Little Birds Sock Pattern by Jill Bickers: Detailed Instructions for Knitting Unique Socks

Little Birds by Jill Bickers

The inspiration for these socks came from a lovely sweater I recently purchased. I loved the pattern stitch and wanted to incorporate it into a sock design. Beautiful as the stitch pattern is, I thought it would be prettier and more wearable if it included a rib design. I chose, therefore, to design a rib that would incorporate the pattern stitch. I loved the pattern I came up with, but had no idea what to name it. My husband said that it reminded him of Little Birds, and he is right! So, Little Birds it is! After I knit my protoype socks, I wrote the pattern as a Mystery Sock for the Sock Club at Knitwits Contemporary Yarn Shop in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. It has been knit several times, in several sizes. I am happy now to share this design with you! This is a very easy pattern, but to make it even easier for you I have written the directions for each size separately. So don't be intimidated by the number of pages in this pattern—- you actually only need a few pages to knit it! Find the directions for your size and plunge right in! Copyright Jill Bickers,2014

Size Small

Materials:

1 skein of Sock Yarn, 400-425 yards. It looks fabulous in both semisolids and highly variegated yarns. In a semisolid, the pattern stitching stands out dramatically. In a variegated, you lose some of the pattern definition—- but it does a great job in breaking up pooling. Needles to achieve a gauge of about 8 stitches per inch. Stitch Markers. You will need at least 3. A cable needle may be helpful, though you may choose to execute the pattern stitch without a cable needle. See Glossary for more information on how to do this. Gauge: Approximately 8 stitches per inch. Note: These instructions are written assuming that you are using doublepoints, but there is no reason you can't use the Magic Loop, two circulars, or one small circular.

Cuff

st on 63 stitches. Join your work, placing a marker to note the beginning of the roun Cuff Rib: \*p1 k2 p1 k2 p1. Repeat from \* to the end of the round Repeat the Cuff Rib for 15 rounds or until the sock measures about 1 1 inches.

Transition Round:

5 p1) 5x, PM p1 k2Tog k15 SSK p1 PM (p1 k5 P1). Sock now has 61 Stitches arour

Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 Leg

Rounds 1 and 2:

(P1 k2 S1 1, k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1.

Round 3:

(P1 1/2RC k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 3 times,k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2 p1.

Round 4:

(p1 k5 p1) 5 times, SM p1 k17 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 (P1 k2 S1 1, k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, k1 p1 SM (p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1)

Round 7:

(P1, K2, 1/2 LC,p1) 5 times, SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, p1 SM p1 k2 1/2LC p1.

Round 8:

(p1 k5 p1) 5 times, SM p1 k17 p1 SM p1 k5 pl Repeat Rounds 1-8 until leg is desired length. End leg one stitch before the end of either Round 4 or 8. This last stitch will become the first stitch of the heel flap.

The Heel

The Heel Flap is worked over the next 30 stitches. The remaining 31 stitches comprise the instep stitches and are held on stitch holders or a spare needle.

Heel Flap Set Up Rows

Row 1: sl 1 k to the end Row 2: sl 1 p to the end

Heel Flap

Eye of Partridge Stitch Row 1: \*sl 1,k1. Repeat from \* to the end of the row. Row 2: sl 1, purl to the end of the row. Row 3: sl 1 \*sl 1,k1. Repeat from \* to the last stitch, k1. Row 4: sl 1, purl to the end of the row. Work Rows 1-4 of the Eye of Partridge Stitch 7 times. Counting the Heel Flap Set Up Rows and the Eye of Partridge Stitch Rows, you have worked a totalof30rows. Copyright JillBickers, 2014 Little Birds S pg. 2

Heel Turn:

Row 1: k 17, ssk, k1 turn Row 2: sl 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1 turn. Row 3: sl 1, knit to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, ssk k1. Turn your workaround. Row 4: sl1, purl to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, p2tog p1. Turn your work around. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. 18 stitches remain.

Gusset and Foot

Knit across the heel stitches. With an empty needle, pick up 16 stitches along the edge of the heel flap (1 for every selvedge stitch, plus one extra). Work across the instep stitches in Instep Pattern (see Instep Pattern Box), beginning with whatever round you left off on. If you left off having worked Round 4, begin on Round 5; if you left off having worked Round 8, begin again with Round 1.

Instep Pattern, Size S

Rounds 1 and 2:

k2 S1 1 k2 p1 SM p1\* k2 sl1 k1. Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2.

Round 3:

1/2RC k2 p1 SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2. Round 4: k5 p1, SM p1 k17 p1 SM p1 k5

Round 5 and 6:

k2 S1 1, k2 p1 SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 3 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2.

Round 7:

K2, 1/2 LC, p1 SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 3 times,pl SM p1 k2 1/2LC.

Round 8:

K5 p1 SM p1 k17 p1 SM p1 K5 Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 With an empty needle, pick up 16 stitches along the other side of the heel flap. Using the same needle you just picked up your gusset stitches on, knit across the first 9 stitches of the heel. Slip the remaining heel stitches on to the needle which holds the gusset stitches from the other side. You are now ready to work the gusset decreases, beginning with Needle 1. Needle 1 has 25 stitches on it, Needle 2 has 31, and Needle 3 has 25.

Gusset Decrease Section:

Round 1: Needle 1: k to the last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 2: work instep pattern Needle 3: k1, ssk, k to the end. Round 2: Needle 1: knit · Needle 2: work instep pattern Needle 3: knit Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you are back down to your original 61 stitches. You will have 15 stitches on Needle 1, 31 stitches on Needle 2, and 15 stitches on needle 3. Continue to work the foot, leaving the stitches on Needles 1 and 3 in plain stockinette, while working the instep in pattern. When your sock has reached the base of your big toe, you are ready to start the toe. Having finished either Round 3 or 7 knit one round plain.

The Toe

Divide your stitches so that the first 15 stitches of the round are on needle 1, the next 31 stitches are on needle 2, and the last 15 stitches are on needle 3. Knit to the end of needle 1. On needle 2, k1 ssk and knit to the end of needle. Knit to the end of needle 3. You have 15 stitches on needle 1, 30 on needle 2, and 15 on needle 3. Round 1: On Needle 1 --k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 2—k1, ssk, k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 3-k1, ssk, k to the end of the needle. Round 2: Knit all stitches on all three needles. Alternate Rounds 1 and 2 until 24 stitches remain OR toe is desired length. Knit the stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 3. Finish your toe with the Kitchener Stitch. Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 Little Birds S pg. 4

Size Medium

Materials:

1 skein of Sock Yarn, 400-425 yards. Needles to achieve a gauge of about 8 stitches per inch. Stitch Markers. You will need at least 3. A cable needle may be helpful, though you may choose to execute the pattern stitch without a cable needle. See Glossary (at the end of the document) for more information on how to do this. Gauge: Approximately 8 stitches per inch. Note: These instructions are written assuming that you are using doublepoints, but there is no reason you can't use the Magic Loop, two circulars, or one small circular.

Cuff

st on 63 stitches. Join your work, placing a marker to note the beginning of the roun Cuff Rib: \*p1 k2 p1 k2 p1. Repeat from \* to the end of the round Repeat the Cuff Rib for 15 rounds or until the sock measures about 1 1%2 inches.

Transition Round:

1) 5x, PM p1 k1 m1 k17 m1 k1 p1 PM (p1 k5 p1). Sock now has 65 stitches around

Little Birds M pg. 1 Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014

Leg

Rounds 1 and 2:

(P1 k2 S1 1, k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1.

Round 3 :

(P1 1/2RC k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2 p1. Round 4: (p1 k5 p1) 5 times, SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p Round 5 and 6: (P1 k2 S1 1,k2 p1) 5 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM (p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1)

Round 7:

(P1, K2, 1/2 LC, p1) 5 times, SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, p1 SM p1 k2 1/2LC p1.

Round 8:

(p1 k5 p1) 5 times, SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 Repeat Rounds 1-8 until leg is desired length. End leg two stitches before the end of either Round 4 or 8. These two stitches will become the first two stitches of the heel flap.

The Heel

The Heel Flap is worked over the next 32 stitches. The remaining 33 stitches are held on stitch holders or a spare needle to work the instep.

Heel Flap Set Up Rows:

Row 1: sl 1 k to the end Row 2: sl 1 p to the end

Heel Flap:

Eye of Partridge Stitch Row 1: \*sl 1,k1. Repeat from the \* to the end of the row. Row 2: sl 1, purl to the end of the row. Row 3: sl 1 \*sl 1, k1. Repeat from the \* to the last stitch, k1. Row 4: sl 1, purl to the end of the row. Work Rows 1-4 of the Eye of Partridge Stitch 7 times, then work Rows 1 and 2 one additional time. Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 Little Birds M pg. 2 Counting the Heel Flap Set Up Rows and the Eye of Partridge Stitch Rows, you have worked a total of 32rows.

Heel turn:

Row 1: Knit 18 stitches, ssk, k1 turn. Row 2: Sl 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1 turn. Row 3: Sl 1, knit to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, ssk k1. Turn your workaround. Row 4: Sl 1, purl to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, p2tog p1. Turn your work around. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. 18 stitches remain.

Gusset and Foot

NOTE: In order to continue the cabling down both sides of the foot, we are going to have to cheat a little. The last heel flap stitch you pick up on the right side of the foot is going to become the first stitch of the instep pattern and the first stitch you pick up on the left side is going to become the last stitch of the instep pattern. On this pick up round,you will count the last right side picked up stitch as the first knit of the instep pattern. You will count the first left side picked up stitch as the last knit stitch of the instep pattern. For the remainder of the foot, follow the instep pattern as written. Knit across the heel stitches. With an empty needle, pick up 16 stitches along the edge of the heel flap (1 for every selvedge stitch). With an empty needle, pick up one more stitch and work across the instep stitches in Instep Pattern (see NOTE above and Instep Pattern Box), beginning with whatever round you left off on. If you left off having worked Round 4, begin on Round 5; if you left off having worked Round 8, begin again with Round 1. Remember, when you get to the end of needle 2, pick up one stitch from the heel flap to count as the last instep pattern stitch.

Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014

Instep Pattern Size M

Rounds 1 and 2:

k2 S1 1 k2 p1 SM p1\* k2 sl1 k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2.

Round 3:

1/2RC k2 p1 SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2.

Round 4:

k5 p1 SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5

Round 5 and 6:

k2 S1 1, k2 p1 SM p1\* k2 sl1 k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM pl k2S11 k2.

Round 7:

K2 1/2 LC, p1 SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, p1 SM p1 k2 1/2LC

Round 8:

k5 p1 SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5. With an empty needle, pick up 16 stitches along the other side of the heel flap. Using the same needle you just picked up your gusset stitches on, knit across the first 9 stitches of the heel. Slip the remaining heel stitches on to the needle which holds the gusset stitches from the other side. You are now ready to work the gusset decreases, beginning with Needle 1. Needle 1 has 25 stitches on it, Needle 2 has 35, and Needle 3 has 25.

Gusset Decrease Section:

Round 1: Needle 1: k to the last two stitches, k2tog. Needle 2: work instep pattern. Needle 3: ssk, k to the end.

Round 2:

Needle 1: knit. Needle 2: work instep pattern. Needle 3: knit. Copyright 2014 Jill Bickers Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you are back down to your original 65 stitches. You will have 15 stitches on Needle 1, 35 stitches on Needle 2, and 15 stitches on needle 3. Continue to work the foot, leaving the stitches on Needles 1 and 3 in plain stockinette, while working the instep in pattern. When your sock has reached the base of your big toe, you are ready to start the toe. Having finished either Round 3 or 7, knit one round plain.

Toe

Divide your stitches so that the first 16 stitches of the round are on needle 1, the next 33 stitches are on needle 2, and the last 16 stitches are on needle 3. Knit to the end of needle 1. On needle 2, k1 ssk and knit to the end of needle. Knit to the end of needle 3. You have 16 stitches on needle 1, 32 on needle 2, and 16 on needle 3. Round 1: On Needle 1-k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 2—-k1, ssk, k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 3-k1, ssk, k to the end of the needle. Round 2: Knit all stitches on all three needles. Alternate Rounds 1 and 2 until 28 stitches remain OR toe is desired length. Knit the stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 3. Finish your toe with the Kitchener Stitch. Copyright 2014 Jill Bickers Little Birds M pg. 5

Size L

Materials:

·1 skein of Sock Yarn, 400-425 yards. Needles to achieve a gauge of about 8 stitches per inch. The instructions assume doublepoints but you can use another method for knitting in the round, if you prefer. Stitch Markers. You will need at least 3. A cable needle may be helpful, though you may choose to execute the pattern stitch without a cable needle. See Glossary (at the end of the document) for more information on how to do this. Gauge: Approximately 8 stitches per inch. Note: These instructions are written assuming that you are using doublepoints, but there is no reason you can't use the Magic Loop, two circulars, or one small circular.

Cuff

st on 70 stitches. Join your work, placing a marker to note the beginning of the roun Cuff Rib: \*p1 k2 p1 k2 p1. Repeat from \* to the end ofthe round Repeat the Cuff Rib for 15 rounds or until the sock measures about 1 %2 inches.

Transition Round:

1) 6x, PM p1 k1 m1 k17 m1 k1 p1 PM (p1 k5 p1). Sock now has 72 stitches around

Little Birds L pg. 1 Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 Leg

Rounds 1 and 2:

(P1 k2 Sl 1, k2 p1) 6 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1.

Round 3:

(P1 1/2RC k2 p1) 6 times, SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2 p1. Round 4: (p1 k5 p1) 6 times, SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 (P1 k2 S1 1, k2 p1) 6 times, SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM (p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1)

Round 7:

(P1, K2, 1/2 LC, p1) 6 times, SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, p1 SM p1 k2 1/2LC p1.

Round 8:

(p1 k5 p1) 6 times, SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 Repeat Rounds 1-8 until leg is desired length. End leg after having finished Round 4 or Round 8.

The Heel

The Heel flap will be worked on the first 35 stitches of the round. The remaining 37 stitches comprise the instep stitches and are held on stitch holders or a spare needle.

Heel Flap Set Up Rows:

Row 1: sl 1 k to the end Row 2: sl 1 p to the end Heel Flap: Eye of Partridge Stitch Row 1: \*sl 1, k1 repeat from \* to the last stitch, end k1 Row 2: sl 1, purl to the end of the row Row 3: sl 1, \*sl 1, k1 repeat from \* to the end of the row Row 4: sl 1, purl to the end of the row. Work Rows 1-4 of the Eye of Partridge Stitch 8 times, then work Rows 1 and 2 one additional time. Counting the Heel Flap Set Up Rows and the Eye of Partridge Stitch Rows, you have worked a total of36rows. Copyright JillBickers,2014 Little Birds L pg 2

Heel Turn:

Row 1: Knit 20 stitches, ssk, k1 Turn your work around Row 2: Sl 1, purl 6, p2tog, p1 Turn your work around Row 3: Sl 1, knit to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, ssk k1. Turn your workaround. Row 4: Sll, purl to one stitch before the gap created in the previous round, p2tog p1. Turn your work around. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. 21 stitches remain.

Gusset and Foot

Knit across the heel stitches. With an empty needle, pick up 19 stitches along the edge of the heel flap (1 for every selvedge stitch, plus one extra). Work across the instep stitches in Instep Pattern (see Instep Pattern Box), beginning with whatever round you left off on. If you left off having worked Round 4, begin on Round 5; if you left off having worked Round 8, begin again with Round 1.

Instep Pattern, Size L

Rounds 1 and 2:

P1 k2 S1 1, k2 p1 SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 pl SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1.

Round 3:

P1 1/2RC k2 p1 SM p1 \*1/2RC k1. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 1/2RC k2 p1.

Round 4:

p1 k5 p1SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 Round 5 and 6: P1 k2 Sl 1, k2 p1 SM p1\* (k2 sl1 k1). Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, k1 p1 SM p1 k2 S1 1 k2 p1

Round 7:

P1, K2, 1/2 LC, p1 SM p1 k1 \*k1, 1/2LC. Repeat from \* an additional 4 times, p1 SM p1 k2 1/2LC p1.

Round 8:

p1 k5 p1 SM p1 k21 p1 SM p1 k5 p1 Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 With another empty needle, pick up 19 stitches along the other edge of the heel flap. Using the same needle you just picked up your gusset stitches on, knit across the first 11 stitches of the heel. Slip the remaining heel stitches on to the needle which holds the gusset stitches from theotherside. You are now ready to work the gusset decreases, beginning with Needle 1. Needle 1 has 29 stitches on it, Needle 2 has 37, and Needle 3 has 30.

Gusset Decrease Section:

Round 1: Needle 1: k to the last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 2: work instep pattern. Needle 3: kl, ssk, k to the end. Round 2: Needle 1: knit Needle 2: work instep pattern. Needle 3: knit Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until you are back down to your original 72 stitches. You will have 17 stitches on Needle 1, 37 stitches on Needle 2, and 18 stitches on needle 3. Continue to work the foot, leaving the stitches on Needles 1 and 3 in plain stockinette, while working the instep in pattern. When your sock has reached the base of your big toe, you are ready to start the toe. Having finished either Row 3, or 7 knit one round plain. Divide your stitches so that the first 17 stitches of the round are on needle 1, the next 37 stitches are on needle 2, and the last 18 stitches are on needle 3. Knit to the end of needle 1. On needle 2, k1 ssk and knit to the last 3 stitches, k2tog, and k1. Knit to the end of needle 3. You have 17 stitches on needle 1, 35 on needle 2, and 18 on needle 3. Knit one round plain.

The Toe

Round 1:

On Needle 1—-k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 2—-k1, ssk, k to the last three stitches--k2tog, and k1. On Needle 3—-k1, ssk, k to the end of the needle. Round 2: Knit all stitches on all three needles. Alternate Rounds 1 and 2 until 30 stitches remain OR toe is desired length. Knit the stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 3. Finish your toe with the Kitchener Stitch. Copyright Jill Bickers, 2014 Little Birds L pg. 4