Dad’s Dress Socks

Skill Level: Easy

Sizes: Men’s S (M, L)
Finished circumference: 7.5 (8, 8.5)”
Shown in size M

Gauge: 36 sts and 45 rnds = 4” square in staggered ridge stitch

Materials

Yarn:

 Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Nylon; 430 yards [393 meters]/100 grams): 6ns Douglas Fir, 1 (1, 2) skeins

Needles: US size 0 (2 mm): double pointed needles or 32” circular needle for magic loop

stitch marker

Notions: Tapestry needle

Stitch Guide

Staggered Ridge Stitch (worked in the round, multiple of 6 sts)

Rnd 1: *P3, k3; rep from * around.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rnd 3: *K3, p3; rep from * around.

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rep Rnd 1-4 for pattern

3×3 Ribbing (worked in the round, multiple of 6 sts)

Rnd 1: *K3, p3; rep from * around.

Rep Rnd 1 for pattern.

Stockinette Stitch (St st) (worked in the round)

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rep Rnd 1 for pattern.

Abbreviations

CO: cast on
k: knit
k2tog: knit two together (right leaning decrease)
m: marker
p: purl
rep: repeat
rnd: round
sl: slip
ssk: slip 2 sts each knit wise to left needle, insert tip of left needle into fronts of these two sts from left to right, knit these two sts together through back loops (left leaning decrease)
st(s): stitch(es)
wyib: with yarn in back
wyif: with yarn in front

Pattern

CO 66 (72, 78) sts.

Join for working in the round and place a marker.

Work 3×3 Ribbing until Cuff measures 2” from beginning.

Work Staggered Ridge Stitch until Leg measures 8.5” from beginning, ending after Rnd 2 or 4.

Sizes S and L only

Remove beginning of round marker, k1 (-, 1) st, place marker for new beginning of the round. This centers the instep pattern.

Heel Flap

Heel flap is worked over 34 (36, 38) sts.

Row 1 (RS): *Sl 1 pwise wyib, k1; rep from * across 34 (36, 38) sts, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 pwise wyif, p33 (35, 37) sts, turn.

Working back and forth on these 34 (36, 38) sts, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for a total of 34 (36, 38) rows.

There will be 17 (18, 19) chain selvedge sts.

Turn Heel

Row 1: Knit across 19 (20, 21) sts, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1 pwise wyif, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1 pwise wyib, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1 pwise wyif, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all Heel sts have been worked, ending p2tog if there are not enough sts to end p2tog, p1.

There will remain 20 (20, 22) Heel sts.

Heel Gusset

Knit across 10 (11, 11) Heel sts. Place marker for new beginning of the round.

K10 (11, 11), pick up and k18 (19, 20) sts along selvedge edge of heel flap, place marker;

work across 32 (36, 40) instep sts in pattern, place marker, pick up and k18 (19, 20) sts along selvedge edge of heel flap, k10 (11, 11) – 88 (96, 102) sts.

Rnd 1: K to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sl m, work across instep sts in pattern, sl m, k1, ssk, k to end – 2 sts dec’d.

Rnd 2: K to m, sl m, work across instep sts in pattern, sl m, k to end.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 66 (72, 78) total sts remain.

Foot

Work even in patterns (stockinette on the sole and Staggered Ridge stitch on the instep) until foot measures about 7 (7.5, 8)” from back of heel, or about 2” less than total desired length, ending after a Rnd 2 or 4.

Toe

Rnd 1: *K to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sl m, k1, ssk; rep from * once more, knit to end.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 32 (36, 38) sts remain.

Work Rnd 1 only until 16 (20, 22) sts remain.

Rearrange sts so that there are 8 (10, 11) sts on top and bottom of Foot.

Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail and graft Toe closed with Kitchener stitch.

Make second sock the same.

Finishing

Weave in ends and block.