Sometimes
I knit just for the sake of knitting, just swatches. I was doing
that, putting some cables here and there and making them twist
just to play, without any pattern. When I stopped and looked
at it, I instantly loved it so I decided to use a refined version
of the first design in something that would actually have some
use. That's how these socks were born.
I love to look at yarns that are very variegated. They are very
nice on the skein, but to knit with I usually prefer semisolids
-- yarns that have different shades of the same color.
With the creation of such a yarn in mind, I space dyed my roving
with different greens [see green sock below], shades
that were close to each other but not quite the same, then I
spun it very finely to get a 3 ply fingering yarn. I wanted to
make a navajo ply yarn because it's the technique that better
respects the sequence of colors of the roving, and I loved my
roving. When it was done, it felt like the perfect yarn for this
project. It has some subtle variegation that cheers up the stockinette
parts, but is not enough to overshadow the cable pattern.
SIZE SIZE
S [M, L], to fit foot circumference of 8[9, 10] inches. Shown in size M.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Leg length (adjustable): 17 cm/6.8 inches Leg and foot circumference (unstretched): 7.5[8.5, 9.5] Foot length: adjustable
to fit
MATERIALS
Fiber World
of Wool [70% superwash wool/ 30% nylon;
combed top]; color: undyed, I dyed it
myself in greens using acid dyes; 4 [4,
4] ounces
Finished Yarn: Wraps
per inch: 21 (final yarn) Yardage
used: 330m Plies:
3 ply (navajo ply) Drafting
method: short draw
Commercial Yarn Alternative Regia
4 ply color [75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide; 230yd/210m per 50g ball];
color: 01932, blue; 2 [2, 2] ball
Recommended needle size [always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below
-- every knitter's gauge is unique] 1
set US #1.5/2.5mm double-pointed needles OR 1
US #1.5/2.5mm circular needle for magic loop OR 2
US #1.5/2.5mm circular needles for two-circulars
Spinning Tool: Louet
S10 spinning wheel: single
drive, bobbin drive.
Tools Cable
needle Yarn
needle
GAUGE
30 sts/42 rounds = 4 inches in
stockinette stitch in the round
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
A great tubular cast on method is the long tail tubular cast
on, explained by Ysolda Teague here.
Charts
The charts for this pattern are very
large. Each fits on a letter-sized
page. Click below and print each resulting
page. Assemble pages if desired. Be
sure "print to fit" is not selected
before printing.
Cuff and leg
Using tubular cast on, cast on 56[64, 72] stitches. Do not join. Row 1: [K1, slp 1] to end, turn.
Repeat Row 1 once more.
Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join to work in the round,
being careful not to twist.
Right Sock Setup round: Sizes S, M: Place
marker at start of round, p2, k2, [k1,
p1] to end of round. Size L: K1,
p1, place marker, p2, k2, [k1, p1]
to end of round.
Left Sock Setup round: [K1, p1] 7[8, 10] times, place
marker,[k1, p1] 5 times, k2, p2, [k1, p1] to end.
Both Socks Cuff round: [K1, p1] to marker
as required, slip marker, work Chart
over next 14 sts, [k1, p1] to end of
round.
Continue until row 16 of Chart is complete.
Leg round: K to marker, work
Chart over next 14 sts, k to end of
round.
Continue until row 72 of Chart
is complete, or leg is desired length,
ending after an even number chart row.
Once Chart row 92 is complete, repeat
rows 17-92.
Heel flap
Turn work so that WS is facing. Heel
flap will be worked back and forth in rows over last 28[32,
36] sts of the round.
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, p27[31, 35] Row 2 [RS]: [Sl1, k1] 14[16,
18] times.
Repeat last 2 rows 12[14, 16] times more
(26[30, 34] rows total).
Work Row 1 once more.
Size S only:
Row 12 [RS]: Sl1, k to end (18 sts).
Proceed to next step, Create Gusset.
Size M only: Row 12 [RS]: Sl1,
k16, k2tog, k1, turn Row 13 [WS]: Sl1, p17, p2tog,
p1, turn Row 14 [RS]: Sl1, k to end
(20 sts).
Proceed to next step, Create Gusset.
Size L only: Row 12 [RS]: Sl1, k16, k2tog,
k1, turn Row 13 [WS]: Sl1, p17, p2tog,
p1, turn Row 14 [RS]: Sl1, k18, k2tog,
k1, turn Row 15 [WS]: Sl1, p19, p2tog,
p1, turn Row 16 [RS]: Sl1, k to end
(22 sts).
Proceed to next step, Create Gusset.
Create Gusset
With the same needle pick up and knit
15[17, 19] stitches along the edge
of the heel flap, using the slipped
sts as a guide; this is the start of
the instep, place a marker if desired. On
instep sts, knit to marker, slm, work
Chart over next 14 sts, k to end of
instep sts. Place marker if desired.
15[17, 19] stitches along the edge
of the heel flap, using the slipped
sts as a guide. Knit 9[10, 11], this
will be the new beginning of the round. Rearrange
stitches or place markers as desired.
76[86, 96] sts.
Decrease Gusset
Gusset round 1: K to 3 sts before start
of instep, k2tog, k1; k to marker,
slm, work Chart over next 14 sts, k
to end of instep; k1, ssk, k to end
of round.
Gusset round 2: Knit to marker, work
Chart over next 14 sts, k to end of round.
Repeat the last 2 rounds 9[10, 11] times
more. 56[64, 72] sts.
Foot Foot Round: Knit to marker,
slm, work chart over next 14 sts, k
to end.
Continue until you are 1.5[1.75, 2] inches
short of desired foot length.
Toe Round 1: knit until 3 stitches
to end of first needle, ssk, k1, k1,
k2tog, knit until 3 stitches to end
of 3rd needle, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk,
knit to end of row. Round 2: Knit.
Repeat last 2 rounds 8[9, 10] times more
or until 20[24, 28] stitches remain.
Divide these stitches on 2 needles, cut
yarn leaving a long tail and graft together.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Lover of all things related to fiber and numbers, Mercè is trying
to find her way in life from Menorca, Spain.
A great tubular cast on method is the long tail tubular cast
on, explained by Ysolda Teague 
![leg chart [top portion]](images/snakesCHTlegTOP.jpg){kind=link}
![leg chart [bottom portion]](images/snakesCHTlegBOT.jpg){kind=link}