Choppy Seas Socks: A Stormy Ocean-Inspired Knitting Pattern by Knitting Pirate

Choppy Seas by Knitting Pirate

This particular colourway is reminiscent of the ocean on a stormy day, and the stitch pattern rolls and breaks like choppy waves. The darkening sky is represented in the contrasting toes, heels, and cuffs. Although the stitch repeat begins with a purl stitch, the pattern draws in like ribbing, and so laddering is not an issue. If you dislike beginning needles with purl stitches, consider using a 9" circular needle for this pattern. Because of the stretchiness, one size should fit most!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: The stitch pattern is very stretchy, and should fit a range of feet from approximately 8.5" to 9.5" around. YARN: Patons Kroy Socks 4-ply, or any fingering-weight yarn you like to get gauge. I've used FX Cadet Colours for the contrasting cuffs, heels, and toes, and Camo Colours for the main body of the sock. You'll need two balls of the main colour (MC) and one of contrast colour (CC). If you choose not to use contrasting yarn, you may need three balls of the MC depending on your foot size and how tall you like your socks. GAUGE: 32 stitches = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette. AND ALSO: five US 2/2.75mm double-point needles or size needed to get gauge, darning needle to weave in ends.

CUFF

With CC, loosely cast on 60 stitches onto three needles, 20 stitches per needle. Join, being careful not to twist, and work in k2, p2 ribbing for 20 rows or two inches.

LEG

Switch to MC and knit one round even. Divide the stitches onto four needles of 12 / 18 / 12 / 18 stitches, or three needles of 18 / 18 / 24 stitches. Work six repeats of the 12-round pattern, or to your desired leg height. Row 1 and 2: (p4, k2) around Row 3 and 4: ( p3, k3) around Row 5 and 6: (p2, k4) around Row 7 and 8: (p1, k4, p1) around Row 9 and 10: (p1, k3, p2) around Row 11 and 12: (p1, k2, p3) around

HEEL FLAP

Set aside 30 stitches for the instep; do not break MC yarn. With CC, work the heel flap over 30 stitches: Row 1: (right side) \* sl1, k1\*, repeat across, ending with k1. Row 2: sl1, purl across row to end. Row 3: sl2, \* k1, sl1,\* repeat across row to last two stitches, k2. Row 4: sl1, purl across row to end. Work these four rounds eight times for a total of 32 heel flap rows. \* Note: on Row 3, slip the first two stitches purlwise, separately.

HEEL TURN

Row 1: sl1, k19, ssk, turn Row 2: sl1, p10, p2tog, turn Row 3: sl1, k10, ssk, turn Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until all stitches are worked and 12 heel stitches remain on the needle. \* Note: It's not a typo - this type of heel has the same number of centre stitches throughout the turn! Break CC, leaving a tail long enough to weave in.

GUSSETS

Return to MC where the working yarn was left after the instep stitches. With a new needle, pick up two stitches between the instep and heel flap to avoid a gap at the top of the gusset, one each through the left and right legs of the stitches in the row below. Then pick up 16 stitches, one through each slipped stitch on the edge of the heel flap. Knit across six heel stitches. 24 stitches on needle. With another new needle, knit across six heel stitches. Pick up 16 stitches, one through each slipped stitch on the edge of the heel flap. To avoid a gap at the top of the gusset, pick up two stitches between the instep and heel flap, one each through the left and right legs of the stitches in the row below. 24 stitches on needle. You will now have your MC yarn at the beginning of the 30 patterned instep stitches, which are Needles 1 and 2. Needle 3 holds 18 picked-up gusset stitches and six of the heel stitches; Needle 4 holds the other six heel stitches and 18 picked-up gusset stitches. If you're knitting this on three needles, a single needle with the patterned instep stitches can stand in for Needles 1 and 2. Gusset Round 1 - Needles 1 and 2: work in pattern. Needle 3: k1, ssk, k to end Needle 4: k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 Gusset Round 2 - Needles 1 and 2: work in pattern. Needles 3 and 4: Knit. Repeat those two rounds until 60 stitches remain. You will have 30 patterned instep stitches (Needles 1 and 2) and 30 sole stitches in stockinette (Needles 3 and 4).

FOOT

Work around, using the charted pattern on the instep and stockinette stitch on the sole, until the foot of your sock is two inches shorter than the total length of your foot. To avoid ladders, you may want to rotate the last two knit sole stitches onto Needle 1 so that you're not beginning the instep stitches with a purl. If you do, move them back to Needle 4 before beginning the toe decreases. TOE Switch to CC. Toe Round 1 - Knit one round even. Toe Round 2 - Needle 1: kl, ssk, knit to end. Needle 2: Knit to 3 stitches from end, k2tog, k1. Needle 3: k1, ssk, knit to end. Needle 4: Knit to 3 stitches from end, k2tog, k1. Repeat the two toe rounds until 20 total stitches remain. Place stitches on two needles and graft together Weave in loose ends and enjoy your new socks! The Choppy Seas Socks knitting pattern by Knitting Pirate is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. You may make as many copies of this pattern as you like, and give them away to your friends, but you may not sell copies of the pattern. You may sell the socks you make, and Knitting Pirate would appreciate it if credit is given for the design. If you have any questions about what you can or can't do with this pattern, please feel free to contact the Knitting Pirate.