These unisex socks hug the foot with a stitch pattern that combines cables and knit/purl texture.

Size

To fit foot circumference of 8 (9, 10)” [20.5 (23, 25.5) cm]

Shown in size 8” [20.5 cm]

Yarn

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (100% superwash merino; 405 yards [370 meters]/146 grams): My Blue Heaven, 1 (1, 1) ball

Note: Actual yarn usage will depend on the length of your foot. If you are making the largest size and/or have very long feet, you might need a second ball of yarn.

Needles

Size US #1 (2.25 mm): DPNs, two circulars, or one long circular for magic loop

Notions

One stitch marker; cable needle; darning needle for weaving in ends

Gauge

32 sts and 48 rnds = 4” [10 cm] in St st in the round after wet blocking.

Abbreviations
2/2 LPC: 2-over-2 left-crossing purl cable: slip two sts to cable needle and hold to front, purl next two sts, then knit the two sts held on the cable needle
2/2 RPC: 2-over-2 right-crossing purl cable: slip two sts to cable needle and hold to back, knit next two stitches, then purl the two sts held on the cable needle

Pattern Notes

These socks are worked in the round from the cuff down.

This pattern does not specify a particular needle number in the instructions because it may be worked using any type of needles for knitting in the round. Rather, you will need to be aware of which stitches form the front of the leg and the instep of the foot and which constitute the back of the leg, the heel, and the sole. For the leg, foot, and toe, the beginning of the round starts at the beginning of the stitches that form the front of the leg and instep. After the heel is turned and while the gusset stitches are being decreased, the beginning of the round moves temporarily to the middle of the sole. Once the gusset decreases are complete, the beginning of the round moves again to the beginning of the instep stitches.

Cuff

CO 64 (72, 80) sts and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist; pm to indicate beg of rnd.

Rnd 1: *K2, p2, rep from * to end.

Rep Rnd 1 until work measures 1” or 2.5 cm.

Purl one rnd.

Start Patterning

P0 (2, 0) work Rnd 1 of cable chart four (four, five) times, p0 (2, 0), k to end.

Cont patt as established, working cable pattern on the front of the leg [the first 32 (36, 40) sts)] and stockinette on the back of the leg [the last 32 (36, 40) sts]. Work Rnds 1-12 of cable pattern five times total. Remove beg-of-rnd marker.

Heel

The heel flap is worked flat over the last 32 (36, 40) sts (the plain Stockinette side) of the rnd as follows:

Row 1(WS): *Sl1p, p1, rep from * to end. Turn.

Row 2(RS): Sl1p, k to end. Turn.

Rep Rows 1 and 2 15 (17, 19) more times.

Heel turn

Row 1(WS): Sl1p, p18 (20, 22), p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 2(RS): Sl1p, k7, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 3: Sl1p, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 4: Sl1p, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.

Rep Rows 3 and 4 four (five, six) more times; do not turn after last rep of Row 4—20 (22, 24) sts on heel.

Gusset

Set-up rnd: Pick up and k17 (19, 21) sts along left side of heel flap, work across instep sts in patt (Rnd 1 of cable patt), pick up and k17 (19, 21) sts along right of heel flap, k10 (11, 12), pm to indicate temporary beg of rnd—86 (96, 106) sts.

Gusset decreases:

Rnd 1: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; work instep sts in patt; k1, ssk, k to end (2 sts decreased).

Rnd 2: K to instep, work instep in patt, k to end.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 ten (eleven, twelve) more times—64 (72, 80) sts.

Foot

Remove beg-of-rnd marker and k to instep; pm to indicate beg of rnd.

Work even (in cable pattern on instep and in St st on sole) until foot measures 2” or 5 cm less than total desired length.

Toe

Rnd 1: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of sole, k2tog, k1 (4 sts decreased).

Rnd 2: K all sts.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 eleven more times—16 (24, 32) sts.

Finishing

Place all instep sts on one needle and all sole sts on another. Break yarn and thread yarn needle with tail. Use Kitchener stitch to graft remaining sts. Bring yarn tails to inside and weave in ends, then trim. Block as desired.

About the Designer – Sarah Jordan

Sarah is a recovering sock addict living in Pittsburgh, Pa., in a house quickly being overcome by yarn and fiber. She blogs at paknitwit.blogspot.com, and you can find her full portfolio on ravelry.