INTRODUCTION

Prettified Thrash

by Rich Ensor

I just wanted to make some simple socks. Sometimes life is chaotic and messy, so it’s nice to have a relaxing, not too complicated something on the needles. The idea was simple: a six stitch, six row repeat.

Did I mention that sometimes life gets chaotic? When chaos reigns, a person might shift the beginning of the round by 3 stitches after working two repeats and not realize it until 12 rounds later.

Rather than rip back and resume the simplicity, I declared this a design feature, and these socks were born. Granted, this turns a 6-row chart into an 18-row chart on the leg with a shift on row 12. That leads to some instep charts that are even longer that include 3 stitches that may or may not be worked depending on which size and which row you’re working. I promise, it looks much more complicated than it actually is.

With that said, you may be wondering what does any of this have to do with the not-at-all-common term “Prettified Thrash”. The same chaos that let to shifting the beginning of the round also made finding a creative and unique pattern name more challenging than it should be. So I resorted to the one thing that made sense: an anagram generator. “Shift Third Repeat” isn’t the most exciting name, but “Prettified Thrash” makes me laugh, and laughter is an excellent weapon against chaos.

photos: Rich Ensor

SIZE

Adult S[M, L, XL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot Circumference: 6.75[7.5, 8.25, 9] inches/ 17[19, 21, 23] cm
Foot Length: adjustable to fit
Leg Length: adjustable to fit

Choose a size with approx. 1-inch/2.5cm negative ease in the foot circumference.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Hedgehog Fibres Sock [90% Merino Wool, 10% Nylon; 437 yards/400 meters per 100gm skein]; color: Swamp; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1.5/2.5mm needles for working in the round

Notions
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

30 sts/48 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch
32 sts/48 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in pattern stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

Working the Cables with a cable needle
T2L: Sl next st to cn and hold in front of work; k1 tbl, then k1 tbl from cn.
T2R: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, then k1 tbl from cn.
TP2L: Sl next st to cn and hold in front of work; p1, then k1 tbl from cn.
TP2R: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, then p1 from cn.

Working the Cables without a cable needle:
T2L: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the second stitch. Drop both of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped knit stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit the first stitch through the back loop, then knit the second stitch through the back loop.

TP2L: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the second stitch. Drop both of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped knit stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Purl the first stitch, then knit the second stitch through the back loop.

T2R: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second stitch purlwise. Drop both of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit the first stitch through the back loop, then knit the second stitch through the back loop.

TP2R: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second stitch purlwise. Drop both of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit the first stitch through the back loop, then purl the second stitch.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Using the long-tail method, CO 54[60, 66, 72] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round being careful not to twist.

Cuff Round: [P1, k1 tbl, p1] 18[20, 22, 24] times.

Repeat the Cuff Round as set for 1 inch/2.5cm (approximately 12 rounds).

Leg
Right Leg Round: Work Right Leg Chart 9[10, 11, 12] times. Note: on round 12, an extra 3 sts are worked after the last repeat on that round.

Left Leg Round: Work Left Leg Chart 9[10, 11, 12] times. Note: on round 12, the final 3 sts in the last repeat are not worked on that round.

Repeat the appropriate Leg Round until desired length is reached, ending on round 6, 12 (give or take the extra 3 stitches as required), or 18. Sample as shown has 3 repeats plus 6 rounds, and measures 6 inches long.

Heel Flap
The heel flap is knit back and forth on a total of 27[30, 33, 36] stitches. Rem 27[30, 33, 36] stitches will be held for instep.

Turn work so that wrong side is facing.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 26[29, 32, 35] , turn.
Row 2 [RS]: [Sl 1 wyib, k1] 13[15, 16, 18] times, k 1[0, 1, 0] turn.

Repeat these 2 rows 13[14, 16, 17] more times for a total of 28[30, 34, 36] rows in the heel flap.

Turn the Heel
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 15[16, 17, 20] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k 6[5, 4, 7] , ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 7[6, 5, 8] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k 8[7, 6, 9] , ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 9[8, 7, 10] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k 10[9, 8, 11] , ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 11[10, 9, 12] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k 12[11, 10, 13] , ssk, k1, turn.
Row 9 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 13[12, 11, 14] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 10 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k 14[13, 12, 15] , ssk, k1, turn.

Small size only: 17 sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 11 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p -[14, 13, 16] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 12 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k -[15, 14, 17] , ssk, k1, turn.

Medium size only: 18 sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 13 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p -[-, 15, 18] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 14 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k -[-, 16, 19] , ssk, k1, turn. -[-, 19, 22] sts rem.

Gusset
Note: If the last round worked on the Leg Chart was round 6, begin working the corresponding Instep Chart on round 7. If the last round worked on the Leg Chart was round 12, begin working the corresponding Instep Chart on round 31. If the last round worked on the Leg Chart was round 18, begin working the corresponding Instep Chart on round 1.

Note: On rounds 1-12 and rounds 31-36, outlined sts are worked 4[5, 5, 6] times and highlighted sts are worked 1[0, 1, 0] times. On rounds 13 - 30, outlined sts are worked 4[4, 5, 5] times and highlighted sts are worked 0[1, 0, 1] times.

Gusset Round 1, set up: With RS facing, pick up and knit 14[15, 17, 18] sts along the first side of the heel flap; work appropriate Instep Chart (see notes); pick up and knit 14[15, 17, 18] sts along the second side of the heel flap, knit across heel sts and first set of gusset sts. This is the new start of round. 72[78, 86, 94] sts.

Gusset Round 2: Work instep sts in pattern as established; k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Gusset Round 3: Work instep sts in pattern as established; k to end of round.

Rep Gusset Rounds 2 and 3 8[8, 9, 10] times more, until 27[30, 33, 36] sts rem on the sole. 54[60, 66, 72] sts.

Foot
Note: On rounds 1-12 and rounds 31-36, outlined sts are worked 4[5, 5, 6] times and highlighted sts are worked 1[0, 1, 0] times. On rounds 13-30, outlined sts are worked 4[4, 5, 5] times and highlighted sts are worked 0[1, 0, 1] times.

Foot round: Work appropriate Instep Chart across the 27[30, 33, 36] instep sts; k to end of round.

Work even as set until the foot is 1.25[1.5, 1.5, 1.75] inches/ 2[4, 4, 4.5] cm short of full foot length.

Toe
Toe Round 1: K1, ssk, k 21[24, 27, 30] , k2tog, k1; this is end of the instep; k1, ssk, k 21[24, 27, 30] , k2tog, k1. 50[56, 62, 68] sts.

Toe Round 2: Knit all sts.

Toe Round 3: K1, ssk, k until 3 stitches before end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k until 3 stitches before end of round, k2tog, k1. 4 sts decreased.

Repeat Toe Rounds 2 and 3 6[7, 8, 8] more times until 26[28, 30, 36] total sts remain.
Repeat Toe Round 3 (decreasing every round) 3 times; 14[16, 18, 24] total sts remain.

FINISHING

Cut the yarn leaving a 12-inch tail and graft the rem sts together.
Weave in all ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Rich started knitting as a way to relieve stress. His first two projects were sweaters, since there was no one to tell him that perhaps a scarf would be a better starting point. At some point, Rich got it into his shiny, bald head that knitting socks might be a good idea.

Rich lives in Northern Virginia with four cats who think that stitch markers solely exist to entertain them. He can be found online here and on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2016 Rich Ensor. Contact Rich