INTRODUCTION

Battle of Wills

by Rich Ensor

Let the record reflect that I love this yarn. It has that warm, squishy feel that you really want in a winter sock. The shade of blue is my very favorite shade of blue. It's a bold jewel toned blue that is absolutely gorgeous.

All that said, this yarn and I may have had words. I had this amazing (I thought) idea which combined some lace and some twisted stitch cables. It was a grand set of plans; however, the yarn had other ideas. The lacy bits got lost in the thickness of the yarn. The twisted stitches just never looked right.

There is something you may not know about me. I inherited a certain trait from my father. Some would describe this trait as stubbornness. I prefer to think of it as an intense dedication. I was determined to make socks from this yarn.

It only took 5 attempts. Yes, that's right, I worked 3 inches of a sock leg 5 times before I was happy with what I was seeing. (BTW, kudos to this yarn for standing up to being ripped out so many times). I landed on a thicker, chunkier cable. Thick, chunky cables aren't known for negative ease, so there are only two cables that go down the legs, and one cable that makes its way down the instep.

The pattern is mirrored; although, it really is the same cable on each sock. It's just a trick of placement that provides the mirror. The result is a pair of comfy socks perfect for kicking back on a chilly winter's day with your favorite hot beverage.

photos: Rich Ensor

SIZE

Adult S[M, L]

FINISHED

Foot Circumference: 7.5[8.5, 9.5] inches/ 19[21, 24] cm
Foot Length: adjustable
Leg Length: adjustable

Choose a size with approximately 1 inches/2.5cm negative ease in the foot circumference.

MATERIALS

Dragonfly Fibers Dragon Sock [100% Merino Wool; 390yd/357m per 4 oz/114 g skein]; color: Blue Velvet; 1 skein

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 needles for small circumference in the round

Notions
yarn needle
cable needle

GAUGE

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

PATTERN NOTES

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

C4R: Place 2 sts on cn and hold to back; k2, k2 from cn.
C4L: Place 2 sts on cn and hold to front; k2, k2 from cn.
T4L: Place 2 sts on cn and hold to front; p2, k2 from cn.
T4R: Place 2 sts on cn and hold to back; k2, p2 from cn.

Techniques

• Kitchener Stitch

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Socks (make 2)

Cuff

With your favorite stretchy method, CO 56[64, 72] stitches.
Distribute stitches across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Right Cuff Round: *K1, work Battle of the Wills Chart, (k1, p2, k1) 2[3, 4] times, k1, p2; rep from * to end of round.

Left Cuff Round: *(P2, k2) 2[3, 4] times, p2, k1, work Battle of the Wills Chart, k1; rep from * to end of round.

Repeat appropriate Cuff Round for a total of 18 rounds or to desired length of cuff.

Leg
Right Leg Round: *K1, Work Battle of the Wills Chart, k 11[15, 19] ; rep from * to end of round.

Left Leg Round: *K 11[15, 17] , work Battle of the Wills Chart, k1; rep from * to end of round.

Work appropriate Leg Round to desired length of leg is achieved ending on an even numbered row of the chart.

Heel Flap
The heel flap is knit back and forth on a total of 28[32, 36] stitches. Turn work so that wrong side is facing.

Right Heel Flap Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 10[14, 18] , work next row of Battle of the Wills Chart, p1; turn.
Right Heel Flap Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, work next row of Battle of the Wills Chart, k1, (sl 1 wyib, k1) 5[7, 9] times, turn.

Left Heel Flap Row 1 [WS]: Sl1 wyif, work next row of Battle of the Wills Chart, p 11[15, 19] ; turn.
Left Heel Flap Row 2 [RS]: (Sl1 wyib, k1) 5[7, 9] times, sl1, work next row of Battle of the Wills Chart, k1, turn.

Repeat appropriate Heel Flap rows 1-2 13[15, 17] times more for a total of 28[32, 36] rows in the heel flap.

Heel Turn
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p 16[18, 20] , p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k9, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k11, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k13, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 9 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p14, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 10 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k15, ssk, k1, turn.

Small size only: 18[-, -] sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 11 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p16, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 12 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k17, ssk, k1, turn.

Medium size only: -[20, -] sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 13 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p18, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 14 [RS]: Sl 1 wyib, k19, ssk, k1, turn. 22 sts.

Gusset
Gusset Set Up Round: With right side facing, pick up and knit 14[16, 18] stitches along the first side of the heel flap. Work the next 28[32, 36] stitches in pattern as set. Pick up and knit 14[16, 18] along the second side of the heel flap, knit across heel stitches and first set of gusset stitches. This is the new start of round. 74[84, 94] sts.

Gusset Round 1: Work the next 28[32, 36] stitches in pattern as set; k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Gusset Round 2: Work the next 28[32, 36] stitches in pattern as set; k to end of round.

Repeat Gusset Rounds 1 and 2 8[9, 10] times more. 56[64, 72] sts.

Foot
Continue working the instep in pattern as set and knitting the sole stitches to the foot length is approximately 1.5[1.5, 1.75] inches/ 4[4, 4.5] cm short of desired length.

Toe
Toe Round 1: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1; ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 4 sts decreased.

Toe Round 2: K all sts.

Repeat Toe Rounds 1-2 to 28[32, 36] total stitches remain. Work Toe Round 1 (decreasing every round) to 16[20, 24] total stitches remain.

FINISHING

Cut the yarn leaving a 12-inch/30cm tail and graft the rem sts together. Block and 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 Tampa, Florida with four cats who think that stitch markers solely exist to entertain them. He can be found online at thatbaldguyknits.com and on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2017 Rich Ensor.