Loopty Loo is a whimsical sock pattern reminiscent of the vintage children’s song, “Here we go high, here we go low.” Contrasting loops are knit in the stranded colorwork method with a cheerful stripe pattern made of five colors of yarn. This pattern is knit in sock weight yarn, top down with an afterthought heel.
Time: 2 Week Project
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: Adult medium – 8” foot circumference
Gauge: 38 sts and 40 rnds = 4” [10 cm] in stranded St st
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ReFine (100% recycled materials; 75% superwash Merino wool, 20% nylon, 5% Viscose; 503 yards [460 meters]/100 grams): 06 Ecru (MC, 1 skein), 16 Rooibos Tea CC1 1 skein), 19 Heathered Rose (CC2, 1 skein), 12 Deep Lagoon (CC3, 1 skein), 11 Caribbean Blue (CC4, 1 skein), 15 Golden (CC5, 1 skein)
Approximately 25 g (125 yds) needed for MC and 10 g (50 yds) for each contrasting color.
Needles: US size 1.5 (2.5 mm) dpns or size to obtain gauge
Notions: Stitch markers, waste yarn for afterthought heel, stronger yarn for closing heel and toe, tapestry needle
Downloads
Pattern Notes
The sock is worked in the round from the cuff down with an afterthought heel. This pattern is knit in the stranded knitting method from charts. Stranded knitting is not stretchy. Catch floats every 3-4 stitches, being careful not to pull floats too tight. The main color of the sock is the dominant color. If you want a tighter cuff, use US 1 (2.25mm) dpns before switching to US size 1.5 for sock. As written, the foot is 8.5” long. If you want it shorter, eliminate rnds 98-107 and knit additional rows in toe color (if needed) until desired length before decreasing.
Pattern
With A, CO 72 sts using the German Twist cast-on or another stretchy cast-on.
Divide stitches evenly onto 3 dpns, join to work in the rnd making sure not to twist.
Cuff
Rnds 1-12: [K1, p1] around.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Sock
Chart 1 and 2 are repeated 9 times around sock.
Carry MC up on contrasting knit rows.
Rnds 1-9: With CC1 and MC, knit Chart 1.
Break CC1 leaving an 8” tail.
Rnds 10-11: With MC knit.
Rnds 12-20: With CC2 and MC, knit Chart 2.
Rnd 21: With CC2, Knit.
Break CC2 leaving an 8” tail.
Rnd 22: With CC3, knit.
Rnds 23-32: Repeat rnds 1-11 with CC3 and MC.
Rnds 33-42: Repeat rnds 12-21 with CC4 and MC.
Break CC4 leaving an 8” tail.
Rnd 43: With CC5, knit.
Rnds 44-52: Repeat rnds 1-9 with CC5 and MC.
Rnd 53: With MC, knit.
Placement of Afterthought Heel
Distribute sts onto 3 needles as follows: 36 sts on Needle 1, 18 sts on Needle 2, 18 sts on Needle 3.
Rnd 54: With waste yarn and leaving a 6” tail, k 36 sts. Turn. P 36 sts. Turn. K 36 sts.
Break waste yarn leaving a 6” tail.
Return to the beginning of Needle 1, with MC, knit to end.
Redistribute 24 sts onto each of the 3 needles.
Foot
Rnds 55-64: Repeat rnds 12-21 with CC1 and MC.
Break CC1 leaving an 8” tail.
Rnd 65: With CC2, knit.
Rnds 66-75: Repeat rnds 1-11 with CC2 and MC.
Rnds 76-85: Repeat rnds 12-21 with CC3 and MC.
Break CC3 leaving an 8” tail.
Rnd 86: With CC4, knit.
Rnds 87-97: Repeat rnds 1-11 with CC4 and MC.
Rnds 98-107: Repeat rnds 12-21 with CC5 and MC.
Break CC5 and MC leaving an 8” tail.
Toe
Evenly distribute sts onto 4 needles (18 sts on each)
Rnd 1: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 2: On Needle 1, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts before end of Needle 2, k2tog, k1. On Needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts before end of Needle 4, k2tog, k1. (4 sts decreased)
Repeat last 2 rnds until 32 sts remain.
Place 16 sts on each needle. Close opening with Kitchener stitch.
Afterthought Heel
In the row directly below the waste yarn and working right to left, with Needle 1, pick up the right leg of each st across until you have 18 sts. Continuing across with Needle 2, pick up the right leg of each st until you have 18 sts. Turn sock. In the row directly below the waste yarn and working right to left, with Needle 3, pick up the right leg of each st across until you have 18 sts. Continuing across with Needle 4, pick up the right leg of each st until you have 18 sts. (72 sts)
Remove the waste yarn between the needles.
Rnd 1: With CC4, knit, picking up 1 st at each side of sock on Needles 2 and 4. (74 sts)
Rnd 2: On Needle 1, k 1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts before end of Needle 2, k2tog, k 1. On Needle 3, k 1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts before end of Needle 4, k2tog, k 1. (4 sts decreased)
Rnd 3: Knit
Repeat last 2 rnds until 38 sts remain.
Place 19 sts on each needle. Close opening with Kitchener stitch.
Finishing
Using yarn tails, close small holes at corners of heels. Weave in all ends. Wet block to shape.