(pronunciation: ma-eva)

I got inspired by those new versions of gussets. After looking at many, many stitch patterns and some nights worth of creative sleep, I woke with this design in my head.

From the toe emerges a cable, broadening to the whole instep. Then the gusset divides it. Those cables give some interest, but are also entirely doable by a not-so-experienced knitter. The leg part contains small seed stitch ribs, which break that sometimes boring stockinette stitch.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L]
which equals shoe size US Women’s 6-7[7½-8½, 9-10, 10-11]/US Men’s 4½-5½ [6-7, 7½-8, 8½-9]/EU 36-37[38-39, 40-41, 42-43]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot length 9.25[9.75,10.5, 11] inches.
See pattern notes for information on resizing to fit.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Lana Grossa Meilenweit Soja [60% Merino, 20% Soy, 20% Nylon; 200 m/m per 50g skein]; color: 15, 2 skeins


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #0/2mm double-point needles
OR
1 long US #0/2mm circular needle for magic loop method
OR
2 US #0/2mm circular needles for two-circulars method

Notions
yarn needle
scissors
stitch markers

GAUGE

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

Wrap & Turn [W&T] – used when working short rows To wrap and turn on a RS row, knit to point specified in pattern, bring yarn to front of work between needles, slip next stitch to right-hand needle, bring yarn around this stitch to back of work, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, turn work to begin purling back in the other direction.   To wrap and turn on a WS row, purl to point specified in pattern, bring yarn to back of work between needles, slip next stitch to right-hand needle, bring yarn around this stitch to front of work, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, turn work to begin knitting back in the other direction.  

Working Wraps Together with Wrapped Stitches: When working rows which follow short rows, work the "wraps" at the turning points of the short rows, together with the stitches they wrap, as follows:   When working a RS row: Knit to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle, use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, insert left needle into both wrap and stitch, and knit them together.   When working a WS row: Purl to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle, use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, slip both wrap and stitch back to left needle, purl together through back loops.  

M1L: Left-leaning Lifted Increase. Insert your left needle, from front to back, under the left leg of the stitch two rows below the stitch just knit. Knit into the back of this stitch.

M1R: Right-leaning Lifted Increase. Insert your right needle, from front to back, under the right leg of the stitch below the first stitch on the left needle. Transfer this stitch to your left needle and knit into the front of it.

DIRECTIONS
Toe
Using Judy’s Magic Cast On,
CO 28 sts.

Toe round: Work chart 1 twice across round.

Work until Round 17[17, 19, 19] of chart 1 is complete. 60[60 64, 64] sts.

Work until round 42[42, 49, 49] of chart 2a or 2b are complete. 62[62, 66, 66] sts.

Gusset
Foot round: Work chart 3a[3a, 3b, 3b] for the instep, knit to end of round.

Work until round 41[41,44, 44] of chart 3a or 3b is complete.

Next round: Work chart in pattern as established, stopping after stitch 15[15, 16, 16] of the sole.

If it is too short, work additional rounds continuing the cable pattern. If it is too long, unfortunately you may want to undo a few rounds and adjust the gusset. Add or reduce rounds only in even numbers, remembering to stop partway through the final round.

Starting at stitch 16[16, 17, 17] of the sole, where you left off after the gusset, proceed as follows:

For sizes M & L:
Row 1 [RS]: K15, wrap and turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P30, wrap and turn.

For all sizes:
Row 1 [RS]: K14[14,29,29], wrap and turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P28, wrap and turn.
Row 3 [RS]: K27, wrap and turn.
Row 4 [WS]: P26, wrap and turn.
Row 5 [RS]: K25, wrap and turn.
Row 6 [WS]: P24, wrap and turn.
Row 7 [RS]: K23, wrap and turn.
Row 8 [WS]: P22, wrap and turn.
Row 9 [RS]: K21, wrap and turn.
Row 10 [WS]: P20, wrap and turn.
Row 11 [RS]: K19, wrap and turn.
Row 12 [WS]: P18, wrap and turn.

For sizes M & L:
Row 13 [RS]: K9.

For sizes XS and S:
Row 13 [RS]: K17, wrap and turn.
Row 14 [WS]: P16, wrap and turn.
Row 15 [RS]: K8.

Now work one round, using the last round given in chart 3a[3a, 3b, 3b] for the instep, and knitting the sole stitches, knitting the wrapped stitches together with their wraps.  Stop at center back, that is after stitch 15[15, 16, 16] of the sole.

To avoid holes, the last gusset stitch gets decreased working in rounds again. This is included in the leg chart.

Stop where the chart ends. This is new beginning of round. You now have 61[61, 65, 65] stitches.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Stefanie got introduced to knitting by her Mom at the age of about 8. Since then, she's added lots of techniques and other crafts to her repertoire, thanks to books and the internet.

She blogs here [in German], and you can find her on Ravelry.