Slippery socks - Winter 2007

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by Olivia M

This colorway is very bright, so I wanted a pattern that would be complicated enough to be interesting and yet still show off the colors. The answer? Slipped stitches! Since the slipped pattern stitches are knit only half as often as the background stitches, they change color only half as often. This difference keeps the pattern from being lost among the changing colors.

Because the two stitch patterns used on the foot have different-length repeats, I recommend printing out the charts and using a sticky note to keep track of the row you’re on. The patterns do get easier to follow after a repeat or two.

model: Olivia M. photos: Beatriz H.

SIZE

To fit an average woman’s foot

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference: 8 inches
Leg length: Approx. 7 inches

MATERIALS

Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome [80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 480yd/439m per 100g skein]; color: Sugar Maple; 1 skein

Recommended needle size:
1 set of 5 US #1/2.25mm double-point needles
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Cable needle
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

32 sts/48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

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

C2B: SL 1 to cable needle and hold to back of work; k1, k1 from cable needle.

C2F: SL 1 to cable needle and hold to front of work; k1, k1 from cable needle.

C2BP: SL 1 to cable needle and hold to back of work; k1, p1 from cable needle.

C2FP: SL 1 to cable needle and hold to front of work; p1, k1 from cable needle.

Slip-Stitch Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
Round 1: [Sl 1, p1] to end.
Round 2: [K1, p1] to end.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

PATTERN

CUFF
CO 64 sts. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in Slip-Stitch Rib until work measures 1 inch.

Next Round: [K5, m1] 12 times, k4. 76 sts.

K 1 round.

LEG
Rearrange sts as follows:
Needles 1 and 3: 24 sts each

Needles 2 and 4: 14 sts each

Set-Up Round: Work Round 1 of Chart A over sts on Needle 1; work Round 1 of Chart B over sts on Needle 2; work Round 1 of Chart A over sts on Needle 3; work Round 1 of Chart B over sts on Needle 4.

Continue in pattern as set until you have completed 3 full repeats of Chart A. You will have just completed Round 12 of Chart B. Work measures approx. 7 inches.

HEEL FLAP
Rearrange sts as follows:
Slip first 7 sts from Needle 2 to Needle 1.
Slip first 12 sts from Needle 3 to Needle 2.
Slip first 7 sts from Needle 4 to Needle 3.
There are 31 sts on Needle 1, 19 sts each on Needles 2 and 3, and 7 sts on Needle 4.
Work sts on Needle 1 as follows: [K2, k2tog] 6 times, k7. 25 sts on Needle 1. Turn work.
P all sts from Needles 1 and 4 onto one needle. Heel flap will be worked back and forth over these 32 sts. Instep will later be worked over the 38 sts on Needles 2 and 3.
Row 1 [RS]: [Sl 1, k1] 16 times.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 14 times more.

TURN HEEL
Row 1 [RS]: K18, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, k6, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, p7, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 5 [RS]: Sl 1, k8, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl 1, p9, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 7 [RS]: Sl 1, k10, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 8 [WS]: Sl 1, p11, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl 1, k12, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 10 [WS]: Sl 1, p13, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 11 [RS]: Sl 1, k14, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 12 [WS]: Sl 1, p15, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 13 [RS]: Sl 1, k16, ssk. Turn work.
Row 14 [WS]: Sl 1, p16, p2tog. Turn work. 18 sts remain.

GUSSET
K 18 sts of heel; using same needle, pick up and k 15 sts (1 st in each slipped st) along edge of heel flap, then 1 st in space between top of flap and held sts of instep. This needle will be Needle 1.
Work sts on Needles 2 and 3 onto one needle as follows: K2tog, k5, work Round 1 of Chart A over next 24 sts, k5, ssk. 36 sts on Needle 2.
Using remaining needle, pick up and k 1 st in space between instep sts and top of heel flap, then 15 sts along edge of heel flap, then work first 9 sts from Needle 1. This needle will be Needle 3.
86 sts: 25 sts each on Needles 1 and 3, 36 sts on Needle 2.

Decrease Round: K to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1; k6, work next round of Chart A, k6; k1, ssk, k to end of Needle 3.
Work 1 round in pattern as set.
Repeat these 2 rounds 8 times more. 68 sts.

FOOT
Continue in pattern as set until work measures approx. 2 inches less than desired length, ending with an even-numbered round of Chart A.

Slip first st from Needle 2 to Needle 1, and last st from Needle 2 to Needle 3.

17 sts each on Needles 1 and 3; 34 sts on Needle 2.

TOE
Decrease Round: K to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of Needle 3.

K 1 round.

Repeat these 2 rounds 11 times more, then work Decrease Round once more. 16 sts.

K sts from Needle 1 onto Needle 3.

Graft sts on Needle 2 to sts on Needle 3.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Olivia is a high school student in Northern Virginia.

She has been knitting since she was nine. She will knit anything once, but focuses mainly on socks. When she isn’t knitting, she reads, plays violin, and deals with massive amounts of homework.