Pattern Description from A Gathering of Lace: “The woods of Estonia are mostly birch and in the spring, they leaf out in a glorious green. Birch bark was used throughout northern lands to make shoes in past times and is still made into baskets. Bundles of birch branches are cut and used in the sauna to whisk oneself clean. I especially enjoy the custom of bringing a few birch branches inside in early spring where, placed in a vase with water, they leaf out, offering the promise of longer, warmer days after a dark and often snowy winter. These lacy socks were inspired by another pair that I discovered in a market in Tallinn, Estonia. Estonia has a long and very interesting tradition of knitting. The knitters of today are keeping the patterns and ideas of earlier days alive while inventing new patterns as well. I have seen many modern socks made with a ribbing at the back of the leg and an interesting lace or cable pattern down the front. This leafy lace pattern reminds me of birch leaves.”

Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished Measurements: Woman’s medium

Yarn: Schoolhouse Press Satakieli (3½oz/100g; 357yds/325m; wool) 1 skein Gray #901

Needles:
* Set of 5 double-pointed needles (dpn) in size 0 (2mm), or size to obtain gauge

Extras:

• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle

Blocked Gauge: 16 sts and 23 rnds to 2”/5cm in St st using size 0 (2.75) dpn.

Notes:

1. The needle diagrams show the arrangement of sts on the dpn. Red numbers indicate the first dpn of the rnd.
2. See Techniques, p. 162, for sl2og-k1-p2sso.