Overview
This super simple lace pattern alternates a four-stitch faggot sequence with plain knitting. The columns wander a bit drunkenly. They're supposed to do that. Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy, 450 yards (411 meters), 4 ounces (113 grams), or any standard fingering-weight yarn. Needles: U.S. #1 (2.25mm). Gauge: 7-8 st/inch.
Staggered Lace Chart
Charted using the Kauri Knits font by Kauricat
Chart Legend
knit purl yarnover k2tog
Staggered Lace Pattern
Rnd 1: \*K2tog, yo, K2, P3, K4, P3, rpt from \* Rnd 2: $\bf{*}\bf{K}\bf{2}$ , yo, K2tog, P3, K4, P3, rpt from \* Rnds 3-10: Rpt rounds 1 & 2 four times. Rnd 11: $\mathrm{^{*}K4}$ , P3, K2tog, yo, K2, rpt from \* Rnd 12: $\mathrm{}^{\ast}\mathrm{K}4$ , P3, K2, yo, K2tog, rpt from \* Rnds 13-20: Repeat rounds 11 & 12 4 times.
Abbreviations
$\mathbf{K}=\mathbf{k}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{t},$ ， $\ensuremath{\mathbf{P}}=\ensuremath{\mathbf{p}}\ensuremath{\mathbf{u}}\ensuremath{\mathbf{r}}]$ K2tog $=$ knit 2 together rpt $=$ repeat $\mathrm{Sl}=\mathrm{slip}$ st $=$ stitch $\mathrm{SSK=slip}$ , slip, knit $\mathrm{{WYIB=}}$ with yarn in back $\mathrm{WYIF=}$ with yarn in front $\mathbf{y0=}$ yarnover
Begin
Cast on 56 stitches, place marker, and join in a round. Tip: a good way to make this join nice and tight is to do a long-tail cast on, then knit in the back of the first stitch with the tail, in the front of the same stitch with the working yarn, and proceed as usual. You will have two stitches instead of one. On the next round, knit those two stitches together and give the tail a little tug. K4, P3 for 10 rounds Work four repeats of Staggered Lace pattern (80 rounds). On the very last round DO NOT purl the last 2 sts. Just P1 and STOP.
Divide for Heel
There will be 29 stitches on the instep, and 27 on the heel. Here's how: Turn work and then - Row 1: K1, P25, Sl1 WYIF (these are your 27 heel stitches; distribute the remaining 29 stitches evenly between two needles). Row 2: K1, Sl1, repeat from \* to last stitch then Sl1 WYIF (yes, you are slipping two stitches at the end - one WYIB, the last WYIF) Repeat these two rows 14 more times for a total of 30 heel flap rows.
Turn Heel
Row 1: K1, P13, P2tog, P1, turn Row 2: Sl1, K2, SSK, K1, turn (there will be a small gap between working and unworked sts) Row 3: Sl1, purl to within 1 st of gap, P2tog, P1, turn Row 4: Sl1, knit to within 1 st of gap, SSK, K1, turn Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches are worked, ending with a completed row 4. There should be 15 sts left on heel flap.
Gusset
Pick Up Stitches
Pick up 15 sts along the right side of the heel flap (one for every slipped st). Then pick up 2 extra sts between the heel and the instep. Exactly where to pick up these sts is a topic of much debate in the sock world. Here's how I do it - Look for the crossbar between the last heel st and the last instep st. Pick up one st in the loop on either side of this crossbar. Continue in pattern as established across instep (beginning and ending with P2). Pick up the 2 extra sts between instep and heel and then pick up 15 sts along remaining side of heel flap. Grand total of $78$ sts (15 after heel turn $^+$ 34 picked up $+~29$ instep). Beginning of round is now the center of the heel.
Close Gusset Top
Knit to last two sts on heel, SSK, knit in pattern as established across instep, K2tog, knit to end.
Gusset Decreases
Rnd 1: Knit to last three sts on heel, K2tog, K1, knit in pattern as established across instep, K1, SSK, knit to end. Rnd 2: Work in established pattern on instep, and knit sole sts. Repeat Rnds 1 & 2 until 56 sts remain (27 on heel).
Foot
Continue working in established pattern on instep and knitting sole sts until $3\,^{1/2}$ pattern repeats have been completed (7o rounds, counting from gusset begin). On last round, knit across sole to beginning of instep.
Round Toe
$\bf{\Psi}^{*}\bf{K}\bf{5}$ K2tog, rpt from \* -- 48 sts Knit 5 rounds. $\mathrm{}^{\ast}\mathrm{K}4$ , K2tog, rpt from \* -- 40 sts Knit 4 rounds. $\mathrm{^{\ast}K3}$ , K2tog, rpt from \* -- 32 sts Knit 3 rounds. $\bf{*}\bf{K}\bf{2}$ , K2tog, rpt from \* -- 24 sts Knit 2 rounds. $\bf{\ddot{\tau}}\bf{K}\bf{1}$ , K2tog, rpt from \* -- 16 sts Knit 1 round. \*K2tog, rpt from \* -- 8 sts Break yarn, thread tail through the 8 sts, and weave in on inside of sock.
