K1tbl, P1; rep from * to end.

Rep Rib rnd until cuff measures 2 cm.

Cast off in rib using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off, or another stretchy bind-off method of your choice.

TO MAKE UP

Weave in all loose ends. Block to measurements, following the yarn care instructions on the ball band.

Conclusion

The “Don’t Forget The Lights” toe-up lace socks combine structure and delicacy in a timeless design. Once completed, they offer both comfort and visual appeal, making them a versatile addition to any wardrobe. With their flexible fit and refined lace detailing, these socks are a rewarding project that highlights both technique and creativity.

Read our other materials:

1. Socks with a Boomerang Heel Using the Wrap-and-Turn Method.
2. How to Knit Toe-Up Socks from Self-Striping Yarn with an Additional Cast-On for the Heel.