Step into Love Socks

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Small (Medium, Large) to fit 6¾ (7¾, 8¾)” foot and ankle circumference

Shown in size Medium.

Gauge: 36 sts and 44 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st, blocked.

Materials

Yarn:

 Knit Picks Stroll Tonal (75% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon; 462 yards [422 meters]/100 grams): Gypsy, 1 skein

Needles: US size 1½ (2.5 mm): circulars or DPNs.

Notions: Stitch marker (optional); tapestry needle.

Abbreviations

co= cast on
bo= bind off
st(s)= stitch(es)                          
sl= slip
pm= place marker
lhn- left hand needle
rhn= right hand needle
sl1= slip 1 stitch purl-wise
wyif= with yarn in front
k= knit                                 
p= purl
ktbl= knit through the back loop
kfb= knit into the front of the stitch and then into the back of the stitch
k2tog= knit 2 sts together
ssk= slip two stitches as if to knit, one at a time, k2tog through the back loop

Special Stitches

Twist and Cable Stitches

RT (right twist) – Knit 2 sts together, leave the 2 sts on the left-hand needle. Insert the right-hand needle between the 2 sts and knit into the first st again. Slip both sts off the left-hand needle.

LT (left twist) – Place the right-hand needle behind your work, skip the first st on the left-hand needle. Knit the second st tbl. Leave sts on the left-hand needle, insert the right-hand needle into the backs of the skipped st and the ktbl st and k2tog tbl.

C4F – Sl 2 sts to cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn.
PC2B – Sl 1 st to cn, hold in back, p1, p1 from cn.
PC2F – Sl 1 st to cn, hold in front, p1, p1 from cn.
RT-purl – Sl 1 st to cn, hold in back, k1, p1 from cn.
LT-purl – Sl 1 st to cn, hold in front, p1, k1 from cn.
3-st RPC – Sl 1 st to cn, hold in back, K2, p1 from cn.
3-st LPC – Sl 2 st to cn, hold in front, p1, k2 from cn.

Stitch Pattern

The written instructions are for the first half of the stitches.

For foot and leg in St st, work Rnd instructions followed by k28 (32, 36).

If you wish to have the pattern on the front and back of the leg, work Rnd instructions twice.

Rnd 1: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p6 (7, 8), k4, p6 (7, 8), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 2: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p6 (7, 8), fc, p6 (7, 8), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 3: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p6 (7, 8), k4, p6 (7, 8), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 4: P1, RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p5 (6, 7), 3-st RPC, 3-st LPC, p5 (6, 7), RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1.
Rnd 5: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p5 (6, 7), k2, p2, k2, p5 (6, 7), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 6: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p4 (5, 6), 3-st RPC, p2, 3-st LPC, p4 (5, 6), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 7: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p4 (5, 6), k2, p4, k2, p4 (5, 6), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 8: P1, RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p3 (4, 5), 3-st RPC, p4, 3-st LPC, p3 (4, 5), RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1.
Rnd 9: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p3 (4, 5), k2, p6, k2, p3 (4, 5), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 10: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p2 (3, 4), (3-st RPC) twice, (3-st LPC) twice, p2 (3, 4), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 11: P1. k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p2 ( 3, 4), k2, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2 (3, 4), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 12: P1, RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1 (2, 3), (3-st RPC) twice, p2, (3-st LPC) twice, p1 (2, 3), RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1.
Rnd 13: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1, k2, p4, k2, p1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 14: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k1, LT-purl, 3-st LPC, p2, 3-st RPC, RT-purl, k1, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 15: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), (k1, p1) twice, k2, p2, k2, (p1, k1) twice, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 16: P1, RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1 (2, 3), k1, p1, LT-purl, 3-st LPC, 3-st RPC, RT-purl, p1, k1, p1 (2, 3), RT, p1 (2, 3), LT, p1.
Rnd 17: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k1, p2, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), K2, p1.
Rnd 18: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), LT-purl, RT-purl, p1, C4F, p1, LT-purl, RT-purl, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.
Rnd 19: P1, k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p2 (3, 4), PC2F, p2, k4, p2, PC2B, p2 (3, 4), k2, p1 (2, 3), k2, p1.

Rep Rnds 4-19 for patt.

Pattern Notes

The pattern is written for DPNs referring to Needles 1-4.

You can accommodate it for Magic Loop or 2 circulars by in the beginning using the front for Needles 1 and 2 and the back for Needles 3 and 4.

Pattern

Toe

Using a toe up cast on of your choice (I prefer Judy’s Magic Cast-On), CO a total of 28 (32, 36) sts. Divide sts evenly on the needles. If using DPNs, you may need to move sts from needle to needle from time to time to accommodate the Stitch Pattern. Place a stitch marker to note the beginning of the round.

Note: Needles 1 and 2 are the top of the toe sts. Needles 3 and 4 are the bottom of the toe sts.

Set-up Rnd: Knit all sts on each needle.

Rnd 1: Needle 1: Kfb, k to end of needle.

Needle 2: k to 2 sts before end of needle, kfb, k1.
Needle 3: kfb, k to end of needle.
Needle 4: k to 2 sts before end of needle, kfb, k1 – 4 total sts inc’d this rnd.

Rnd 2: Knit all sts on each needle.

Rep Rnds 1-2, 6 (7, 8) more times – 56 (64, 72) sts.

If you prefer a more pointed toe, CO fewer sts, work more rnds until you have increased to 56 (64, 72) sts.

If you prefer a different toe, by all means, work your toe of preference until you have the desired amount of sts.

Foot

Once you have reached 56 (64, 72) sts, begin working the foot.

Needles 1 and 2 will be the top of the foot (working the Stitch Pattern) and Needles 3 and 4 will become the sole sts (working in St st).

Begin working the Stitch Pattern from the charts or written instructions.

Work Rnds 1-19 once, then rep Rnds 4-19 for the rem of the sock.

Cont working the foot as est until the piece meas 2½” shorter (LESS) than the desired finished foot length.

Gusset

In this section, Needles 1 and 2 will cont the sock in the Stitch Pattern up the foot and towards the front of the leg. Needles 3 and 4 will be increasing and forming the gusset on the sole of the foot working towards the heel of the sock.

Rnd 1:

Needles 1 and 2: Cont working next rnd in Stitch Pattern as est.
Needle 3: kfb, k to end of needle.
Needle 4: k to 2 sts before end of needle, kfb, k1.

Rnd 2:

Needles 1 and 2: Cont working in Stitch Pattern as est.
Needles 3 and 4: k all sts.

Rep these 2 rnds until there are 48 (56, 64) total sts on Needles 3 and 4.

Turning the Heel

Once you have reached 48 (56, 64) sts, begin turning the heel.

Work over Needles 1 and 2 once (top sts). Cont working back and forth over Needles 3 and 4 turning the heel.

Note: Make special of note the last Rnd worked in Stitch Pattern, as you will cont working that same rnd once the heel has been turned.

Row 1: (RS) k27 (31, 35), ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: (WS) Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1, k to 1 st before the gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl1, p to 1 st before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Rep Rows 3-4 there are 28 (32, 36) total sts rem on Needles 3 and 4.

Leg

Resume working on all 4 needles, paying careful attention as to working the rest of the same row in pattern where you left off to turn the heel.

The sample is shown with the pattern on both the front and the back of the sock. You can make this sock as simple or as detailed as you would like.

If you wish to keep the back of the leg in St ste, keep working the pattern as you were.

If you wish to have the Stitch Pattern on the back and front of the sock, start working the back of the sock, repeating the same rnd that you knit over Needles 1 and 2 before working the gusset and then after that working the Stitch Pattern twice.

Either way you choose to do the leg, you may need to pick up a stitch on either side to close up any holes there may be, remembering to k2tog or ssk with an end st to maintain the correct st count.

Work leg until meas 1½-2” less than the entire desired length of the sock.

Knit 1 rnd.

Cuff (Ribbing)

Small: *P1, (k2, p2) 6 times, k2, p1; rep from * once more.

Medium: *P1, (k2, p2) 7 times, k2, p1; rep from * once more.

Large: *P1, (k2, p2) 8 times, k2, p1; rep from * once more.

Rep Cuff pattern for 1½-2”.

Finishing

Bind off all stitches in pattern using a stretchy bind-off.