My love affair with socks started innocently enough. I dabbled here and there, and then the next thing I knew my sock yarn stash had outgrown all reasonable proportions and I was furtively knitting socks when I should have been doing housework.

The problem is: Socks are too easy to love. They are low commitment – you can try new techniques in small doses. If you knit one sock and move on to another pattern, the sock won’t nag you. They’ll accept you as you are. They don’t take up much room, are perfect travel companions, and can be exquisitely beautiful. If you need a little spice in your life? Socks are perfect for experimentation.

These socks combine a few spicy elements for the perfect sock love affair. Twisted stitches, lace, changing stitch counts, wrapped stitches, and the left sock is the mirror image of the right sock – a detail that keeps the spark alive on the second sock. Knit in the aptly named “Cookie’s Deep Dark Secret” colorway of one of my favorite yarns, the details show well in a solid dark color.

SIZE
One
This stitch pattern is quite stretchy and will accommodate a wide range of foot sizes.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Leg circumference: 8 inches, slightly stretched
Foot circumference: 8 inches, slightly stretched
Foot length: Adjustable to fit.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock [80% superwash wool, 20% nylon; 215 yd / 197 m per 2 oz skein]; color: Cookie’s Deep Dark Secret; 2 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set of 4 US #1/2.25mm double-point needles
OR
1 32 inch or longer US #1/2.25mm circular needle for magic loop method
OR
2 US #1/2.25mm circular needles

Notions
Tapestry needle
Cable needle

GAUGE
32 sts / 46 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
33 sts / 46 rounds = 4 inches in pattern stitch, slightly stretched

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Left and Right socks are mirror images of each other. Directions are the same for both unless otherwise indicated.

Slip stitches purlwise unless otherwise indicated.

Mark beg of round
If using circular needles, mark the beg of the round by placing a marker.
If using double pointed needles, mark the beg of the round by switching needles, so that beg of round occurs between needles.

Mark new beg of round
If using circular needles, remove beg of round marker and place it in the new position.
If using double-pointed needles, shift stitches from one needle to the other, so that new beg of round position is placed between needles.

Mark left-most/right-most point of foot
If using the magic loop method, mark side of foot by placing a loop.
If using more than one needle (circular or double-pointed), mark side of foot by switching needles, so that side of foot occurs between needles.

Mark new left-most/right-most point of foot
If using the magic loop method, pull the loop so that it is moved to the new position.
If using more than one needle (circular or double-pointed), shift stitches from one needle to the other, so that side of foot occurs between needles.

Wrap 2
Wrap yarn twice around 2 stitches as follows: Knit 2 stitches onto cable needle,  wrap yarn twice around these stitches by [bringing yarn to front of work between left needle and cable needle and wrapping yarn to back of work between cable needle and right needle] twice, then slip the 2 stitches from cable needle to right needle.

Wrap 3
Wrap yarn twice around 3 stitches as follows: Knit 3 stitches onto cable needle, wrap yarn twice around these stitches by [bringing yarn to front of work between left needle and cable needle and wrapping yarn to back of work between cable needle and right needle] twice, then slip the 3 stitches from cable needle to right needle.

Wrap 5
Wrap yarn twice around 5 stitches as follows: Knit 5 stitches onto cable needle, wrap yarn twice around these stitches by [bringing yarn to front of work between left needle and cable needle and wrapping yarn to back of work between cable needle and right needle] twice, then slip 5 stitches from cable needle to right needle.

Chart: Click for the Foot chart and the Leg Chart and chart key; each will print on a single letter-sized page.

DIRECTIONS

Ribbing round: [K1 tbl, p1] to end of round.
Work Ribbing as established for 1 inch (2.5 cm). 

Leg
As you work the leg, you will periodically shift over the beg of the round to recenter the patterning.

Shift beg of round 1 st to the left as follows: K1 tbl and mark new beg of round (see Pattern Notes).

Re-arrange sts on the needles so that you again have a multiple of 22 sts on each needle: If using double-pointed needles, slip the first st from the second and third needles to the end of the previous needle. If using two circular needles, slip the first st on each needle to the end of the previous needle. If using the magic loop method, shift each loop 1 st to the left.

Rounds 1-14: Work Leg chart 3 times around to end of round.

Shift beg of round 8 sts to the left as follows: [p1, k1 tbl] 4 times and mark new beg of round.

Re-arrange sts on the needles so that you can again have a multiple of 22 sts on each needle: If using double-pointed needles, slip the first 8 sts from the second and third needles to the end of the previous needle. If using two circular needles, slip the first 8 sts on each needle to the end of the previous needle. If using the magic loop method, shift each loop 8 sts to the left.

Repeat the above 14 rounds, followed each time by shifting the beg of round 8 sts to the left and re-arranging sts on needles as established, until sock measures 7 inches/18 cm from CO edge, ending with round 14 of Leg chart. Do not shift beg of round after last repeat.

Setup for heel, right sock only: K19.
Setup for heel, left sock only: K8.

Both socks: Place next 34 stitches on hold for top of foot; remaining 32 stitches (stitches just worked plus additional stitches from end of previous round) will be worked back and forth for heel flap.

Gusset round 1: K10, pick up and knit 1 st in each sl st along edge of heel flap plus 1 st between heel flap and top of foot, mark right-most point of foot (see Notes), work 34 held sts using appropriate – Left or Right – Foot Chart, mark left-most point of foot (see Notes), pick up and knit 1 st between top of foot and heel flap and 1 st in each sl st along edge of heel flap, k10 to end of round.

Gusset Round 2: Knit to 2 sts before right-most point of foot, k2tog, work in pattern as established to left-most point of foot, ssk, knit to end of round—2 sts decreased.

Gusset Round 3: Knit to right-most point of foot, work in pattern as established across instep to left-most point of foot, knit to end of round.

Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until 30 sole sts remain.

Foot
Continue in pattern as set, without further sole decreases, until foot measures no longer than 2 inches less than desired length from back of heel, ending with round 14 of charts. 64 sts.

Continue if necessary, knitting all sts until foot measures 2 inches less than desired length from back of heel. 

Toe
Setup for toe: K16, mark new right-most point of foot (see Notes), k32, mark new left-most point of foot (see Notes), k to right-most side of foot. This is the new beg of round.
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before left side of foot, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of round, k2tog, k1.  4 sts decreased.

Repeat last 2 rounds until 16 sts remain.

FINISHING
Cut yarn, leaving a 12 inch (30 cm) tail. With tail threaded on a tapestry needle, graft sole sts to instep sts.  Weave in all ends and block well.

Cookie A is a knitting addict living in Northern California. She is the author of Sock Innovation and the upcoming Knit. Sock. Love due out spring 2010.  She co-blogs on Knitters Anonymous and sells designs through her website.