Athabasca, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Athabasca

beauty shot by Kayla Baldwin

Tangy

Inspired by the Athabasca waterfalls in Jasper, Alberta. This sock makes me think of glacial water cascading over mountain rocks.

Diagonal twisted st ribbing and lace showcase variegated yarns and fits beautifully. This sock is top down with a ribbed heel flap that continues the pattern and hugs your heel. Additionally this sock sample was made with yarn from a local Albertan yarn dyer. Fun fact: Numana’s yarns are all named after local areas in Edmonton, Alberta!

spacer photos: Brian Su

SIZE

Women's S[M, L]
choose a size with approximately 1 inch/ 2.5 cm of negative ease in the foot circumference

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot circumference: 7.25[8.25, 9.25] inches/ 18.5[21, 23.5] cm.
Leg length: adjustable.
Red sample has a leg approximately 6 inches/15 m long. Blue sample has a leg approximately 4 inches/ 10 cm long.
Foot length: adjustable.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Numana Yarns [80% superwash merino, 20% soft nylon; 384 m/115 g skein];
Current Mood: Spicy; 1 skein. (orange-red sample shown above)
OR
Shadowed topaz;1 skein. (variegated blue sample shown below)

Yarn Characteristics
These socks are knit with a wool and nylon blend yarn for durability. Use a solid or nearly solid yarn with good stitch definition to show off the pattern.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1 / 2.25 mm needles for small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

32 sts/ 44 rounds = 4 inches/ 10 cm in stockinette
30 sts/44 rounds = 4 inches/ 10 cm in lace pattern

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method: These socks are constructed from top down, with a heel flap.

Techniques:

Picking up stitches
Grafting stockinette stitches (video tutorial) ("Kitchener" stitch photo tutorial )

CHARTS

Athabasca size small

Rows 1-5: [K1tbl, p1] across.
Row 6: K1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] 4 times, p1, k2tog, yo.
Row 7: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1.
Row 8: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] twice, p1, k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1.
Row 9: [K1tbl, p1] twice, yo, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Row 10: [K1tbl, yo, ssk, p1] twice, k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1, k2tog, yo.
Row 11: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1.
Row 12: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] twice, p1, k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1.
Row 13: [K1tbl, p1] twice, yo, ssk, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Rows 14-17: Repeat Rows 10-13.
Row 18: [K1tbl, p1] twice, k1tbl, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] twice.

Athabasca size medium

Rows 1-4: [K1tbl, p1] across.
Row 5: YO, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 5 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1.
Row 6: K1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] 4 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1.
Row 7: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Row 8: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] twice, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] twice.
Row 9: [YO, ssk, k1tbl, p1] twice, [k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1] twice.
Row 10: [K1tbl, yo, ssk, p1] twice, [k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1] twice.
Row 11: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Row 12: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] twice, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] twice.
Row 13: [YO, ssk, k1tbl, p1] twice, [k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1] twice.
Rows 14-17: Repeat Rows 10-13.
Row 18: [K1tbl, p1] twice, k1tbl, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times.

Athabasca size large

Rows 1-4: [K1tbl, p1] across.
Row 5: YO, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 6 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1.
Row 6: K1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] 5 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k1tbl, p1.
Row 7: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 4 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Row 8: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] 3 times, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] twice.
Row 9: [YO, ssk, k1tbl, p1] twice, k1tbl, p1, [k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1] twice.
Row 10: [K1tbl, yo, ssk, p1] twice, k1tbl, [p1, k2tog, yo, k1tbl] twice, p1.Row 11: K1tbl, p1, yo, ssk, [k1tbl, p1] 4 times, k1tbl, k2tog, yo, p1, k1tbl, p1.
Row 12: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, yo, ssk, [p1, k1tbl] 3 times, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] twice.
Row 13: [YO, ssk, k1tbl, p1] twice, k1tbl, [p1, k1tbl, k2tog, yo] twice, p1.
Rows 14-17: Repeat Rows 10-13.
Row 18: [K1tbl, p1] twice, k1tbl, yo, ssk, p1, k1tbl, p1, k2tog, yo, [k1tbl, p1] 3 times.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using your preferred stretchy method, CO 56[64, 72] . Distribute across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Note or mark start of round.

Ribbing round: (K1tbl, p1) around.
Work ribbing as set for 0.5 inch /1.5 cm.

Leg
Leg round: Work appropriate size chart 4 times around.

Work as set to desired length, making a note of which chart row you ended with. Red sample has 3 pattern repeats worked, for a leg approximately 6 inches/15 m long. Blue sample has 2 full pattern repeats for a leg approximately 4 inches/ 10 cm long.

Heel Flap
The heel is worked on the first 28[32, 36] sts of the round, group them together on one needle for ease of working; the rem 28[32, 36] sts are held for the instep.
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1 pwise wyib, (p1, k1tbl) 13[15, 17] times, p1.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 pwise wyib, (p1tbl, k1) 13[15, 17] times, p1tbl.
Repeat Rows 1-2 14[15, 16] times more.

Heel Turn
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1, k 15[17, 18] , ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p 5[5, 4] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until 18[20, 22] sts remain.

Final RS row [RS]: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, turn.
Final WS row [WS]: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, turn.
16[18, 20] sts remain.

Gusset
Setup round 1: K 16[18, 20] heel sts, then pick up and knit 12[14, 18] sts in edge of heel flap. This position will be the start of the instep; distribute sts or place a marker as required; pick up and purl 1 st, work next chart row across previous 28[32, 36] sts of instep – 29[33, 37] sts for instep. This position is the start of the sole; distribute sts or place a marker as required. Pick up and knit 12[14, 18] sts along second edge of heel flap; k 8[9, 10] sts of heel. This position is the new start of round. Distribute sts or place marker as required. 69[79, 93] sts.

Gusset Decreases
Decrease round: K until 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1, slip marker, p1, work next row of chart across instep, k1, ssk, k until end of round. 2 sts decreased.
Next round: K to instep, p1, work next row of chart across rem instep sts, k to end of round.
Repeat last 2 rounds 5[6, 9] more times, until 57[65, 73] sts remain.

Foot
Upper Foot round: K to instep; work across instep in pattern as set, k to end of round.
Work as set until you have completed 2 full repeats of the chart.

Lower Foot round: K to instep, p1, (k1tbl, p1) to end of instep, k to end of round.

Repeat Lower Foot round until foot measures 1.75[2, 2.25] inches / 4.5[5, 6] cm short of desired finished foot length.

Toe
Decrease round: K until 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1; K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to end of round.
Following round: Knit.
Repeat last 2 rounds 8[10, 11] more times, until 21[21, 25] sts remain.

Final decrease round: K to instep; k1, ssk, k to end of instep and stop here. 20[20, 24] sts remain.
Graft toe closed.

FINISHING

Wash and lay flat to dry. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername

Kayla Baldwin designs using the name Naturalknits. Specializing knitting intricate patterns with a botanical focus. Her goal is to provide patterns that make the beautifully complicated knitting simple. She wants to make the technical accessible, for everyone, no matter the skill level or the brand of yarn you are using.

Find her on Instagram and Ravelry. Stay tuned for more upcoming designs of sweaters and socks. As a way to give back to the knitting community, she gives the first 50 copies of all new patterns free.