by Nancy Green

For this midsummer sock I wanted to create something light and whimisical. I was inspired by Thisbe, a starcrossed lover in A Midsummer Night's Dream, who evokes for me the magic of a warm summer's night in the forest. These would be just the socks for tiptoeing through the dewy grass of a moonlit clearing!

The socks are knit from the top down with a ribbed cuff and a short row heel. The pattern consists of five lace panels with 5 cables separating them -- the cable up the back of the foot is different from the others. The lace pattern extends into the toe and heel flap adding some interesting detail.

The contrast between the curving cables and the angles of the lace pattern makes a nice contrast and gives a great overall effect. The pattern is easy to memorize making the socks fun to knit.

SIZE
Women's S[M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot circumference: 7.5[8.5, 9.5] inches
Foot length: adjustable to fit
Leg length: adjustable.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Cascade Heritage Silk [85% Merino Superwash/15%Mulberry Silk; 437 yds/100g]; color: Primavera; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
#1 US/2.25 mm needles for working in the round.
Note: Please do check gauge carefully in pattern stitch. The combined lace and cable fabric of this sock means that gauge is even more important than usual to achieve the desired size.

Notions
stitch markers
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

Grafting:
Instructions for grafting can be found here.

C2L: Slip next st to cable needle and hold in front of work; k1, then k1 from cable needle.
C2R: Slip next st to cable needle and hold in back of work; k1, then k1 from cable needle.
C4L: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front of work; k2, then k2 from cable needle.
C4R: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back of work; k2, then k2 from cable needle.
C3/2DecL: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front of work; k1, k2tog, then k2 from cable needle. 5 sts decreased to 4.

CDD: Slip next st knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over stitch just knit.

DIRECTIONS

Ribbing:
(K3tbl, p1, k3tbl, p1[2, 3], k4tbl, p1[2, 3]) 5 times.

Work Ribbing as set for 1 inch.

Transition round: (K7, p1[2, 3], k4, p1[2, 3]) 5 times.

Leg
Leg round: Work Chart A for appropriate size 5 times around.
Work as set until leg is desired length, ending on row 5 of the chart.

Heel Flap
Setup for Heel: K13[14, 16], turn.

Heel Flap row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, p31[35, 39], turn. Rem 33[39, 43] stitches will be held for instep; slip them to a holder or single needle as desired.

Heel Flap row 2 [RS]: Work Chart B for appropriate size across heel sts.
Work as set until chart is complete, and then repeat the final two rows as required, until heel flap measures 2.25[2.5, 2.75] inches.

Heel Turn
Heel row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k18[20, 22], ssk, k1, turn.

Heel row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p7[7, 7], p2tog, p1, turn.

Heel row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k8[8, 8], ssk, k1, turn.

Heel row 4 [WS]: Sl1, p9[9, 9] p2tog ,p1, turn.

Heel row 5 [RS]: Sl1, k10[10, 10], ssk, k1, turn.

Heel row 6 [WS]: Sl1, p11[11, 11], p2tog, p1, turn.
Heel row 7 [RS]: Sl1, k12[12, 12], ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 8 [WS]: Sl1, p13[13, 13], p2tog, p1, turn.
Heel row 9 [RS]: Sl1, k14[14, 14], ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 10 [WS]: Sl1, p15[15, 15], p2tog, p1 turn.
Heel row 11 [RS]: Sl1, k16[16, 16], ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 12 [WS]: Sl1, p17[17, 17], p2tog,p1, turn.

Size M only:
Heel row 13 [RS]: Sl1, k18, ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 14 [WS]: Sl1, p19, p2tog, p1, turn.
22 sole stitches remain.
Proceed to Gusset.

Size L only:
Heel row 13 [RS]: sl1, k18, ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 14 [WS]: sl1, p19, p2tog, p1, turn.
Heel row 15 [RS] : sl1, k20, ssk, k1, turn.
Heel row 16 [WS]: sl1, p21, p2tog, p1, turn.
24 sole stitches remain.
Proceed to Gusset.

Gusset
Gusset setup: K20[22, 24] heel sts. With RS facing, pick up and knit 1 st in every slipped stitch along the first edge of the heel flap, and 1 more stitch just above the final slipped st. Work appropriate size Chart C across 33[39, 43] instep sts. Pick up and knit 1 st just above the top slipped st, and 1 st in every slipped stitch along the second edge of the heel flap, k10[11, 12] to center of heel. This is the new start of round. Place marker or rearrange sts as you prefer.

Gusset round 1: K to 2 sts before instep, k2tog; work across instep in pattern as set, ssk, k to end of round. 2 sts decreased.
Gusset round 2: Work even in pattern as set.

Repeat Gusset rounds 1 & 2 until 65[75, 83] stitches rem: 33[39, 43] for instep and 32[36, 40] for the sole.

Foot
Work even in pattern as set until foot measures 2 inches shorter than the desired length, ending with row 1 of Chart C.

Setup for toe: K to start of instep. This is the new start of round.

Round 1: Work Chart D for appropriate size across instep; k to end of round.
Work as set until Chart D is complete. 64[72, 80] sts; 32[36, 40] each for instep and sole.

Toe Decrease round: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 4 sts decreased.
Knit 3 rounds even.
Work the Toe Decrease round.
Knit 2 rounds.
Work the Toe Decrease round.
Knit 1 round.
Repeat the last 2 rounds 4[5, 6] more times, until 36[40, 44] sts rem.
Work the Toe Decrease round only 4[5, 6] more times. 20 sts rem.

FINISHING
Graft toe closed.
Block and weave in ends.

Nancy has been knitting for about 15 years. She enjoys adapting and inventing new patterns -- especially socks for which the technical design constraints pose a particular creative challenge. As a result, all of her friends and relations have warm, comfy feet.

She lives in Wilmette, Illinois, with her husband and two cats. You can find her here on Ravelry.