Looking for a way to add some interest to a pair of tall socks? Try a lace cuff with a lace panel that runs down the back of the sock!

Purchase the ad-free PDF of this pattern on Etsy here!

Design Story and Inspiration for This Lace Sock Knitting Pattern

I love designing socks and have designed several pair of ankle and standard-length socks but hadn’t dipped my toe (ha!) yet into taller socks, so I decided I was up for the challenge!

But to design just a standard pair of socks was not what I was looking to do, so I decided on this neat lace pattern that continues one section down the back of the sock! I really love the way they turned out and hope you do, too!

Yarn Options for our Tall Socks

Any fingering weight sock yarn that gets gauge will do for this pattern, but if you want this tonal effect try Knit Picks Muse Fingering. This yarn has a wonderful tonal effect and is great to work with. All of the colorways are amazing, but this one is Savvy Tonal (and I’m a huge fan of anything teal/aqua!!).

So feel free to grab a couple of skeins of sock yarn and get knitting! Note that I did not use much of the second skein so you will have quite a bit left over for another regular pair of socks or an ankle length pair.

Buy the ad-free PDF that includes a chart for the lace panel here!

Lace Panel Knee High Socks

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Knit Picks Muse Fingering, 2 skeins Savvy Tonal (100g/423yds)

Needles: One 9” circular needle, US size 2 (2.75mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

Style: Cuff to Toe

Finished Size: Small (Large), 7 (8) inch foot circumference to fit shoe size 4-8 (9-11)

Gauge: 32 sts and 40 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations:
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
Knit 2 Together (k2tog) – knit 2 stitches together
Slip, knit, pass over (skpo) – slip one stitch, knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over
Pass slipped stitch over (psso) 

Cuff Lace Pattern for Size Small (23 st repeat)

Rnd 1: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, skpo, p2, k3, (k1, p1); rep from *.

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: *(P1, k1) twice, k3, p2, k7, p2, k3 (p1, k1); rep from *.

Rnd 3: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, skpo, p2, k3, (k1, p1); rep from *.

Rnd 5: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k1, yo, skpo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2, k3, (k1, p1); rep from *.

Rnd 7: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, k2, p2, k3, (k1, p1); rep from *.

Repeat rounds 1-8 for cuff pattern.

Cuff Lace Pattern for Size Large (25 st repeat)

Rnd 1: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, skpo, p2, k3, (k1, p1) twice; rep from *.

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: *(P1, k1) twice, k3, p2, k7, p2, k3 (p1, k1) twice; rep from *.

Rnd 3: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, skpo, p2, k3, (k1, p1) twice; rep from *.

Rnd 5: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k1, yo, skpo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2, k3, (k1, p1) twice; rep from *.

Rnd 7: *(K1, p1) twice, k3, p2, k2, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, k2, p2, k3, (k1, p1) twice; rep from *.

Repeat rounds 1-8 for cuff pattern.

The highlighted portion above is the lace from the “Lace Panel Pattern Chart” that you will find at the end of this pattern.  One of the lace panels will continue down the back of the sock.

Lace panel pattern (Chart available in our free pattern library):

Rnd 1: P2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, skpo, p2.

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: P2, k7, p2.

Rnd 3: P2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, skpo, p2.

Rnd 5: P2, k1, yo, skpo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2.

Rnd 7: P2, k2, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, k2, p2.

Note: When you change from cuff lace pattern to lace panel, continue working the same round number as before (so if you ended on round 6 for the cuff, you will work round 7 of lace panel pattern).

Knit Knee High Socks Pattern

Sock Start

Cast on 92 (100) sts loosely.

Join. BOR

Cuff:

Rnds 1-4: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.

Work in cuff lace pattern stitch until 3.5” from cast on edge. 

Purchase the ad-free PDF of this pattern with a lace panel chart on Etsy here!

Calf Shaping Size SMALL ONLY:

Set up round: K2tog, k5, continue lace panel pattern over next 11 sts, k3, k2tog, (k15, k2tog) 4 times, k1 [86 sts].  Knit to beginning of lace panel pattern.  Stop.  Mark as BOR.

Decrease Round: Starting at BOR, work lace panel pattern, k1, k2tog, continue working until 3 sts before lace panel, ssk, k1. [84 sts]

For all other rounds besides decrease round, work lace panel pattern and knit to end.

Repeat decrease rnd every 5 rnds, 4 times. Then every 6 rnds, 9 times. [58 sts]

Calf Shaping Size LARGE ONLY:

Set up round: K2tog, k5, continue lace panel pattern over next 11 sts, k5, k2tog, k3, (k16, k2tog) 4 times – [94 sts].  Knit to beginning of lace panel pattern.  Stop.  Mark as BOR.

Decrease Round: Starting at BOR, work lace panel pattern, k1, k2tog, continue working until 3 sts before lace panel, ssk, k1. [92 sts]

For all other rounds besides decrease round, work lace panel pattern and knit to end.

Repeat decrease rnd every 5 rnds, 4 times. Then every 6 rnds, 10 times. [64 sts]

Both Sizes

Continue working in rnds until sock measures 12 (13)”. Work to 9 (11) sts before lace panel. Stop. Mark at BOR for heel sts.  

Heel Flap with Heel Stitch:

Slip heel sts onto needle shaft. 29 (32 sts).

Size SMALL ONLY

With RS facing,work back and forth as follows:

Row 1: *Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from * to last st, M1, k1.

Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to end.

Row 3: *Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from * to end.

Repeat rows 2-3 until 31 rows are complete. 

Dec Row: Sl 1 purlwise, p2tog, p to end. [2.25″]

Size LARGE ONLY

With RS facing,work back and forth as follows:

Row 1: *Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from * to end.

Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until 32 rows are complete. [2.25″]

Turn Heel (BOTH SIZES): 

Note: Sl 1 = slip 1 purlwise

Row 1: (RS) K 15 (18), ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 2 (5), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 3 (6), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Row 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 4 (7), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 5: (RS) Sl 1, k 5 (8), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Row 6: (WS) Sl 1, p 6 (9), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 7: (RS) Sl 1, k 7 (10), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Row 8: (WS) Sl 1, p 8 (11), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 9: (RS) Sl 1, k 9 (12), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Row 10: (WS) Sl 1, p 10 (13), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 11: (RS) Sl 1, k 11 (14), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Row 12: (WS) Sl 1, p 12 (15), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 13: (RS) Sl 1, k 13 (16), ssk. Turn.

Row 14: (WS) Sl 1, p 13 (16), p2tog. Turn.

15 (18) sts remain. 

Heel Gusset (Worked in St st)

Knit across heel stitches. With the tip of the needle, pick up 16 sts along the side of the heel. (heel section)

Pick up a stitch from the row below the first instep st to prevent a hole. [17 sts picked up]

Slide sts to cable, move instep sts to shaft. Knit across 29 (32) instep sts.

Slide instep sts onto cable being careful to keep separate from heel sts.

Pick up and knit a st from below the last instep st to prevent a hole. Pick up 16 sts along the side of the heel. [17 sts picked up]

Knit remaining heel section sts. [78 (84) total sts]

Slide all heel section sts onto cable and instep sts onto shaft. Knit across instep sts. BOR

Shape Gusset:

Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd)

Heel: K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts from end. K2tog, k1.

Instep: Knit.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 58 (64) sts remaining.

Foot:

Continue working in St st rnds until foot measures 7.5 (8.25)” from base of heel.

Complete instep sts. BOR

Shape Toe

Rnd 1:

Heel: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 

Instep: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 40 total sts remain. 

Work decrease rnd only until 16 sts remain. [8 instep sts, 8 sole sts]

Finishing

Slide sts from cable to needle shaft. Holding shafts together, graft sts using Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in ends.

Work second sock.

Final Thoughts on the Touch of Lace Sock Knitting Pattern

I hope you enjoy this free knitting pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it! These were knit by my wonderful sample knitter Amanda (I’m a super slow knitter and she is amazing at knitting socks!) and she did a terrific job!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda