A pair of socks knit in reversed colours.
These socks are knit firmly at a tighter gauge than you would use for a sweater knit from the same yarn for better wear. The sock has a slip stitch ribbing pattern on the leg, and crossed stockinette stitch on the heel flap and a very square heel. The ribbed pattern continues down the instep while the foot is knit in stockinette stitch. AND, it has no gussets to decrease and no weaving of the toe is required. Optional: You may choose to do the foot in all stockinette stitch. This ribbing is chunky (and warm) and may not fit in tight shoes.
Don't be concerned if the leg of the sock looks "skinny". This rib really compresses when there is no foot in it, but will fit the average ladies leg quite comfortably. I used the solid colors of Wool- Ease for these socks. Not all Wool-Ease is created equal! The colors with "flecks" work up a tad heavier and a sock knit at 5 sts = 1" in these colors will fit a larger foot and still have a nice firm fabric. Experiment! I got rather wordy with these instructions so that someone not familiar with sock knitting can more easily understand the techniques.
Materials:
2 balls Wool-Ease or any DK weight yarn (I used Wheat Wool-Ease)
US Size 4 double pointed needles
Gauge:
11 sts = 2" in stockinette stitch
Pattern:
Cast on 52 sts divided on 3 dpn's as follows: Needle #1 - 16 sts, Needle
#2 - 20 sts, Needle #3 - 16 sts.
Work in k1, p1 rib for 1-1/2", increasing 3 sts evenly spaced on last rnd (1 stitch per needle) - 55 sts total.
Work leg in slip stitch rib pattern as follows:
Round 1: *K3, p2; repeat from * around.
Round 2: *K1, slip 1, k1, p2; repeat from * around. Note: Slip the
stitch as if to purl with yarn in back, where it already is.
Repeat last 2 rounds until leg measures 7" from cast on stitches. End with Row 1, working to within last stitch of round. SLIP LAST STITCH TO NEXT NEEDLE. This will allow the instep stitches to begin and end with p2.
Heel
Knit 14 sts and slip the remaining 4 sts onto next needle (instep needle),
turn. Slip 1, p13. Onto same needle, purl the next 14 sts. These are the
heel flap sts. With 3 sts remaining, slip 10 sts from instep needle to
this needle so that the instep sts are evenly divided.
Working on 28 heel flap sts only, proceed as follows:
Row 1 (rt side): Slip 1 (as if to knit); knit each stitch across row
THROUGH THE BACK LOOP. Note: This is not the traditional heel st of slip
1, k1. This is Crossed Stockinette Stitch.
Row 2: Slip 1, purl each stitch to end
Repeat these last 2 rows 8 times more, then work Row 1 once. You will end ready to work a wrong side row.
Turn Heel: Row 1: Slip 1, p16, p2tog, turn Row 2: Slip 1, k6, k2tog, turn
Row 3: Slip 1, p6, p2tog, turn Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until all sts are used up, ending with a right side row. You will have 8 sts left.
On same needle as heel stitches, pick up and knit 10 sts from loops along the side, knitting into the back of the sts (this twists the stitch and eliminates any looseness on this row), plus pick up and knit one more stitch at the intersection between 1st and 2nd needles.
With new needle, work in established rib pattern across instep sts. (This will be a row 2 of slip st pattern) With 3rd needle, pick up and knit one stitch from intersection, plus 10 sts along other side, knitting into the back of the sts. Knit 4 stitches from heel needle onto this needle. This brings the beginning of round right in the center of the heel sts.
Place the 2 sts you picked up at the intersections onto the instep needle. By picking up an extra stitch, you will eliminate a hole that often appears there. Now you will decrease away those stitches as follows: Knit across Ndl #1. On Ndl #2, p2tog, p1, *k3, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, p1, p2tog. Knit across Ndl #3.
Work even in established pattern as for leg of sock, having 2 purl sts at beginning and end of instep sts until sock measures approx. 2" less than wanted length. You should have 14 sts on 1st needle, 27 sts on 2nd needle and 14 sts on 3rd needle - 55 sts total.
On last round before toe, decrease 1 stitch on instep needle - 54 sts total.
Note: When doing the foot, I often distribute the sts more evenly between the 3 needles to make it easier to handle, putting markers where the instep sts begin. Remember to put them back on the instep needle before doing the toe though.
Toe
Round 1: Knit to within 3 sts of end of ndl #1, k2tog, k1. On ndl #2,
k1, ssk, k to within 3 sts of end of needle, k2tog, k1. On ndl #3, k1,
ssk, k to end.
Round 2: Knit even Repeat these two rounds until 26 sts remain, then work round 1 only, decreasing EVERY round, until 6 sts are left.
Cut yarn leaving a 6" end. Leaving the sts on the needles, take yarn through all sts twice, then pull needles out and darn in end on inside. When the weather gets cold, don't forget to wear your Ribbers.