Manoa

Manoa sock, a free knitting pattern. Free knitting pattern for a beautifully cabled sock worked from the top down.

INTRODUCTION

Manoa

beauty shot

Piquant


The hike to Manoa Falls on Oahu isn’t that difficult, but it requires a bit of attention as you step over roots and dodge low hanging branches. If it has rained recently, you’ll likely encounter mud and mosquitos, and last part of the trip is strewn with boulders. If you go, you’ll see young and old making the trek through the beautiful Hawaiian rain forest and all are rewarded with a magnificent view of the falls.

Similarly, this sock pattern isn’t that tricky, but it is chock full of cables, increases, and decreases which make the journey a challenge. However, once you get used to the rhythm of the pattern, the going gets easier and at the end you’ll be rewarded with a fabulous FO.

spacer photos: William F. Walker

SIZE

Adult S[M, L]
shown in M on a US size 8.5 woman’s foot.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference: 5.5[6, 6.5] inches/ 14[15, 16.5] cm, unstretched
Foot length: Adjustable to fit.
Leg length: 8.75 inches/22 cm
Note: Sock stitch pattern is very stretchy; choose a size with approximately 2.5 to 3 inches/6.5 to 7.5 cm of negative ease based on the unstretched measurements.

MATERIALS

Yarn
spacer Lisa Souza Deluxe Sock! [80% Superwash Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere; 495yds per 100g skein]; color: Keep Tahoe Blue, 1[1, 1] skein.

Note: Making the large size will require close to all of the skein and is dependent on your gauge. If you’re concerned about running out of yarn, instructions are provided for shortening the leg.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #1/2.25mm needles for working in the round: DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars

Notions
spacer cable needle
spacer stitch markers
spacer yarn needle

GAUGE

36 sts/48 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, unstretched

PATTERN NOTES

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

Slip sts as if to purl unless otherwise instructed.

The cables reduce stretch, so this pattern may have more stitches per round than you are accustomed to for your size.

Slip stitch markers as you come to them unless otherwise instructed.

LYO: Lifted yarn over: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through the front loop.
1 stitch increased.

C3LP: Put 2 sts on cn and hold in front, p1; k2 from cn.
C3RP: Put 1 st on cn and hold in back, k2; p1 from cn.
C3L: Put 2 sts on cn and hold in front, k1; k2 from cn.
C4L: Put 2 sts on cn and hold in front, k2; k2 from cn.
C4R: Put 2 sts on cn and hold in back, k2; k2 from cn.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

CHARTS

Chart A1/A2 | Chart B1/B2 | Chart C

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
CO 64[72, 80] sts. Distribute across needles as you prefer and join to begin working in the round. Note or mark beginning of rnd.

Ribbing Round: [K2, p2] around.
Repeat Ribbing Round 7 more times for a total of 8 rnds.

Leg
Leg rnd: Work Chart A1 then Chart A2, paying careful attention to repeats for your size.
Work until you have completed Charts A1 and A2.

Work rows 3-30 of Charts A1 and A2 one more time. To shorten the leg, do not work rows 3-30 again. Instead, continue with the instructions below.

After completing row 30 for the last time, work k2, p3. This is the new start of round.

Next rnd: Work Chart B1 then Chart B2, paying careful attention to repeats for your size.
Work until you have completed Charts B1 and B2.
After completing the last row of Charts B1 and B2, remove the beginning of rnd marker, k2, M1. 63[71,79] sts total.

Heel Flap
Turn work.
Set-up row [WS]: Sl1, p2, k2, p 22[30, 30] , k2, p2, M1. Turn. 64[72, 80] sts.

Note: The heel flap is worked flat on 32[40, 40] sts. The remaining 32[32, 40] sts are held for the instep.

Heel Flap row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k2 tbl, p2, (sl1, k1) 11[15, 15] times, p2, k2 tbl, k1. Turn.
Heel Flap row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p2 tbl, k2, p 22[30, 30] , k2, p2 tbl, p1. Turn.

Repeat Heel Flap rows 1-2 15[16, 17] more times. 32[34, 36] Heel Flap rows worked total.

Note: If you have a large instep, you may wish to work more repeats of the Heel Flap rows to create a longer heel flap, adding height to the foot of the sock. If you do this, be sure to pick up more gusset sts and work more gusset decrease rounds accordingly.

Heel Turn
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k 18[22, 22] , SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k8, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, p9, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 5 [RS]: Sl1, k10, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, p11, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Sl1, k12, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 8 [WS]: Sl1, p13, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl1, k14, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 10 [WS]: Sl1, p15, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 11 [RS]: Sl1, k16, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 12 [WS]: Sl1, p17, p2tog, p1. Turn.
20 heel sts remain.

Medium and Large sizes only:
Row 13 [RS]: Sl1, k18, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 14 [WS]: Sl1, p19, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 15 [RS]: Sl1, k20, SSK, k1. Turn.
Row 16 [WS]: Sl1, p21, p2tog, p1. Turn.
24 heel sts remain.

Gusset
Round 1: Sl1, k 19[23, 23] , pick up and knit 18[19, 20] sts along the side of the heel flap; k2, pm (or divide sts) for start of instep, work 28[28, 36] sts between the “start/end of instep” lines from row 1 of Chart C; pm (or divide sts) to indicate end of instep, k2, pick up and knit 18[19, 20] sts along the side of the heel flap, k 10[12, 12] , pm for beg of rnd. 88[94, 104] sts total.

Round 2: Knit to 4 sts before instep, work 36[36, 44] sts from next row of Chart C, k to end of rnd.

Round 3: Knit to 5 sts before the instep, work in established pattern from Chart C, k to end of rnd. 2 sts decreased.

Repeat Rounds 2-3 14[13, 14] more times until you have completed row 31[29, 31] of Chart C. 56[64, 72] sts total, 26[26, 34] instep sts, 30[38, 38] sole sts.

Note: To work more gusset decreases, continue with the established pattern: For odd numbered rnds, knit to 5 stitches before the instep, SSK, work to second marker, k3, k2tog, k to end of rnd. For even numbered rnds, work even.

Medium size only:
Round 30-31: Knit to 4 sts before the instep, work in established pattern from Chart C, k to end of rnd.

Foot
All sizes:

Round 1: Knit to 1[3, 1] sts before the start of instep, place marker (or divide sts) for new beginning of rnd, k 1[3, 1] , remove the start of instep marker (if placed), p2, (k2, p2) 6[6, 8] times, remove end of instep marker (if placed), k 1[3, 1] , place marker for center of rnd, k to end of rnd.

Round 2: K 1[3, 1] , p2, (k2, p2) 6[6, 8] times, k 1[3, 1] , k to end of rnd.

Repeat Round 2 until foot is approximately 1.5[1.75, 2] inches shorter than desired length.

Toe
Round 1: (K1, SSK, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1) twice. 4 sts decreased.

Round 2: K all sts.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 24 sts remain.

Graft the toe closed.

FINISHING

Weave in ends, block if desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Janice knits, spins, and makes jewelry in her home in Northern California. In her spare time, she also sings backup in a band —her fellow band members often see her knitting during down time at rehearsal and soundcheck.

You can follow Janice on her blog, view her projects and patterns on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2016 Janice. Handwoven rug: Amy Klimt. Contact Janice.