Secret Admirer Socks

Skill Level: Advanced

Size: S (M, L, XL); see schematic for details

Gauge: 32 sts and 42 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

 Life in the Long Grass Semi-Solid Sock (100% merino; 450 yards [417 meters]/100 grams): Winter Sea (1 (1, 2, 2) skeins)
Needles: US size 2 (2.5 mm) DPNs or 100” circular needles for magic loop
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
ssk: Slip is knit wise, slip 1 st purlwise , sl back to LHN and knit through the back loop.
K2tog–tbl: Knit 2st together through the back loop
P2tog–tbl: purl 2st together through the back loop

Special Stitches

Kitchener Stitch: Grafting
Twisted Double Rib: *k2tog-tbl, p2; rep from * to end of rnd.

Pattern Notes

The socks are knit in the round from the top down. They start with a Twisted Double Rib cuff and flow into a “secret” moss stitch heart. There is ribbing along the leg for comfort and stretch before continuing into a slip stitch heel, ribbed foot with a mock cable and shaped gusset before finishing with a grafted toe. 

Pattern

Sock (Make Two)

CO 72 (76, 80, 84) sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist the sts.
Work 8, (12, 16, 16) rnds in Twisted Double Rib.
Set-up Rnd: [K2tbl, p2] twice; k9, m1, k9, [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, k9, m1, k9, [p2, k2tbl] twice; p2. (74 (78, 82, 86) sts)
Work 11, (13, 15, 17) rnds total in est pattern.

Heart Motif

Next Rnd: [K2tbl, p2] twice; work appropriate row of Heart chart, [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, work appropriate row of Heart chart, [p2, k2tbl] twice; p2. (74 (78, 82, 86) sts)
Work the next 22 rnds as previous row.
Next Rnd: [K2tbl, p2] twice; k19, [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, k19, [p2, k2tbl] twice; p2. (74 (78, 82, 86) sts)
Work 11 (13, 15, 17) more rnds in est pattern. 

Heel Flap

Row 1 (RS): [K2tbl, p2] twice, k6 (7, 8, 9), turn work. (14 (15, 16, 17) sts)
Row 2 (WS): Sl1, p5 (6, 7, 8), [K2, p2tbl] 4 times, k2, p6 (7, 8, 9), turn work. (30 (32, 34, 36) sts)
Row 3: Sl1, k5 (6, 7, 8), [K2tbl, p2] 4 times, k2tbl, k6 (7, 8, 9), turn work. (30 (32, 34, 36) sts)
Place the rem unworked 44, (46, 48, 50) sts on holder.
Rep Rows 2-3, 14 (15, 16, 17) more times. 

Heel Shaping

Row 1 (WS): Sl1, p16 (17, 18, 19), p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 2 (RS): Sl1, k5, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 3: Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn work.
Row 4: Sl1, k7, ssk, k1, turn work.
Rep last 2 rows until all Heel Flap sts are incorporated, ending with a RS row. DO NOT TURN. (18 (18, 20, 20) sts) 

Instep

PUK15 (16, 17, 18) sts along side of Heel Flap, pm, k13 (12, 11, 10), [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, k13 (12, 11, 10) from Cuff, pm, PUK15 (16, 17, 18) sts along side of Heel Flap, k9 (9, 10, 10) from Heel. PM to mark beginning of rnd. (92 (96, 102,106) sts)

Shape Instep

Rnd 1 (Dec): K to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, k13 (12, 11, 10), sm, k1, ssk, k to end. (90, (94, 100, 104) sts)
Rnd 2: K to marker, sm, k13 (12, 11, 10), [p2, k2tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p2, k13 (12, 11, 10), sm, k to end.
Rep these 2 rnds 13 (13, 14, 14) more times until 64 (68, 72, 76) sts rem. Remove 2 markers marking Instep shaping.

Right Foot

Small (Medium, Large) Only
Rnd 1: K22, [p2, k2 tbl] 4 (5, 6) times, p2, k24. Updated 3/30/2023
Work 3 (7, 11) rnds as established.

All Sizes – Toe Chart
Rnd 1: K22, [p2, k2 tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, p1, k2tog, k1, m1-r, k22. (64, (68, 72, 76) sts)
Rnd 2: K22, [p2, k2 tbl] 4 (5, 6, 7) times, k2tog, k1, m1-r, k23.
Rnd 3: K22, work  row 15, (11, 7, 3 ) of right toe chart, k24.
Rep last Rnd 15, (19, 23, 27) more times total.
Next Rnd: K21, k2tog, k1, m1-r, k to end of rnd.
K0 (4, 8, 12) more rnds. (64 (68, 72, 76) sts)

Left Foot

Small (Medium, Large) Only
Rnd 1: K24, [p2, k2 tbl] 4 (5, 6) times, p2, k22. Updated 3/30/2023
Work 3 (7, 11) rnds as established.

All Sizes – (Toe Chart)
Rnd 1: K22, m1-l, k1, ssk, p1, k2 tbl, [p2, k2 tbl] 3 (4, 5, 6) times, p2, k22. (64 (68, 72, 76) sts)
Rnd 2: K23, m1-l, k1, ssk, k2 tbl, [p2, k2 tbl] 3 (4, 5, 6) times, p2, k22. (64 (68, 72, 76) sts)
Rnd 3: K24, work  row 15, (11, 7, 3 ) of  left toe chart, k22. This is toe chart not heart chart
Rep last Rnd 15, (19, 23, 27) more times total.
Next Rnd: K40 (44, 48, 52), m1-l, k1, ssk, k to end of rnd.
K0 (4, 8, 12) more rnds. (64 (68, 72, 76) sts) 

Shape Toe

Set-up Rnd: K16 (17, 18, 19), pm, k32 (34, 36, 38), pm, k16 (17, 18, 19).  (64 (68, 72, 76) sts)
Rnd 1 (Dec): 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. (60 (64, 68, 72) sts
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rep the last 2 rnds 10 (11, 12, 13) times total until 24 sts rem.
Knit to first marker.
Rearrange sts so that the first 6 sts and last 6 sts of the rnd are on one DPN, while the middle 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.