/) A delightfully simple pair of spiral socks designed by Liz Abinante I had a dream I was wearing these spiral socks, and that they were lovely to knit and even more wonderful to wear. (I'm not a crazy person, I don't normally dream about socks.) Named after my friend Eunice, these socks are sunny, fun, and a little bit odd. While I could have charted this pattern or written it out row by row, it's much easier to knit this sock if you “read" your knitting rather than follow a chart. Directions are provided with pictures, but I promise you it's easier than it looks. By providing instructions for reading your knitting, it's much easier to customize your sock to your liking and to adjust sizes.
Yarn
100 grams fingering weight wool/nylon blend. Shown in: Red sock - Araucania Ranco Solid (376 yards per 100 grams), 75% wool, 25% nylon. Purple/blue/green sock - [discontinued] dkKnits technicolor dream toes (460 yards per 100 grams), 75% superwash extrafine merino, 25%nylon. Note about Ranco Solid: This yarn is slightly heavier than most fingering weight yarns. Use the yarn and needle that best gets gauge when working this project.
Gauge and Needle
Use the needle, yarn, gauge, and stitch count that work best for you when knitting socks if in doubt. 8 sts/inch, using a US #1 (2.25mm) needle
Notes
This pattern is written cuff-down, with instructions provided for a heel flap. Please note that this pattern is written for two circular needles and uses the abbreviation “ndl1" and "ndl2" to indicate this. If using DPNs, make sure you pay close attention to this. Instructions for different sizes are provided in [brackets].
Abbreviations
st: stitch sts: stitches ndl: needle RS/WS: right side, wrong side RT: right twist k: knit P: purl sl: slip tbl: through the back loop k2tog: knit two together ssk: slip, slip, knit two slipped stitches together CO: cast on BO: bind off
Special Stitches
Right Twist: k2tog leaving both stitches on the left needle, k the first stitch again, remove both stitches. [ feministy.com | liz.abinante@gmail.com ] contact [ version 1 | november 2010］ pattern [feministy|feministy fans group ]ravelry /) A delightfully simple pair of spiral socks designed by Liz Abinante
A note on needles..
I would recommend using 2 circular needles to knit these socks. Eventually, when you reach the end of the needle, you will need to slide stitches back and forth to other needles to create the RTs. You can do this one stitch at a time, or you can do it in bunches (I usually rearranged them in bunches of 6 or more). When knitting this pattern, it is better to think of it as spiraling rounds, rather than rows. This is why it is very important to read your knitting while working this pattern!
The Basics
CO 56 [64 , 72] sts total. Join in the round and work in twisted ribbing (p1, k1 tbl) for approximately 1 inch. Begin Spiral pattern. Continue until desired length is reached. End with a twisted round. Work the heel flap, heel turn, and gusset. Begin working the foot until 2" from your toe. Work toe decreases. Graft together (or cinch if you're that kind of knitter. I'm not, can you tell?), block, wear, love. Spiral Pattern (See the next page for a visual demonstration of how to determine when do your right twists) Round 1: k 5 [7,9], RT, k 1, RT, k 1, RT, k 1 Round 2: k all stitches Round 3: k to 1 st before previous RT, RT. Cont in this manner. Each set of 3 RTs will be separated by 6 [8,10] k st:
Heel Flap
For the paterned heel shown size medium), Ihad 3k sts at thebeginning and 5 k sts at the end of the row.This centers the twist nicely and allows for extra twist groupings. You can, alternatively, work a standard heel flap. The patterned hel flap isa lttle bit loose. The heel is knit back and forth across 28 [32,36] sts on ndl1. If you are knitting a patterned heel as shown, row 2 should be worked in pattern, but remember to slip the first stitch. Row 1: [WS] sl1, p to end, turn work Row 2: [RS] sl1, k to end, turn work Continue working in this manner until you have 13[15,17] slipped stitches on each edge. For a higher instep, work additional rows, making sure to decrease the gusset to compensate. End with a WS row.
Heel Turn
Row 1: [RS] k15[17,19], ssk, k1, turn work Row 2: [WS] sl1, p5[5,5], p2tog, p1, turn work Row 3: sl1, k to one stitch before the gap, ssk, k1, turn work Row 4: sl1, p to one stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn work Continue in this manner until allstitches have been worked, you should end with a WS row. Proceed to gusset. [ feministy.com | liz.abinante@gmail.com ] contact [ version 1 | november 2010］ pattern [feministy|feministy fans group ]ravelry () A delightfully simple pair of spiral socks designed by Liz Abinante
Gusset
Knit across the heel sts. Pick up and knit every slipped stitch along the heel flap. Knit the foot sts in Spiral pattern. Pick up and knit every slipped stitch along the other side of the heel. Rearrange your sts so that all of the picked up gusset stitches are on ndl1. You should have 28 [32,36] sts on ndl2.
Gusset Decreases
instep sts (ndl1), while keeping the foot sts (ndl2) in pattern. Decrease as follows: Row 1: Beginning with ndl1 k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Work ndl2 in spiral pattern. Row 2: K all gusset and heel sts, keeping the foot in pattern. 2,36] sts for the instep (ndl1). Continue knitting in pattern until 2" from your toe
Toe Decreases
Beginning with the instep, decrease as follows: Row 1: [ndl1] k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. [ndl2] k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Row 2: k. Repeat rows 1-2 until 20[24,28] sts remain (10[12,14] ndl1, 10[12,14] ndl2). Graft toe and weave in ends.
I've provided visual instructions for this method, since people aren't as familiar with RTs as they are with other lace stitches. If you are not comfortable reading your knitting, you can count your sts. Between every set of 3 RTs, there should be 6[8,10] stitches. Left image: a row after completing a series of RT stitches. The RT pairs are circled in green. You'll notice that the stitches appear to be coming from the same stitch in the previous row. This is what your knitting should look like after completing a patterned spiral row. Right image: a plain k row ready to work RTs on. The RTs from the previouw row are circled in green. The ^ marks indicate the two stitches that should be worked together for your RTs: one stitch from the previous RT, and the stitch before it. I have also marked the knit stitches.
Special Thanks
To Euni, for whom this pattern is named. You're the best knitter a friend could ever ask for. To Caroline Normandeau (fleurdeau on Ravelry) for test knitting and taking photos of her beautiful red socks. The entire contents of this pattern and the knitted design to which it refers are subject to copyright. By downloading this pattern you have the right to print and use this pattern only for your personal noncommercialuse.
Copyright Information
Pattern support is provided for free. If you have any questions, or think you may have found an error, please email liz.abinante@gmail.com. Without the permission of Liz Abinante you may not distribute or sell copies of this pattern. You may not sell any items produced using the directions in this pattern.
