Bo Peep

For Worsted Weight cast on 40(48)
For Dk/Sport Weight cast on 48(56)
For Fingering/Sock Weight cast on 64(72)

Note: Going forward the above directions will be noted as follows for all weights.

On one needle, Cast on 40(48, 56, 64, 72) loosely.

Once you determined your size and yarn weight, You may want to highlight or circle your patterns accordingly.

Now divide the cast on stitches evenly between 3 needles. And join using a knit stitch,

CUFF
Join needles using a knit stitch. On first needle start 1 x 1 Rib for 12 rows.

Add 4th needle, dividing stitches equally 10(12, 14, 16, 18) stitches on each needle.

LEG

Note: Pattern stitch is a multiple of 4 stitches in a 14 row repeat.

Continue knitting Rows 1 - 14 until measurement from your cast-on edge is 6" to 8" or your desired

leg length.

IMPORTANT...To start heel, end on Row 2, on Needle #3.

HEEL

Once you have the desired length of leg.... begin the heel on needle #4 or the needle to the right of the tail. On needle #4, Slip the first stitch, knit 1 stitch and repeat (Slip 1, K1) until the end.

Now continue in the same pattern of Slip 1, knit 1 from needle #1 onto the same needle(needle

#4). Resulting in 20(24, 28, 32, 36) stitches on the needle, going from four needles to three needles.

Turn work,on wrong side, slip first stitch and purl the remaining of the stitches. While we are working on the heel it is IMPORTANT to always slip the first stitch of each row.....this will help us to form the gusset/ankle. Turn work, on right side, Slip, knit repeat to end. Continue for a total of 19(21,25,31,33) rows.

TURNING THE HEEL

The following instructions will seem quirky, this is where the ounce of trust comes in... but if followed carefully will be fun....just take one step at a time.

Row 1: Wrong side row: Purl (no need to slip the first stitch) to two stitches beyond the center then p2tog (purl 2 stitches together as one), p1

Now TURN work to start next row.....and trust it will be OK.

Row 2: Slip 1, K5, k2tog, k1 TURN

Row 3: Slip 1, P6, p2tog, pi TURN

Continue in this pattern until you are left with 12(14, 16, 18, 20) stitches on your needle for your turned heel.

Pick up 10(12, 14, 16, 18) stitches evenly along heel. Inserting your needle under both sides of the slipped stitch.

Now pick up 10(12,14, 16, 18) stitches evenly along heel. I like to start this side in the stitch between the leg and the heel to prevent a hole from forming and using the slipped stitches for the remainder of the picked up stitches.

Now you have stitches on 4 needles again. But we need to re-position them slightly.

From your short row heel, knit half of the stitches onto the same needle that you just picked up the stitches to form the gusset/ankle.

Next, slip purlwise the remaining stitches onto the first needle where you picked up stitches.

Guess what....we are now back to our 4 needle positions

Needle #1 is once again lined up to the left of the tail and the bottom of the heel, Needle #4 is to the right of the heel and the bottom of the heel. Needles #2 & #3 are the top of the foot.

TIP Give the first stitch on needle #1 an extra tug to insure no gaps form along the bottom of the foot.

Starting with needle #1 knit across needles #1 & 4, and in pattern on needless #2 & 3 (row #2 of pattern) one time.

Now we will begin the decreases to form the gusset/ankle. We will decrease every other row, so you may want to use your counter to keep track. Decrease on odd number rows and work even on even number rows.

Row 1 : on needle #1, knit until last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1, then knit in pattern (Row 4) across needles #2 & #3,... on needle #4, k1, ssk, knit till end. Note: ssk is slip 2 stitches(one at a time) knitwise onto working needle, then insert left hand needle into stitches and knit together. This is a directional decrease that makes your sock look nicer. Row 2: work even on needles #1 & #4 while following in pattern on needles #2 & #3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until needles #1 & #4 have 10(12, 14, 16, 18) stitches remaining.....while

staying in pattern for needles # 2 & 3.

You will begin to see the gusset/ankle take shape.

FOOT

Knit even until foot measures an average of between 7" - 8" from heel depending on your foot size or length needed based on the size of your shoe.

TOE

Now we will begin to decrease the sides between the top and the bottom of the foot forming the toe.

Row 1 Needle #1: knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle #2: knit 1, ssk, knit remaining stitches Needle #3: knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle #4: knit 1, ssk, knit remaining stitches

Row 2 Knit even across all 4 needles.

Continue until all needles have 5(5,6,6,7) stitches on each of them.

Combine stitches on needle #4 and #1 by knitting across needle #1 leaving a total of 10(10, 12, 12, 14) stitches on one needle.

Slip purlwise the stitches from needle #2 to needle #3 leaving a total of 10(10, 12, 12, 14) stitches on one needle.

Now all stitches should be evenly on two needles.

For a Seamless Toe, I recommend the kitchener stich to close the toe opening. Then weave in ends.

For more pattens by Krista

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