by James Magee

This pattern is bicontinental. The yarn was purchased while on vacation in Sydney, Australia, a city I lived in years ago and still love. The store was found down a back alley (!) off a main street in Sydney's CBD (“central business district” - it’s Australian for “downtown”). The colors were chosen to go together but they didn't know what they wanted to be at the time I purchased the yarn.

When I got home, I was inspired both by memories of Sydney and by being back in Montreal, a city I love just as much. When I started playing with the yarn it became clear very quickly that a strong geometric stranded color pattern was required by the bold colors that I had chosen. These socks are perfect for a bitter Canadian winter -- a squishy, warm, stranded wool sock is just the thing -- but the bright blue, grey, and yellow yarns recall the warmth of a Sydney spring day both in the knitting and in the wearing.

SIZE
Men's M[L, XL]
corresponding to US shoe sizes 8.5-10[10.5-12, 12.5-14]
(Shown in size L)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 7.5[8.75, 10] inches, unstretched
Leg height: adjustable to fit
Foot length: adjustable to fit

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Morris Yarns Empire 4ply [100% superwash Merino wool; 175 metres per 50 gram skein]; 408: Bluestone; 2[2, 2] skeins.
[CC1] Morris Yarns Empire 4ply [100% superwash Merino wool; 175 metres per 50 gram skein]; 428: French Grey; 1[1, 1] skein.
[CC2] Morris Yarns Empire 4ply [100% superwash Merino wool; 175 metres per 50 gram skein]; 419: Sheen; 1[1, 1] skein.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75 mm needles for working in the round

Notions
yarn needle
2 stitch markers

GAUGE

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

I only used 16 g of a 50 g skein of CC2 for a pair of size L socks.

DIRECTIONS
CUFF
Using CC2, CO 54[63, 72]. Distribute sts as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Ribbing round: [K2, p1] around.

Work Ribbing round once more.

Change to MC. Knit 1 round.

Work Ribbing round.

Change to CC1. Knit 1 round.

Work Ribbing round 3 times.

Change to MC. Knit 1 round.

Work Ribbing round 14 times.

Increase round: [K8, m1, k1] around. 60[70, 80] sts total.

Leg
*Leg round: Work Leg Chart 5[6, 7] times around.

Work as set until 7 rounds of Leg Chart are complete.

Next round: Work Leg Chart round 8 4[5, 6] times, and 5 sts of a 5th[6th, 7th] repeat. (Final 5 sts of chart unworked.) This is the new start of round.

Repeat from * until 6[7, 8] full repeats of the chart are worked.

After last round, knit 4[1, 4] st in MC, leaving 1[4, 1] sts unworked at end of chart repeat. Turn. Cut CC1 and CC2.

Heel flap
WS is facing.
Heel flap row 1 [WS]: Working in MC, p31[35, 41]. Turn.
Heel flap row 2 [RS]: [Sl1, k1] 15[17, 20] times, sl1. Turn.
Repeat Heel flap rows 1-2 11[13, 15] more times.
Rejoin CC1. Repeat Heel flap rows 1-2 twice.  Cut CC1.
Switch to MC. Repeat Heel flap rows 1-2 once.
Rejoin CC2. Repeat Heel flap rows 1-2 once. Cut CC2.
Switch to MC. Repeat Heel flap row 1 once.

Heel turn
Heel Turn is worked in MC.

Medium Size:
Heel turn row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k16, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 2 [WS]. Sl1, p4, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 3 [RS]. Sl1, k5, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 4 [WS]. Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 5 [RS]. Sl1, k7, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 6 [WS]. Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 7 [RS]. Sl1, k9, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 8 [WS]. Sl1, p10, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 9 [RS]. Sl1, k11, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 10 [WS]. Sl1, p12, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 11 [RS]. Sl1, k13, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 12 [WS]. Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 13 [RS]. Sl1, k15, ssk. Turn.
Heel turn row 14 [WS]. Sl1, p15, p2tog. Turn.
Heel turn row 15 [RS]. Sl1, k to end. 17 sts across heel.

Large Size:
Heel turn row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k18, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 2 [WS]. Sl1, p4, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 3 [RS]. Sl1, k5, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 4 [WS]. Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 5 [RS]. Sl1, k7, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 6 [WS]. Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 7 [RS]. Sl1, k9, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 8 [WS]. Sl1, p10, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 9 [RS]. Sl1, k11, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 10 [WS]. Sl1, p12, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 11 [RS]. Sl1, k13, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 12 [WS]. Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 13 [RS]. Sl1, k15, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 14 [WS]. Sl1, p16, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 15 [RS]. Sl1, k17, ssk. Turn.
Heel turn row 16 [WS]. Sl1, p17, p2tog. Turn.
Heel turn row 17 [RS]. Sl1, k to end. 19 sts across heel.

Extra-large Size:
Heel turn row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k22, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 2 [WS]. Sl1, p6, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 3 [RS]. Sl1, k7, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 4 [WS]. Sl1, p8, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 5 [RS]. Sl1, k9, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 6 [WS]. Sl1, p10, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 7 [RS]. Sl1, k11, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 8 [WS]. Sl1, p12, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 9 [RS]. Sl1, k13, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 10 [WS]. Sl1, p14, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 11 [RS]. Sl1, k15, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 12 [WS]. Sl1, p16, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 13 [RS]. Sl1, k17, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 14 [WS]. Sl1, p18, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 15 [RS]. Sl1, k19, ssk, k1. Turn.
Heel turn row 16 [WS]. Sl1, p20, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Heel turn row 17 [RS]. Sl1, k21, ssk. Turn.
Heel turn row 18 [WS]. Sl1, p21, p2tog. Turn.
Heel turn row 19 [RS]. Sl1, k to end. 23 sts across heel.

Note: For size L, the top st of the gusset on each side will be added to the instep. Place marker or rearrange stitches as desired. 79[91, 103] sts total, 29[37, 39] for instep, 50[54, 64] for sole.

Gusset decrease
Gusset decrease round 1: Work 29[37, 39] instep sts, starting at st 10[6, 10] of Round 2 of Leg Chart.  There will be 2[8, 2] sts left unworked at the end of the chart repeat. Using MC, ssk. Work 47[51, 61] sts according to Sole Chart, (starting at stitch 1) leaving 3[4, 4] sts unworked at the end of the chart repeat.

Using MC, k1.

Gusset decrease round 2: Work 29[37, 39] sts using Leg Chart. Using MC, k1. Work to last 2 sts using Sole Chart. Using MC, k2tog.

Repeat Gusset decrease rounds 1-2 8[9, 10] times more, then round 1 once more. 

Note: After every SSK gusset decrease, the first st worked of the Sole Chart will move one to the left in order to maintain sole pattern.   The number of sole stitches changes, and therefore you won’t always have an even multiple of 5 on which to work the Sole Chart.  What’s important is that the sole pattern stays aligned.  If it’s helpful, use markers to divide up the repeats.
Foot
Foot round: Work 29[37, 39] sts following Leg Chart, maintaining pattern of staggered circles as with Leg. Using MC, k1. Work 29[31, 39] sts using Sole Chart. Using MC, k1.

Continue even in pattern as set until foot measures 2[2.5, 3] inches less than desired foot length, ending with Round 8 of Leg Chart and Sole Chart. Cut CC1 & CC2.

Toe
Using MC, k1. This is the new start of round.

Setup markers: K30[35, 40]; place marker for end of instep, k to end of round.

Decrease round: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2 to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1.

Next round: Knit.

Repeat last 2 rounds 5[7, 9] times more, until 36[38, 40] sts rem.

Rejoin CC1. Work a Decrease round followed by an even round, twice.

Cut CC1. Switch to MC. Work a Decrease round followed by an even round.

Cut MC. Rejoin to CC2. Work a Decrease round followed by an even round. 20[22, 24] sts total.

Work one more Decrease round. 16[18, 20] sts.

Using CC2, graft together remaining sts to close toe.

FINISHING
Close up any gaps at each top of heel flap using duplicate stitch. Weave in all ends. Block.

Whenever male knitters complain that there are no fun patterns for men, people tell them to design their own. James has decided to take up this challenge.

He can be found as mymaille on Ravelry.