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The Heather Sock Pattern was designed with a tonal solid sock Yarn in mind.....but would compliment any hand-dyed yarn. The sock design follows my
How to Knit Socks Class.
Heather is written in two sizes fitting an average & large foot. Pattern is written in the average size, with the large size in parenthesis ( ).
The instructions are divided into the parts of the sock: Cast-on, Cuff/Leg, Heel, Turning the heel, Gusset or Ankle, Foot, Toe and a Seamless Finish.
The stitches used: Knit, Purl, K2tog (knit two together), SSK (slip slip knit - a decrease similar to k2tog), slip stitch, YO (yarnover).
Optional: Row Counter (highly recommended)
CAST-ON
On one needle, cast on 64(72) stitches loosely. I have used a long-tail cast-on, but any cast on you are comfortable with will work.
Now divide the cast on stitches evenly between 3 eedles.
CUFF
Join Needles and Work in a 2 x 2 rib: *k2, p2.... repeat from * till end of row for 12 rows.
LEG
While working first row, add a fourth needle so stitches are divided evenly or 16(18) stitches on each needle.
Pattern for Average sized Sock
Row 1, 3, 5, 7: *((k2tog, yo) 4x), k8..... repeat from* till end
Row 2, 4, 6, 8: Knit
Row 9, 11, 13, 15: *k8, ((yo, k2tog) 4x)... repeat from * till end
Row 10, 12, 14, 16: Knit
Pattern for Large sized Sock
Row 1, 3, 5, 7: *((k2tog, yo) 3x), k6..... repeat from* till end
Row 2, 4, 6, 8: Knit
Row 9, 11, 13, 15: *k6, ((yo, k2tog) 3x)... repeat from * till end
Row 10, 12, 14, 16: Knit
Continue knitting
Rows 1 thru 16 until measurement from your cast-on edge to your desired length. I repeated the pattern 5 times.
HEEL
Once you have the desired length of leg....
The heel is worked on half of the overall stitches or 32(36)on one needle,
Slip the first stitch, knit 1 stitch and repeat or
Row 1: *(Slip 1, K1) repeat from * to end.
Turn work,on wrong side, Row 2: slip 1, purl the remaining stitches (on just that needle).
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 1, k1.... repeat from * to end. (This is Row 3)
Continue in this 2 row pattern for a total of 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 or 18(20) stitches.
then p2tog (purl 2 stitches together as one), and 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, p1 TURN
Continue in this pattern until you are left with 18(20) stitches on your needle for your turned heel.
If you would like more detailed instructions click here and scroll down
GUSSET/ANKLE
Pick up 16(18) stitches evenly along heel. Put your needle under both sides of the slipped stitch.
Pick up the last stitch or two in the stitches inbetween the heel and needle #2 to avoid having holes in your sock.
If you have a larger ankle and would prefer more ease in the ankle/gusset add 1 to 2 additional stitches to the picked up stitches to the gusset or 18(20) stitches.
Continue in pattern on needles #2 & #3,
Now pick up 16(18) stitches evenly along heel or for a roomier ankle, pick up 18(20) stitches.
I like to start this side in 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 position them slightly.
From your short row heel, knit 10(11) stitches onto the same needle that you just picked up the gusset or half of the stitches that were on the needle that held the heel turn stitches.
Next, slip purlwise the remaining stitches onto the first needle where you originally picked up stitches, which should also
now have the same number of stitches as needle #4.
Guess what....we are now back to our 4 needle positions
Needle #1 is once again lined up to the left the bottom of the heel, Needle #4 is to the right of the heel. Needles #2 & #3 are the top of the foot, and will remain in the pattern stitch used on the Leg.
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 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 across needles #2 & #3,... on needle #4, k1, ssk, knit till end. Note: ssk is slip 2 stitches knitwise (one at a time) onto working needle, then insert left hand needle into stitches and knit together.
This a directional decrease making your sock look nicer.
Row 2: work even or knit all stitches on needles #1 & 4, while continuing in pattern on Needles #2 & #3
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until needles #1 & #4 have 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 between 6" - 8" from heel depending on your foot size or 2" less than
total foot length.
Check out
Tips & Techniques for shoe size measurements.
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 6(7) stitches on each of them.
Combine stitches on needle #4 and #1 by knitting across needle #1 leaving a total of 14 stitches on one needle.
Slip purlwise the stitches from needle #2 to needle #3 leavin a total of 12(14) stitches on one needle.
Now all stitches should be evenly on two needles
For a Seamless Toe, I recommend the kitchner stich to close the toe opening.
For detailed instructions and pictures click this link and scroll to the bottom of the page.
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