by Josiah Bain

Along the Dwarves' journey to the Lonely Mountain, there was that part with Gandalf's going to Dol Guldur that wasn't written in the book, but I was fine with that. It did happen, even if it wasn't recorded in The Hobbit. Legolas in the movie was a little harder to let slide, but I convinced myself that he did live in the elves' palace in Mirkwood even if Tolkien hadn't invented him yet, so he could have been an unnamed elf on the sidelines of the book.

But, back to Tauriel. I was ready to hate her; to tell my friends that she was terrible; to refrain from buying the Special Extended version just because of her presence in the film. But; I liked her so much, I had the notion to design a pair of socks with inspiration drawn from her personality and some of the architecture from a few of the scenes from the palace of Thranduil.

And, after trial and error, the sock's pattern appeared on my double-pointed needles.

The design captured my mind, and the more I looked at it, the more of the pattern's intricacy emerged. Depending on how you look at it, the socks could be soft and round, or hard and angular; just like Tauriel. The gusset stitches and toe feature a twisted stitch ribbing that adds to the downward flow of these socks. These socks are knit best in a solid or semi-solid color, so that any crazy color patterning doesn't make a jarring effect on your fabric.

SIZE
Adult S[M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 7[8, 9] inches
Foot Length: Adjustable to fit

MATERIALS
Yarn
Spud and Chlöe Fine [80% Wool, 20% Silk; 248 yd/227 m per 65g skein]; color: Green Bean; 2 skeins

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

Notions
stitch markers
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

Pay close attention to working the toe; on the first section, the instep stitches are the only ones decreased, and then on the second section, both sides (the instep and the sole) are decreased on the same rounds.

Grafting:
Instructions for grafting can be found here:
http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html

SSP: Slip 2 sts individually knitwise, return them to the left needle and purl those 2 st together through the back loops.

1/1 LPT: Sl next st to cn and hold in front; p1, k1 tbl from cn.
1/1 RPT: Sl next st to cn and hold in back; k1 tbl, p1 from cn.
1/1 LT: Sl next st to cn and hold in front; k1 tbl, k1 tbl from cn.
1/1 RT: Sl next st to cn and hold in back; k1 tbl, k1 tbl from cn.

Ribbing rnd: Work Ribbing row of Right Chart four times around.

Rep this rnd until cuff measures 1 inch from cast on edge.

Leg
Work Right Chart four times over the round.

Work as set, repeating chart Rows 1-24 until you have completed 2 full repeats, and 21 rounds of a third repeat.

Heel
Set up: P1[3, 5]. This is the start of the heel flap. Rearrange sts as you prefer.

Begin to work back and forth in rows.

Row 1, size S only [RS]: K7, p2, k7, p1, k7, p2, k7, turn.
Row 1, size M only [RS]: K7, p2, k7, p2tog, p1, k7, p2, k7, turn.
Row 1, size L only [RS]: K7, p2, k7, p2tog, p3, k7, p2, k7, turn.

33[34, 36] sts on heel flap; 35[41, 47] sts rem on instep.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p6, k2, p7, k1[2, 4], p7, k2, p7, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: (Sl1, k1) 3 times, sl1, p2, (k1, sl1) 3 times, k1, p1[2, 4], (sl, k1) 3 times, sl1, p2, (k1, sl1) 3 times, k1, turn.

Rep Rows 2-3 until heel flap measures 2[2.25, 2.75] inches, or until desired length, ending with a WS row.

Heel Turn
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k17[18, 19], ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p4[5, 5], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k5[6, 6], ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, p6[7, 7], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5 [RS]: Sl1, k7[8, 8], ssk, k1, turn.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, p8[9, 9], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Sl1, k9[10, 10], ssk, k1, turn.
Row 8 [WS]: Sl1, p10[11, 11], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl1, k11[12, 12] ssk, k1, turn.
Row 10 [WS]: Sl1, p12[13, 13] p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 11 [RS]: Sl1, k13[14, 14] ssk, k1, turn.
Row 12 [WS]: Sl1, p14[15, 15] p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 13 [RS]: Sl1, k15[16, 16] ssk, k1, turn.
Row 14 [WS]: Sl1, p16[17, 17] p2tog, p1, turn.

L size only:
Row 15 [RS]: Sl1, k18, ssk, turn.
Row 16 [WS]: Sl1, p18, p2tog, turn.

All sizes:
19[20, 20] sts remain.

Gussets
Return to working in the round as follows:
Next rnd: Sl1, k8[9, 9], m1[0, 0]; pm for center of sole, k10[10, 11]. Pick up and knit 1 st in every chain selvedge st and m1 in the corner between heel flap and instep. Over instep, work row 22 of chart 2 times, p1[3, 5]. In the corner between the heel flap and instep, m1, pick up and knit 1 st in every chain selvedge stitch. K across 20[20, 20] heel sts, and knit across the sole to the start of the instep. This is the new start of round.

Next rnd: Work row 23 of chart 2 times, p1[3, 5]. (K1 tbl, p1) to 13[15, 17] sts before center of sole marker, noting which stitch that you left off with (See Notes). K1, pm. K to the center of sole marker. K13[15, 17], pm, k1, and work in 1x1 twisted stitch ribbing to the end of the round, beginning with the same stitch you left off with on previous ribbed section.

NOTE: After this round, you may remove the center of sole marker. It is not needed any more.

Rnd 1: Work next row of chart 2 times, p1[3, 5]. Work sts as set in ribbing to 2 sts before marker, k2tog. Knit to the next marker, sm, ssk, work sts as set in ribbing to the end of rnd.
Rnd 2: Work next row of chart 2 times, p1[3, 5]. Work sts as set in ribbing to 1 st before marker, k1, sm. K to the next marker, sm, k1, work sts as set in ribbing to the end of the rnd.
Repeat these 2 rnds until there is only 1 st between both markers and the instep. 28[32, 36] sts remain on sole; 35[41, 47] sts on instep- 63[73, 83] sts total.

Foot
Foot round: Work across instep as set; k to end of round.

Important Note: Read this next instruction fully before you proceed.

Continue even as set, until the foot measures 2.5[2.75, 3] inches less than desired length. You need to end the foot patterning on chart row 9, 12, 21 or 24. Measure the foot as you proceed: if you're getting close to the desired length when you hit one of those rows, stop and work even in the ribbing pattern as set until desired length is achieved.

Toe
Rnd 1: P0[1, 1], p2tog, work next 14[16, 18] sts as set in ribbing pattern, p1[p2tog, p3tog], work sts as set in ribbing to 2[3, 3] sts before the end of the instep, ssp, p0[1, 1]; k to end of rnd. 61[70, 79] sts -- 33[38, 43] on instep, 28[32, 36] on sole.
Rnd 2: Work sts as set around.
Rnd 3: P0[1, 1], p2tog work sts as set in ribbing to the last 2[3, 3] instep sts, ssp p0[1, 1]. K to end of rnd. 2 sts decreased.
Rep rnds 2-3 1[2, 2] more times, until 29[32, 37] sts remain on the instep. 57[64, 73] sts total.

S and L sizes only:
Next rnd: P0[1], p2tog, work sts as set to the end of the instep sts, k to the end of the rnd. 56[-, 72] sts.

All sizes:
Rnd 1: Work sts as set around.
Rnd 2: P0[1, 1], p2tog, work sts as set in ribbing to the last 2[3, 3] instep sts, ssp, p0[1, 1]. Ssk, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog. 4 sts decreased.
Rep Rnds 1-2 8[10, 11] more times, until 20[20, 24], sts remain; 10[10, 12] each on instep and sole.
Work rnd 2 once more. 16[16, 20] sts rem; 8[8, 10] each on instep and sole.

LEFT SOCK
Cuff
CO 68[76, 84] sts. Distribute sts across needle as you prefer and join for working in the round. Note: it's easiest if you arrange your stitches so that each needle has a multiple of 17[19, 21] sts.

Ribbing rnd: Work Ribbing row of Left Chart four times around.
Rep this rnd until cuff measures 1 inch from cast on edge.

Leg
Work Left Chart four times over the round.

Work as set, repeating chart Rows 1-24 until you have completed 2 full repeats, and 21 rounds of a third repeat.

Heel
Work as for Right Sock, starting at Row 1. (Do NOT work the Setup.)

Heel Turn
Work as for Right Sock.

Gussets
Return to working in the round as follows:
Next rnd: Sl1, k8[9, 9], m1[0, 1]; pm for center of sole, k10[10, 11]. Pick up and knit 1 st in every chain selvedge st and m1 in the corner between heel flap and instep. Over instep, p1[3, 5], work row 22 of chart 2 times. In the corner between the heel flap and instep, m1, pick up and knit 1 st in every chain selvedge stitch. K10[10, 11], sm, k10[10, 11] and knit across the sole to the instep. This is the new start of round.

Next rnd: P1[3, 5], work row 23 of chart 2 times over the instep. (K1 tbl, p1) to 13[15, 17] sts before center of sole marker, noting which stitch that you left off with (See Notes). K1, pm. K to the center of sole marker. K13[15, 17], pm, k1, and work in 1x1 twisted stitch ribbing to the end of the round, beginning with the same stitch you left off with on previous ribbed section.
NOTE: After this round, remove the center of sole marker. It is not needed any more.

Rnd 1: P1[3, 5], work next row of chart 2 times. Work sts as set in ribbing to 2 sts before marker, k2tog. Knit to the next marker, sm, ssk, work sts as set in ribbing to the end of rnd.
Rnd 2: P1[3, 5], work next row of chart 2 times. Work sts as set in ribbing to 1 st before marker, k1, sm. K to the next marker, sm, k1, work sts as set in ribbing to the end of the rnd.

Repeat these 2 rnds until there is only 1 st between both markers and the instep. 28[32, 36] sts remain on sole. 35[41, 47] sts on instep -- 63[73, 83] sts total.

Foot
Work as for Right Sock.

Toe
Work as for Right Sock.

FINISHING
With the Kitchener stitch, graft toe sts together and weave in ends.
Block as desired.

Although his studio is in his Mind Palace, Josiah Bain (15) actually lives in a house full of siblings, books, and yarn in the desert of Idaho. He is a punctuation nerd and belongs to several fandoms including (but not limited to) Sherlock, Doctor Who, and The Hobbit and LOTR.

In the manner of previously published designs, he is currently writing a novel, and compiling his designs for a book with musically inspired socks. On Ravelry, his username is aka1. He blogs at The Sock Monkey.