Traveling Vines features zig-zagging rows of slipped stitches that cover the fronts and run up the sides of these royal purple socks. These socks can be made in three different sizes to suite any sized feet.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Small = (60 sts), 8.5” around; Medium = (70 sts), 9.25” around; Large = (80 sts), 10” around
Gauge: 32 sts x 46 rows = 4” in stockinette
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Heritage (75% merino, 25% nylon; 437 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): #5633 Italian Plum (1 skein)
Needles: US size 1 (2.25 mm) 32” (80 cm) circular needles
Notions: Two locking stitch markers (for gusset decreases), tapestry needle
Abbreviations
S1P: Slip 1 st as if to purl
S1K: Slip 1 st as if to knit
Pattern
CO 60 (70, 80) sts using a knitted cast on, splitting the number of stitches in half and placing half of the stitches on each needle (for medium size only: you will want to adjust to 40 sts on Needle 1 and 30 sts on Needle 2). Join in the round, being careful not to twist, and make sure you are working on the front needle (Needle 1). Needle 1 will become the heel stitches; Needle 2 will become the instep stitches.
Work in ribbing for 1”-1.5” as follows:
Small & Large Sizes: 2×2 ribbing – *K2tbl, P2*.
Medium Size: 3×2 ribbing – *P2, K3tbl*.
Knit one round.
Work 4-6 repeats of the following stitch pattern (or see chart to the right), ending after round 16.
Stitch Pattern
Worked over 10 sts:
Rnd 1: *K1, K2tog, K4, YO, K1, YO, SSK*.
Rnd 2 (and all even rounds): Knit around.
Rnd 3: *K1, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K1, SSK*.
Rnd 5: *K1, K2tog, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, SSK*.
Rnd 7: *K1, K2tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K3, SSK*.
Rnd 9: *K1, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, K4, SSK*.
Rnd 11: *K1, K2tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K3, SSK*.
Rnd 13: *K1, K2tog, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, SSK*.
Rnd 15: *K1, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K1, SSK*.
Rnd 16: Knit around.
Heel Flap Set-Up
Size Medium Only
On round 16 of the last pattern repeat before starting the heel flap, you will adjust so you have 34 sts on Needle 1 by moving the last 3 sts from Needle 1 to Needle 2, knit across Needle 2 (to finish round 16), and continue by knitting the first 3 sts from Needle 1 onto the end of Needle 2. You should have 34 sts on Needle 1 and 36 sts on Needle 2.
Heel Flap
All Sizes
The heel flap is worked flat over 30 (34, 40) sts on Needle 1 (let Needle 2 hang with the rest of the sts – this will become the instep).
Row 1 (RS): S1P, P2, *K1, S1K* to last three sts, K3.
Row 2 (WS): S1P, K2, P to the end.
Row 3: S1P, P2, *S1K, K1* to last three sts, K3.
Row 4: S1P, K2, P to the end.
Repeat 8x, ending ready to work a RS row.
Heel Turn (starting with a RS row)
Row 1: S1P, K17 (19, 22), SSK, K1, TURN.
Row 2: S1P, P7 (7, 7), P2tog, P1, TURN.
Row 3: S1P, K8 (8, 8), SSK, K1, TURN.
Row 4: S1P, P9 (9, 9), P2tog, P1, TURN.
Row 5: S1P, K10 (10, 10), SSK, K1, TURN.
Continue working in this manner, adding one more stitch, until all stitches have been worked, ending after a WS row.
S1P, K across the next row (beginning of Round 1).
Heel Gusset Decreases Set-Up
Place SM at the end of the heel, turn.
Using Needle 2, pick up 17 sts (all those S1P from the heel flap, plus an extra stitch to close the inevitable hole) and knit them onto Needle 1.
Medium Size Only (Needle 2)
K3, [work round 1 of stitch pattern], K3 (each round of the medium size will have a K3 at the beginning and end of Needle 2 until the toe decreases).
Small & Large Sizes (Needle 2)
Work Round 1 of stitch pattern.
New beginning of round: Using Needle 1, pick up and knit 17 sts and place SM after those sts, continue knitting across Needle 1. Continue working Round 2 in pattern on Needle 2 (medium size, don’t forget the K3 at the front and back of Needle 2), slipping SM as needed.
Gusset Decreases – Part I
(On Needle 1, starting on round 3 and every odd numbered round; work Needle 2 in pattern)
Rnd 1: K to first SM, slip SM, SSK, K to 2 sts before next SM, K2tog, slip SM, K rest of Needle 1; work Needle 2 in pattern.
Rnd 2: Work even round (K around).
Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 2 sts remain between the SMs, ending after an even numbered round. Remove SMs.
Gusset Decreases – Part II
(On Needle 1, odd numbered rounds; work Needle 2 in pattern)
Count your stitches on Needle 1. You will want 30 (34, 40) sts (or your preferred amount) when you are completely finished with your gusset decreases. To get to that point, on each side of Needle 1, count inwards 14 (15, 19) sts and place SM or, if you prefer a tighter or looser fit on your foot, divide the number of stitches you want in half, take away one, and count inward that amount and place your SM.
K to first SM, slip SM, SSK, K to 2 sts before next SM, K2tog, slip SM, K rest of Needle 1; work Needle 2 in pattern.
Work even round (K around).
Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 2 sts remain between the SMs, ending after an even numbered round. Remove SMs. You should now have your preferred number of stitches on Needle 1: 30 (34, 40).
Foot
Work Needle 1 in stockinette and Needle 2 in continuing pattern until approximately 1.5” from the end of your toes (about where your toes begin), ending after round 6 or round 14.
Toe Decreases
Note: If you need to “even up” the sts on your needles, this is where you do it (i.e., if you wanted a tighter or looser fit on your foot)
You will decrease on every other round as follows, in stockinette, starting with Needle 1:
[K1, K2tog, K til last 3 sts on needle, SSK, K1] x2.
Knit around.
Repeat 1 & 2 until your toe is covered (~ 1.5”).
Kitchener stitch the toe closed.
Finishing
Weave in all ends on the inside. Wash. Dry. Wear.