These gorgeous, variegated top-down socks feature a cluster of cables along the sides which can be modified to adjust the height of the socks. Customize the length and style of your socks by playing with the number of cable repeats.
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: XXS, XS S (M, L, XL)
Gauge: 36 sts and 45 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Life in the Long Grass Semi- Solid Sock /4ply; (100% merino; 450 yards [417 meters]/100 grams): Greenstone (1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s))
While 1 skein is plenty for small and medium, it is just enough for the large size. It would be prudent to have extra yarn if knitting the larger sizes to allow for variations in knitting style and therefore yardage.
Needles: US size 2 (2.5 mm): DPN or 100” circular or size need to get gauge
Notions: 4 Markers, tapestry needle, yarn holder or extra needle
Abbreviations
m-1r: Make 1 right leaning st; Make 1 st right leaning; Pick up bar between sts from the front with LN needle and K through back.
m-1l: Make 1 left leaning st: Make 1 st left leaning; Pick up bar between sts from the back with LN needle and K through front.
m1-pw: Make 1 purl-wise st: Pick up bar between sts from the back with LN needle and p through front.
ssk: Slip is knit wise, slip 1 st purlwise , sl back to LHN and knit through the back loop.
Special Stitches
Kitchener Stitch: Grafting
2X2 twisted rib: *P2, kt2bl; rep from * until end of rnd.
Twisted Double rib: *P2, k2tbl; rep from * until end of rnd.
T3F: Sl the next 2 sts onto CN and hold in front, p next st, then k 2 sts from CN.
T3B: Sl the next st onto CN and hold in back, k next 2 st, then p st from CN
T4F: Sl the next 2 sts onto CN and hold in front, p next 2 sts, then k 2 sts from CN.
T4B: Sl the next 2 sts onto CN and hold in back, k next 2 sts, then p 2 sts from CN.
C4F: Sl the next 2 sts onto CN and hold in front, k next 2 sts, then k 2 st from CN.
C4B: Sl the next 2 sts onto CN and hold in back, k next 2 sts, then k 2 st from CN.
2/1/2 FC: Sl next 3 sts on to CN and hold at Front, k next 2 sts, sl p st back to LH needle from CN and p, k 2 sts from CN.
Dec 5 sts to 1 (centre) st: Sl next three sts to RHN, pass 2nd st on RHN over the first (centre) st. Pass the centre st back to LHN and pass the next st over this st. Sl the centre st back to RHN again and sl the 2nd st over the this st. Sl centre st back to LHN and sl the next st over the centre st. Knit the centre st.
Cable Chart
Rnds 1-4: [P2, k2tbl] twice, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice. (23 sts)
Rnd 5: [P2, k2tbl] twice, p3, m1r, [k1, p1, k1] into next st, m1l, p3, [k2tbl, p2] twice. (27 sts)
Rnd 6: [P2, k2tbl] twice, p3, k2, p1, k2, p3, [k2tbl, p2] twice.
Rnd 7: P2, k2tbl, p2, T3F, T4B, p1, T4F, T3F, p2, k2tbl, p2.
Rnd 8: P2, k2tbl, p3, k4, p5, k4, p3, k2tbl, p2.
Rnd 9: P2, k2tbl, p3, C4B, p5, C4B, p3, k2tbl, p2.
Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 11: P2, T3F, T4B, T4F, p1, T4B, T4F, T3F, p2.
Rnd 12: P3, k4, p4, k2, p1, k2, p4, k4, p3.
Rnd 13: P3, C4F, p4, 2/1/2 FC, p4, C4F, p3.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 12.
Rnd 15: P1, T4B, T4F, T4B, p1, T4F, T4B, T4F, p1.
Rnd 16: P1, k2, p4, k4, p5, k4, p4, k2, p1.
Rnd 17: P1, k2, p4, C4B, p5, C4B, p4, k2, p1.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 16.
Rnd 19: P1, T4F, T4B, T4F, p1, T4B, T4F, T4B, p1.
Rnd 20: Rep Rnd 12.
Rnd 21: Rep Rnd 13.
Rnd 22: Rep Rnd 12.
Rnd 23: P2, T3F, T4F, T4B, p1, T4F, T4B, T3F, p2.
Rnd 24: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 25: Rep Rnd 9.
Rnd 26: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 27: P2, k2tbl, p2, T3B, T4F, p1, T4B, T3F, p2, k2tbl, p2.
Rnd 28: [P2, k k2tbl) twice, p3, dec 5sts to1st, p3, [k2tbl, p2] twice. (23 sts)
Rnds 29-33: [P2, k2tbl] twice, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice.
Pattern Notes
The socks are worked in the round from the top down, staring with a double rib before merging in to the cable design which incorporates closed loop. The socks can be ankle height, with one cable repeat or longer with 2, 3, or even more. The ribbing continues along the length of the sock for comfort and stretch before continuing into a ribbed heel, ribbed foot and shaped gusset and finishing with a grafted toe.
Pattern
Sock (Make Two)
CO 64 (68, 72, 76, 80, 84) sts. Join in the rnd, being careful not to twist the sts. PM to mark beginning of rnd.
Cuff
Work 2X2 twisted rib for 8 (8, 12, 12, 16, 16) rnds.
Leg
Next Rnd: K4, [p2, k2tbl] twice, p3, m1-pw, p3, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [p2, k2tbl] twice, p3, m1-pw, p3, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k6. (66 (70, 74, 78, 82, 86) sts)
Next Rnd: K4, [p2, k2tbl] twice, p7, [ktbl2, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [p2, ktbl2] twice, p7, [k2, p2] twice, k6.
Cable Chart
Next Rnd: K4, [work appropriate row of chart], k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [work appropriate row of chart], k6.
Rep the last rnd 32 more times.
For sizes M, L and XL, rep the last 33 rnds once more. (66 (70, 74, 78, 82, 86) sts)
Remove marker.
Heel Flap
Row 1 (RS): K4, p2, k2tbl, p2, k2tbl, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl1, p1, k2, p2tbl, k2, p10, k2, p2tbl, k2, p2tbl, turn. (26 sts)
Leave rem 40 (44, 48, 52, 56, 60) sts on needles or place on needle holder.
Row 3: Sl1, k1tbl, p2, k2tbl, p2, k10, p2, k2tbl, p2, k2tbl, turn. (26 sts)
Rep last 2 rows, 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) more times.
Heel Shaping
Row 1 (WS): Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2: Sl1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Sl1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Work as previous two rows until all heel flap sts are incorporated, ending with a RS row, DO NOT TURN. (16 sts)
Instep Shaping – Set up
Rnd 1: PUK 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) sts, pm, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30) [p2, k2tbl] twice, p7, pm, puk 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) sts, k8. PM to mark new start of rnd. (78 (84, 90, 96, 102, 108) sts)
Rnd 2: K to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [p2, k2tbl] twice, p7, sm, k1, k2tog, k to end of rnd. (76 (82, 88, 94, 100, 106) sts)
Rnd 3: K to marker, sm, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [p2, k2tbl] twice, p7, sm, k to end of rnd.
Rep the previous two rows 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) more times until 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) sts rem. Remove markers.
Foot
Rnd 1: K10, p7, [k2tbl, p2] twice, k10 (14, 18, 22, 26, 30), [p2, k2tbl] twice, p7, k to end of rnd.
Continue in established pattern for 39 (43, 45, 47, 49, 51) rows or until the foot measures 16 (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) cm from back of heel.
Toe Shaping
Set up Rnd: K15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20), pm, k30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40), pm, k15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20). (60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) sts
Rnd 1: K to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1 ssk, k to 3 sts before next marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk, k to end. (4 sts dec’d)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rep the last two rnds 10 (11, 11, 12, 13, 14) more times in total until 20 (20, 24, 24, 24, 24) sts rem.
Knit to first marker. Remove markers
Rearrange sts so that the first 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 6) sts and last 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 6) sts of the rnd are on one DPN, while the middle 10 (10, 12, 12, 12, 12) sts are on another DPN. Hold the two DPNS parallel and graft the sts tog using Kitchener st.
Finishing
Weave in all ends and block to dimensions.