by Hunter Hammersen

May I make a confession? Writing these descriptions is by far the hardest part of a pattern for me. I'll happily spend an afternoon double checking math or describing a complicated stitch pattern in aching detail, but coming up with a good story throws me every time. Sometimes a pretty sock is just a pretty sock, and there's no windswept moor or poignant family story to go with it.

This is one of those. It looks lovely (the heel and toe continue the cable pattern beautifully), it's fun to knit (the stockinette bits make it go quickly, and the mirroring and unusual gusset stave off second sock syndrome), and it is marvelously unisex.

With luck, that's enough to earn it a place on your needles, even without a charming story!

SIZE
Adult S[M, L]
shown in size M

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot Circumference: 7.5[8.5, 9.5] inches
Leg Length: 4.5 inches as shown in sample; adjustable to preference
Foot Length: adjustable to fit

MATERIALS
Yarn
Dream in Color Everlasting Sock [100% superwash merino; 420y per 100g skein]; color: rain cloud; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US 1.5/2.25mm needles for working in the round

Notions
stitch marker
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

These socks are mirrored and the directions are slightly different for each sock. In addition, the gusset decreases happen in an unusual place.

Some of the stitches are charted, the rest are either in 2x2 rib or plain stockinette.

DIRECTIONS
LEFT SOCK
Leg
Cast on 56[64, 72] stitches.
Distribute sts across needles as you prefer, and join for working in the round. Note or mark start of round.

Cuff round: [P1, k2, p1] 3[4, 5] times, p1, k2; work Left Leg Chart, k2, p1, [p1, k2, p1] 3[4, 5] times.

Work 8 rounds total as set.

Leg round: K15[19, 23], work Left Leg Chart, k to end of round.

Work as set until Leg measures desired length, ending after Leg Chart Round 18.

Heel
Turn so that WS is facing. The heel flap is worked over the last 28[32, 36] stitches of the row.

Heel flap row 1 [WS]: Work Left Heel Chart across, working 2-st repeat marked in blue 7[8, 9] times.

Continue as set until Heel flap chart is complete. Repeat Rows 17-18 2[3, 4] times more, or until flap is desired length.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, p16[18, 20], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: Sl1, k9, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5 [WS]: Sl1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6 [RS]: Sl1, k11, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7 [WS]: Sl1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8 [RS]: Sl1, k13, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 9 [WS]: Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 10 [RS]: Sl1, k15, ssk, k1, turn.
Size S only: Proceed to Gusset.

Row 11 [WS]: Sl1, p16, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 12 [RS]: Sl1, k17, ssk, k1, turn.
Size M only: Proceed to Gusset.

Row 13 [WS]: Sl1, p18, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 14 [RS]: Sl1, k19, ssk, k1.

Gusset
18[20, 22] stitches remain on heel. Ensure that RS is facing.

Gusset setup round: Pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the first side of the heel flap (1 st in every slipped st at the edge of the heel flap); k15[19, 23], place marker, work row 1 of Left Foot chart; pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the second side of the heel flap (1 st in every slipped st at the edge of the heel flap), k9[10, 11] to center of heel. 72[82, 92] sts. This is the new start of round. Rearrange sts as you prefer.

Note: if you've adjusted the heel flap length, your picked up stitch count will differ.

Gusset Round 1: K until 2 stitches remain before first marker, k2tog; work the next row of the Left Foot Chart, p1, ssk, k to end of round. 2 stitches decreased.
Gusset Round 2: K to first marker; work Left Foot Chart, p1, k to end of round.

Repeat Gusset Rounds 1 & 2 until 56[64, 72] stitches remain; 28[32, 36] sts both on instep and sole.

Foot
Work even in pattern as set until foot measures 1.5[1.75, 2] inches shorter than desired length, ending after row 17 or 36 of Foot Chart. If you need to adjust length, repeat row 17 of the Foot Chart as needed.

Toe
Note: Continue to work the ribbing pattern as set by row 17 of the Foot Chart throughout the toe decrease; decreases will consume the ribbing sts as you shape the toe.

Toe round 1: K to 3 stitches before instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, work in pattern as set to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1, p1, k1, ssk, k to end of round. 4 stitches decreased.
Toe round 2: Work even in pattern as set.

Repeat Toe rounds 1-2 3[5, 7] times. 40 stitches remain.
Work Toe round 1 6 more times, 16 stitches remain.
K to start of instep.
Using Kitchener stitch, graft toe closed.

Cuff round: Work first 13 sts of the Right Leg Chart, [k2, p2], 7[9, 11] times, k2, work rem 13 sts of leg chart.
Work 8 rounds total as set.

Leg round: Work first 13 sts of the Right Leg Chart, k30[38, 46], work rem 13 sts of leg chart.
Work as set until Leg measures desired length, ending after Leg Chart Round 18.

Heel Flap and Turn:
Work as for LEFT SOCK, using the Right Heel chart.

Note: if you've adjusted the heel flap length, your picked up stitch count will differ.

Gusset Round 1: K until 3 stitches before instep, k2tog, p1; work the next row of the Right Foot Chart, ssk; k to end of round. 2 stitches decreased.
Gusset Round 2: K to 1 st before instep, p1; work Right Foot Chart; k to end of round.

Repeat Gusset Rounds 1-2 until 56[64, 72] stitches remain; 28[32, 36] sts both on instep and sole.

Foot
Work even in pattern as set until foot measures 1.5[1.75, 2] inches shorter than desired length, ending after row 17 or 36 of Foot Chart. If you need to adjust length, repeat row 17 of the Foot Chart as needed.

Toe
Note: Continue to work the ribbing pattern as set by row 17 of the Foot Chart throughout the toe decrease; decreases will consume the ribbing sts as you shape the toe.

Toe round 1: K to 3 stitches before instep, k2tog, k1; p1, k1, ssk, work in pattern as set to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of round. 4 stitches decreased.
Toe round 2: Work even in pattern as set.

Repeat Toe rounds 1-2 3[5, 7] times. 40 stitches remain.
Work Toe round 1 6 more times, 16 stitches remain.
K to start of instep.
Using Kitchener stitch, graft toe closed.

FINISHING
Block and weave in ends.

Hunter began designing, almost by accident, in 2009. In 2011 her first book, Silk Road Socks: 14 Sock Patterns Based on Oriental Rugs, was published by Cooperative Press. Later that year, she attended Cat Bordhi's Visionary Authors retreat to learn to publish her own work.

In 2012, she released her first self-published book, The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet: 20 Patterns Inspired by Vintage Botanical Illustrations. A few months later, she released another collection, Rabble Rousers: What to Knit When You're Up to No Good. The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet Volume II, 18 Patterns Inspired by Vintage Butterfly Illustrations has just been released.

See what she's up to on her blog, Violently Domestic.