Background
My toddler has (im)patiently watched me knit several pairs of socks. For myself, for her father. Eventually, she started insisting that I take pictures of her store-bought socks (see page 3) whenever I was outside taking pictures of my latest hand knit pair. When she saw the stripey aquarium yarn from Ladybug Fiber Company, she was certain it was for her. I explained that I was Technical Specs actually making socks for me, but if I had enough yarn left, I Size: Toddler would make some for her. Ravelry searches turned up no toddler- Finished Measurements - sized afterthought heel patterns, which I wanted to preserve the Foot Circumference: 5-1/2 inches stripes, so I cooked one up. Leg Length: 4 inches She loves her hand knit socks, and was super excited when I pulled out yarn leftover from her sweater to make a second pair. Materials: 100 yards fingering weight yarn (Shown in Ladybug Fiber Company 460 Self-Striping Sock in Aquarium, Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Superwash inPurple Prism, KnitPicks Bare fingering hand-dyed, and Wisdom Yarns Marathon Socks North Pole in Snow Day). 1 US 1 (2.25 mm) circular knitting needle (at least 32" long) for magic loop Waste yarn in contrasting color 1 tapestry needle Gauge: 9 stitches/12 rows per inch stockinette
Pattern:
Cast-On: Using the long-tail method, cast on 48 stitches. Divide stitches evenly between both ends of the cable needle, and join stitches for working in the round (being careful not to twist). Cuff: Round 1 - \*k2, p2, rep from \*. Repeat round 1 until cuff measures 1-1 1/2 inches. Leg: Knit in stockinette stitch until leg measures 4 inches total from cast-on edge (or to desired length). Heel placement: Using the waste yarn, knit 24 stitches. Return the waste yarn stitches to left needle, and reknit them using the sock yarn. Finish the round with sock yarn. You now have the waste yarn in place for insertion of the afterthought heel. Foot: Knit in stockinette stitch until foot measures 1.5 inches less than the total foot length. The heel accounts for 1 inch, and the toe 0.5 inches. The test socks were knit with a 3.5 inch foot. Rounded Toe: Round 1- \*k4, k2tog, rep from Round 2 - knit Round 3 - \*k3, k2tog, rep from Round 4 - knit Round 5 - \*k2, k2tog, rep from \* Round 6 - knit Round 7 - \*k, k2tog, rep from \*. Round 8 - knit. Round 9 - \*k2tog, rep from \* Cut yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle and pull through remaining live toe stitches. Cinch toe, push tapestry need through center of toe and flip sock inside out to weave in ends. Repeat these steps to knit second sock. Abbreviations: K - knit P - Purl K2tog - knit two stitches together
Stripey afterthought heel
Her store bought socks
Yarn hand-dyed by her sister
Afterthought Heel
Using your knitting needle, pick up one leg of the 24 stitches along one side of your waste yarn. With the other end of the cable needle, pick up one leg of the 24 stitches on the other side of the waste yarn. Carefully remove the waste yarn with a darning needle. You should now have 48 stitches picked up along the gap left by the waste yarn (24 on each end of the cable needle). Set-up round: Begin working in the round in stockinette stitch. As you get to last stitch on the first needle, pick up two extra stitches across the gap to prevent holes. Knit across the second needle, and pick up two additional stitches across the second gap (52 stitches total). Round 1: \*kll, k2tog, rep from \* (48 stitches) Rounds 2-6: knit Round 7: \*k4, k2tog, rep from \* Rounds 8-10: knit Round 11: \*k3, k2tog, rep from Round 12-13: knit Round 14: \*k2, k2tog, rep from Round 15: knit Round 16: \*K1, k2tog, rep from Round 17: knit Round 18: \*k2tog, rep from \* Round 19: knit Cut yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread taill onto tapestry needle and pull through remaining live heel stitches. Cinch heel, push tapestry need through center of heel and flip sock inside out to weave in all ends. About the designer: Kris is a geneticist by day, and a knitter by night (and during long meetings). She's also 1/2 of the KnerdGirl Knits video podcast. Her grandmother, who taught Kris to knit when she was 12, was not surprised when she promptly forgot, but rejoiced when she saw the results of Kris' newly recovered skills (after 24 years). Reverse-engineered toddler socks are her third knitting pattern. Her other designs can be found at http://www.ravelry.com/stores/knerdgirlknits. Special thanks to my fabulous test knitters, KnottyKnerd, TippyToeMonkey, and Jordybear614.
