My latest book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters, teaches a knitter to create a custom pattern that makes knitting toe-up socks as simple and satisfying as humanly possible. Although the method welcomes stitch patterns that flow from toe to leg, the quiet simplicity of the process has made me fall in love with plain feet and patterned legs.

And so I present you with a cushy sock leg which you can add to any toe-up sock pattern you like, either as a Lapped-Leg Sock with the leg begun separately, so that the leg laps over the upper foot like a roof tile [below left], or you can use the design for a “normal” sock or to make wristwarmers.

If you’ve never worn wristwarmers, you are in for a seasonal sensual treat. As winter blows its chilly breath our way, a pair of wristwarmers and a vest can keep you nearly as warm as a whole sweater. It sounds impossible, but it’s really true. Wristwarmers are quick to knit, take little yarn (make them as short or long as you wish), are welcome gifts (for men as well), and in my experience, knitting them is addictive.

You’ll easily learn the Just One More Round stitch pattern by heart. It consists of knit 2-purl 2 ribbing, which is interrupted after 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and then 10 rounds by a special cable round. The cable has an unusual appearance because it keeps jumping into purl territory, and does not create a twisted rope as is traditional. This, and the longer and longer stretches of ribbing between cable rounds (just one more round between cable rounds, thus the name) produces the columns of mirror image arcs you see in the photos. During cable rounds all stitches are knitted, which serendipitously creates a line of purl ridges at increasingly longer intervals on the reverse side.

And the reverse is so handsome that I think you’ll have trouble deciding which side you like best. I keep wearing my wristwarmers one way, then the other. Sock legs can be turned down to show off the reverse side.

SIZE
Custom fit

MATERIALS
Yarn
Note: For all yarns listed below, suggested needle sizes are listed. You may use double-point needles, 2 circular needles (24 inches recommended) or 1 long circular needle (40 inches recommended). Please use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below, or a comfortable gauge for the yarn you choose -- every knitter's gauge is unique!

For Socks Shown:
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight [100% superwash merino; 350yd/320m per 198g skein]; colors: Coral (“normal” sock and foot of lapped-leg sock, shown above) and Hoofle-Foofle (leg of lapped-leg sock, shown below); 1 skein each color
Note: If using only one color, one skein is needed.
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75mm for foot and US #4/3.5mm for leg

OR

Fleece Artist Scotian Silk [65% wool, 35% silk; 410yd/375m per 250g skein]; color: Indian Summer; 1 skein. Shown immediately above, 2nd from left in group pic
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #9/5.5 mm

OR

Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine [100% superwash merino; 225yd/205m per 226g skein]; color: In the Navy; 1 skein. Shown at left in group pic
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #10/6 mm

OR

Claudia Hand-Painted Yarns Worsted Weight Merino [100% merino; 168yd/154m per 100g skein]; color: Boot Camp; 1 skein. Shown at right in group pic
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #5/3.75 mm

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

For wristwarmers shown, I cast on:
48 sts for Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie Socks That Rock
36 sts for both Fleece Artist Scotian Silk and Claudia’s Hand-Painted Yarn Worsted Weight Merino
24 sts for Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine.

Directions for Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off can be found here.

A pattern for toe-up socks which can be worked using different weights of yarn can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

CO a multiple of 12 sts. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not  to twist. If desired, place safety pin or split ring marker in work to indicate beginning of round.

Just One More Round Pattern
Ribbed Round: [K1, p2, k1] to end.
Repeat this round 4 times more.
Cable Round: [K1, C4B, k2, C4F, k1] to end.

Work 6 ribbed rounds, then work a cable round.
Work 7 ribbed rounds, then work a cable round.
Work 8 ribbed rounds, then work a cable round.
Work 9 ribbed rounds, then work a cable round.
You may work to any number of cable rounds, making the wristwarmers short or long.
Finish by working in 2x2 Rib as established for about an inch, then bind off using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off.

Pause to determine how many increases you may need for the leg. If your current stitch total is a multiple of 12, you may choose to simply go up 2 needle sizes for the leg. If your st total is not already a multiple of 12, you’ll need to knit one more round, increasing sts evenly as needed up to the next multiple of 12 sts.

If you add 1-6 stitches,
go up 2 needle sizes for the leg.
If you add 7-11 stitches,
go up 1 needle size for the leg.

Begin Just One More Round pattern as for Wristwarmers. When leg is desired length, finish as for Wristwarmers.

LAPPED-LEG SOCKS
Work as for Simple Socks until increases have been worked for leg. Break yarn and set aside.

Begin Leg:
The leg begins with 2x3 ribbing, which soon decreases to 2x2 ribbing, so you will initially cast on more sts than are waiting on the set-aside sock. If your set-aside sock has 36[48, 60, 72, 84, 96] sts, you will cast on 45[60, 75, 90, 105, 120] sts.

Using larger needles and desired color for leg, CO number of sts indicated above. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

2x3 Ribbed Round: [K1, p3, k1] to end.
Repeat this round until work measures 0.75 inch.
Next Round: [K1, p2tog, p1, k1] to end. 36[48, 60, 72, 84, 96] sts (same number as for sock).

Work ribbed round as for Wristwarmers, then work cable round.
Work 5 ribbed rounds, then work a cable round.
Complete as for Simple Socks.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Cat Bordhi’s bed has foot-shaped indentations because she keeps standing up and jumping out of bed in the middle of the night with new knitting ideas. That, and a love of getting lost and making mistakes account for most of her original ideas.

Her latest book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters, can be found at your local yarn shop.