Authors: Ann Budd
Rnd 1:
On Needle 1, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on Needle 2, k1, ssk, work to end; on Needle 3, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on Needle 4, k1, ssk, work to end—4 sts dec’d.
Rnd 2:
Work even.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 32 sts rem (8 sts on each needle). Rep Rnd 1 (dec every rnd) until 8 sts rem (2 sts on each needle).
Break yarn, thread tail through rem sts, pull snug to tighten, and fasten off. Weave in loose ends. Block lightly
from the Spring 2005 issue of
Interweave Knits
Erica Alexander
For Erica Alexander, handknitted socks top the list of life’s little pleasures. The leg and instep of these socks are ribbed and decorated with a single classic cable at each side. Although Erica worked all the cable crosses in the same direction in the pair at left, these instructions are for working the cables as mirror images on each side of the foot.
About 7" (18 cm) foot circumference and 10" (25.5 cm) foot length. To fit a woman.
Note:
To make these socks larger or smaller, use needles one or two sizes larger or smaller and lengthen or shorten the foot as necessary.
Fingering-weight yarn (CYCA #1 Super Fine).
Shown here:
Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton (45% cotton, 42% wool, 13% polyamide; 208 yd [190 m]/50 g): #47 green, 2 balls.
Upper leg—size 2 (2.5 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Lower leg and foot—size 1 (2.25 mm): set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Markers (m); cable needle (cn); tapestry needle.
16 stitches and 24 rounds = 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round on size 1 (2.25 mm) needles.
S
TITCH
G
UIDE
Cable Rib
Rnds 1–3:
*K2, p1; rep from *.
Rnd 4:
[K2, p1] 9 times, sl 3 sts onto cn and hold in front, k2, slip purl st from cn onto left needle and purl it, k2 from cn, p1, [k2, p1] 9 times, sl 3 sts onto cn and hold in back, k2, slip purl st from cn onto left needle and purl it, k2 from cn, p1.
Rnds 5–10:
*K2, p1; rep from *.
Repeat Rnds 1–10 for pattern.
Instep Rib
(worked over 34 sts)
Rnds 1–9:
[P1, k2] 11 times, p1.
Rnd 10:
P1, sl 3 sts onto cn and hold in front, k2, slip purl st from cn onto left needle and purl it, k2 from cn, [p1, k2] 7 times, p1, sl 3 sts onto cn and hold in back, k2, slip purl st from cn onto left needle and purl it, k2 from cn, p1.
Repeat Rnds 1–10 for pattern.
With size 2 (2.5 mm) needles, loosely CO 66 sts. Arrange sts evenly on 3 dpn, place marker (pm), and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Rep Rnds 1–10 of cable rib patt (see
Stitch Guide
) until piece measures 4" (10 cm) from CO. Change to size 1 (2.25 mm) needles and cont in patt as established until Rnd 4 of patt has been worked 10 times—94 rows of cable rib completed; piece measures about 8" (20.5 cm) from beg.
Work 29 sts in patt, turn work around, sl 1 pwise with yarn in front (wyf), p31—32 heel sts centered over back of leg; rem 34 sts will be worked later for instep (the sts at each side of the instep should be the purl st from the center of each cable). Work 32 heel sts back and forth in rows as foll:
Row 1:
(RS) *Sl 1 pwise with yarn in back (wyb), k1; rep from *.
Row 2:
(WS) Sl 1 pwise wyf, purl to end. Rep Rows 1 and 2 until a total of 32 rows have been worked, ending with a WS row—16 chain sts along each selvedge edge.
Work short-rows to shape heel as foll:
Row 1:
(RS) K18, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 2:
(WS) Sl 1 pwise wyf, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3:
Sl 1 pwise wyb, knit to 1 st before gap formed on previous row, ssk (1 st each side of gap), k1, turn.
Row 4:
Sl 1 pwise wyf, purl to 1 st before gap formed on previous row, p2tog (1 st each side of gap), p1, turn.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked—18 sts rem.
Pick up sts along selvedge edges of heel flap and rejoin for working in the rnd as foll:
Rnd 1:
With Needle 1, work 18 heel sts as sl 1, k17, then pick up and knit 18 sts along left side of heel flap; with Needle 2, work Rnd 1 of instep rib patt (see
Stitch Guide
) over 34 instep sts; with Needle 3, pick up and knit 18 sts along right side of heel flap, then knit the first 9 sts from Needle 1 again—88 sts total; 27 sts each on Needles 1 and 3; 34 instep sts on Needle 2. Rnd begins at center of heel.
Rnd 2:
On Needle 1, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog; on Needle 2, cont in instep rib patt; on Needle 3, ssk, knit to end—2 sts dec’d.
Rnd 3:
Work even in patt.
Rep Rnds 2 and 3 eleven more times—64 sts rem; 15 sts each on Needle 1 and Needle 3; 34 instep sts on Needle 2.
Cont even in patt (work instep patt on Needle 2; work St st on Needle 1 and Needle 3) until foot measures about 8" (20.5 cm) from back of heel, or 2" (5 cm) less than desired total length, ending with Rnd 2 of instep rib patt (2 rnds after last cable crossing rnd).
Knit 1 rnd, shifting the first st from Needle 2 onto Needle 1 and the last st from Needle 2 onto Needle 3—16 sts each on Needle 1 and Needle 3; 32 instep sts on Needle 2.
Rnd 1:
On Needle 1, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog; on Needle 2, ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog; on Needle 3, ssk, knit to end—4 sts dec'd.
Rnd 2:
Knit.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 seven more times—32 sts rem; 8 sts each on Needle 1 and Needle 3; 16 sts on Needle 2. Rep Rnd 1 (dec
every
rnd) 4 times—16 sts rem; 4 sts each on Needle 1 and Needle 3; 8 sts on Needle 2. With Needle 3, knit sts from Needle 1—8 sts each on 2 needles.
Cut yarn, leaving a 12" (30.5 cm) tail. Thread tail on a tapestry needle and use the Kitchener st (see Glossary,
page 123
) to graft sts tog. Weave in loose ends. Block lightly.
Ann Budd
For these handsome socks, Ann Budd used a diagonal cross pattern that is achieved by knitting a simple twist every other row. For mirror symmetry, the columns on one sock are knitted with a left-leaning stitch, while the other sock features a right-leaning stitch. The upper leg is worked on needles one size larger to accommodate the shape of the calf, a technique Ann borrowed from Pricilla Gibson-Roberts.
About 9" (23 cm) foot circumference and 10¼" (26 cm) foot length. To fit a man.
Note:
To make a woman’s size, use needles one or two sizes smaller and shorten the foot as necessary.
Fingering-weight yarn (CYCA #1 Super Fine).
Shown here:
Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn (75% washable wool, 25% nylon; 215 yd [197 m]/50 g): #SY41 dark carmel (rust), 2 balls.
Upper leg—size 3 (3.25 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn).
Lower leg and foot—size 2 (2.75 mm): set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
N
OTIONS
Marker (m); tapestry needle.
16 stitches and 19 rounds = 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round on size 2 (2.75 mm) needles.
With size 3 (3.25 mm) needles and using the old Norwegian method (see Glossary,
page 121
), CO 70 sts. Arrange sts as evenly as possible on 3 dpn, place marker (pm), and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
*K5, p2; rep from * to end. Rep the last rnd until piece measures 1" (2.5 cm) from CO.
Using Left Diagonal Cross Rib chart for first sock and Right Diagonal Cross Rib chart for second sock, rep Rnds 1–8 of chart until piece measures about 3½" (9 cm) from CO, ending with Rnd 8 of patt. Change to size 2 (2.75 mm) needles and cont in patt from chart until piece measures about 8" (20.5 cm) from CO, ending with Rnd 8 of patt.
K13, turn work around, sl 1 pwise with yarn in front (wyf), p33—34 heel sts approximately centered at back of leg; when viewed from RS, leg patt will be aligned over heel sts beg with k5 and ending with p1. Rem 36 sts will be worked later for instep. Work 34 heel sts back and forth in rows as foll:
Row 1:
(RS) *Sl 1 kwise with yarn in back (wyb), k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 2:
(WS) Sl 1 pwise with wyf, purl to end.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until a total of 34 rows have been worked—17 chain sts at each selvedge edge.
Work short-rows to shape heel as foll:
Row 1:
(RS) K19, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 2:
(WS) Sl 1 pwise wyf, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3:
Sl 1 kwise wyb, knit to 1 st before gap produced by previous row, ssk (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn.
Row 4:
Sl 1 pwise wyf, purl to 1 st before gap produced by previous row, p2tog (1 st from each side of gap), p1, turn.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked—20 heel sts rem.