Treetop Socks - Knitty, Summer 2009

photos: Christopher H. Neher

by Heidi M. Scheppmann

I have wanted a pair of cabled knee-highs for a long time. Of course, PLAIN cabled knee-highs weren’t nearly enough of a challenge. There had to be a little something extra, otherwise why make them myself?

I’ve always liked my straight lines to go in odd directions, so I decided to make my cables wrap around the leg. Cables grow out of the top of these branches, and a single cable forms a trunk down the foot.

These start at the cuff with a simple rib and cable. Start adding increases and decreases, and the diagonal "wings" begin to form. The calf shaping is built into the wing decreases, so there is no pattern interruption. Although the chart may look complicated, if you are able to read your knitting, you will find this pattern fairly intuitive.

Once the wings are complete, this becomes a simple ribbed sock, with a single cable down the center.

SIZE

S [M, L] (shown in S)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

To fit 11 [12, 13] inch calf and 8 [9, 9 1/2] inch foot circumference. Foot length is adjustable to fit.

MATERIALS

Knitpicks Risata [42% cotton, 39% superwash Merino Wool, 13% polyamide, 6% Elite elastic; 196 yd per 50g skein]; color: Sable; 4 skeins

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #1/2.25mm DPNs
OR
1 24 inch or longer US #1/2.25mm circular needle
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Cable needle
Stitch markers [optional]
Stitch holder [optional]

GAUGE

36 sts/48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

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

C6PB: Slip next 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to back of work; knit next two stitches, (p2, k2) the sts on the cable needle.

K3tog: Knit 3 sts together.

SSSK: Slip 3 sts, individually, knitwise. Insert tip of left-hand needle in the fronts of these sts and knit them together.

Chart:
The chart for this pattern is very large. It is broken into 4 parts, each of which will print neatly on a letter-sized page. Print all 4 charts for the size you're knitting and assemble them as follows:

assembly

Small page 1 • page 2 • page 3 • page 4

Medium page 1 • page 2 • page 3 • page 4

Large page 1 • page 2 • page 3 • page 4

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
CO 80[88, 96] stitches.
Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker for the beginning of the round if you find it helpful.

Ribbing Round: (P1[1, 2], K2, P2 K2, P1[1, 2], K2[3, 2]) 8 times to end of round.
Repeat Ribbing Round 15 more times.

Round 17: (P 0[0, 1], pfb, k2, p2, k2, P 0[0, 1], pfb, K2[3, 2]) 8 times to end of round. 96[104, 112] st total.

Rounds 18-22: (P2[2, 3], k2, p2, k2, p2[2, 3], k2[3, 2]) 8 times to end of round.

Round 23: (P2[2, 3], C6B, p2[2, 3], k2[3, 2]) 8 times to end of round.

Rounds 24 – 26: Work in ribbing patt as established.

Leg
Work as per appropriate chart. After chart is complete, work as follows:

Rounds 1 & 2: Work in ribbing patt as established.

Round 3: [Work 38 [41, 45] st in ribbing pattern, C6B] twice. Work in ribbing patt to end of round.

Rounds 5-8: Work in ribbing patt as established.

Repeat these 8 rounds as many times as required to reach desired leg length.

Heel
Rearrange stitches:
Work the first 23[24, 27] sts of the round in patt.

Heel Flap – Size S:
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, p35. The heel will be worked back and forth on these 36 sts. The rem 36 sts - the instep sts - will be held while you work the heel. Slip the instep sts to a holder if you wish.

Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, [p2, sl1, k1] 8 times, p2, k1.
Row 3 and all WS rows: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 4 [WS]: [Sl1, p2, k1] 9 times.
Repeat these 4 rows 8 times more. 36 rows total.

Heel Flap – Size M:
Row 1 and all WS rows: Sl 1, p37. The heel will be worked back and forth on these 38 sts. The rem 40 sts - the instep sts - will be held while you work the heel. Slip the instep sts to a holder if you wish.

Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, [P2, sl1, k1] 3 times, k1, [p2, sl1, k1] 3 times, k1, [p2, sl1, k1] twice, p2, k1.
Row 3 and all WS rows: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 4 [WS]: [Sl1, p2, k1] 3 times, k1, [sl1, p2, k1] 3 times, k1, [sl1, p2, k1] 3 times.
Repeat these 4 rows 8 times more, then work Rows 1 and 2 once more. 38 rows total.

Heel Flap – Size L:
Row 1 and all WS rows: Sl 1, p41. The heel will be worked back and forth on these 42 sts. The rem 42 sts - the instep sts - will be held while you work the heel. Slip the instep sts to a holder if you wish.

Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, [P3, sl1, K1, P2, sl1, K1, P3, sl1, K1] twice, p3, sl1, k1, p2, sl1, k1, p3, k1.
Row 3 and all WS rows: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 4 [WS]: [Sl1, p3, k1, sl1, p2, k1, sl1, p3, k1] 3 times.
Repeat these 4 rows 9 times more, then work Rows 1 and 2 once more. 42 rows total.

Heel Turn – All Sizes:
Row 1 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p18[20, 22], p2tog, p1.
Row 2 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k3[5, 5], SSK, K1.
Row 3 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p4[6,6], p2tog, p1.
Row 4 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k5[7,7], SSK, k1.
Row 5 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p6[8,8], p2tog, p1.
Row 6 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k7[9,9], SSK, k1.
Row 7 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p8[10,10], p2tog, p1.
Row 8 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k9[11,11], SSK, k1.
Row 9 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p10[12,12], p2tog, p1.
Row 10 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k11[13,13], SSK, k1.
Row 11 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p12[14,14], p2tog, p1.
Row 12 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k13[15,15], SSK, k1.
Row 13 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p14[16,16], p2tog, p1.
Row 14 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k15[17,17], SSK, k1.
Row 15 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p16[18,18], p2tog, p1.
Row 16 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k17[19,19], SSK, k1.

SIZE LARGE ONLY:
Row 17 [WS]: Turn work, sl1, p20, p2tog, p1.
Row 18 [RS]: Turn work, sl1, k21, SSK, k1.
20 [22, 24] sts remain.

Gusset:
Set-up round 1: With RS facing, pick up and knit 19[20, 22] sts along side of heel flap; work the 36[40,42] previously held instep sts in patt; pick up and knit 19[20, 22] sts along side of heel flap, k across heel sts, then k along other side of heel flap. The start of the round is at this point, at the start of the instep sts.

Set-up round 2: Work 36[40,42] instep sts in patt, k to end of round. 94 [102, 110] sts remain. 36 [40, 42] for the instep and 58 [62, 68] for the sole

Round 1: Work 15 [17, 18] sts in ribbing pattern, C6B, work 15 [17, 18] sts in ribbing pattern; SSK, k to 2 st before end of round, k2tog.
Round 2 (and all even rounds): Work 36[40,42] instep sts in pattern as established; k to end of round.
Round 3: Work 36[40,42] instep sts in pattern as established; SSK, k to 2 st before end of round, k2tog.
Round 5: As Round 3.
Round 7: As Round 3.

Size S: Repeat Rounds 1-8 once more, then work Rounds 1-6 once more. Work Round 2 twice more.
Size M: Repeat Rounds 1-8 twice more.
Size L: Repeat Rounds 1-8 twice more, then Rounds 1 and 2 once more. Work Round 2 six more times. 72[78, 84] sts.

Foot
Round 1: Work 15 [17, 18] sts in ribbing pattern, C6B, work 15 [17, 18] sts in ribbing pattern; k to end of round
Rounds 2-8: Work in ribbing patt as established.
Continue working these 8 rounds until foot is 1.75[2, 2.25] inches shorter than total desired foot length.

Toe
Round 1: K0[1, 0], SSK, k to 2[3, 2] st before end instep, k2tog, k0[1, 0], SSK, k to 2 st before end of round, k2tog.
Round 2: K all sts.

Repeat these 2 rounds 8[8, 9] more times. 18[18, 20] rounds total. 36[42, 44] sts rem.
18[22, 22] sts for the instep, 18[20, 22] sts for the sole.

Repeat Round 1 3[4, 5] more times. 24[26, 24] sts rem. 12[14, 12] sts for the instep and 12 sts for the sole.

Size M only: K2tog, k to 2 st before instep, SSK, k to end of round

All sizes: 24 sts remain.

FINISHING

Graft toe stitches together. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Heidi splits time between her city home (an apartment in NYC) and her country home (a cabin in upstate NY). She knits at both homes, as well as in the car, on the subway, on airplanes…