AFTON WATERby Liz Rollo
The inspiration for this sock comes from the poem Afton Water by Robert Burns. "Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise."
The gentle wave pattern represents the gently flowing water and the glass beads are for the line: \*Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides' Size - Ladies medium (European shoe size 37-39). The socks are quite stretchy and the long heel flap gives a comfortable fit over a larger heel/ankle. You can size the socks up or down either by using larger or smaller needles, or by increasing or decreasing the stitch number by 9 stitches. Yarn - Opal Vincent Van Gogh 100g, or other 4ply sock yarn to give correct tension. Needles- Instructions use 2.5mm circular needle but pattern is easily adjusted to use double pointed needles. You will also need around 200 size 8/0 beads and a very fine crochet hook to place them (If you need to learn how to place beads, there a number of sites online to help you) Tension - 32stitches and 44 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch. Abbreviations - k-knit p-purl st-stitch s-slip stitch p2tog-purl 2 together k2tog-knit 2 together yo-yarn over needle ssk -slip next 2 sts knitwise on right needle and knit them together PB - using crochet hook, place bead on next stitch and knit this stitch
Instructions
Cuff Cast on 64 sts ,32 on each needle Work at least 12 rounds k1 p1 rib Leg Round 1 p all sts On the first round only, decrease 1 st to give a stitch count of 63sts Redistribute the stitches, 36 on needle 1 and 27 on needle 2 Round 2 p all sts Round 3 k all sts Round 4 k all sts Round 5 (p2tog, p2, yo, PB, yo, p2, p2tog) seven times Round 6 k all sts Round 7 k all sts
Repeat the 7 row pattern until leg is required length - 9 repeats, plus cuff gives leg length approx 17cm . Heel Flap Purl one complete round of 63 sts Now stitches have to be redistributed. Keeping yarn at back of work (ie on inside of sock), slip the first 2 sts from needle 1 onto needle 2. Turn work. Knit the 2 slipped sts, k 13 sts, k into front and back of next st, k the remaining 13 sts from needle 2 and 2 sts from needle 1. Turn work You should now have 32 sts on needle 1 (instep) and 32 sts on needle2 (heel flap) Now work only on heel flap sts (The heel flap will have 2 p rows on outside of sock) Row 1 (s1, k1) repeat to end of row Row 2 s1, p to end of row Repeat rows 1 and 2 18 times Turn heel Row 1 sl, k18, ssk, k1, turn Row 2 sl, p7, p2tog, pl, turn Row 3 s1, k to last st before gap created on previous row, ssk, k1, turn Row 4 s1, p to last st before gap, p2tog, turn Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all sts have been worked 20 sts remain on needle Gusset Set up round, rearranging stitches on the two needles as you go along: s1, k19 from end of heel , pick up and knit the 19 slipped stitches from the edge of the heel flap, pick up and knit 1 stitch between heel flap and instep, purl 32 stitches on instep , pick up and knit one stitch between instep an side of heel flap, pick up and knit 19 slipped stitches from edge of heel flap knit the 40 sts along heel and up heel flap. You should end up with 32 sts on needle 1 (instep) and 60 sts on needle 2 (gussets and heel)
Gussset shaping and Foot
Needle 1 - Continue the 7 row pattern on the instep, changing row 5 to: P2, (PB, yo,p2, p2tog, p2tog, p2, yo)3 times, PB, p2 Needle 2 Row 1 k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1 Row 2 k all sts Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 32 sts remain on needle 2 Continue pattern on needle 1 and knitting needle 2 until foot is approx 5.5 cm short of required length, ending with row 2 of pattern.
Toe Shaping
Round 1 - k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end of needle1, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end of needle 2, k2tog, k1 Round 2 - k all sts Repeat rows ! and 2 until 10 sts remain on each needle. Cut yarn leaving a 30 cm tail. Graft sts together using Kitchener stitch. Finishing Weave in ends
