You can also use up lots of small amounts of wool
"Travelry" Basic Socks
by Miss Buttons 2016
Description:
The "Travelry" Series incorporates small, but nevertheless rewarding projects which are excellent to do while travelling; small enough to fit into any bag, impressive/fun enough to get fellow travellers talking and great items to wear - or to give away as a present! There seems to be a myth that knitting socks is really difficult. I used to believe it until I was instructed the right way! As socks are ideal knitting projects when travelling, I'd like to share some with you. This is a basic sock pattern which can be used for plain or variegated wool - or you can use up lots of left-over bits of wool from other projects! Miss Buttons 2016. This pattern is free for personal use. No publication or distribution in whole or alteration without explicit permission of author! Using double-ended needles Knitting in the round Picking up stitches Short rows
Material:
100g DK wool Needles: set of 2.5mm double-ended needles Accessories: · Tape Measure Stitch marker (contrasting bit of yarn will do) · Row counter or some other means of keeping track of rows knitted Scissors Bodkin Gauge: 31 stitches x 38 row for 10 x 10cr
Size/ Body Measurements:
Measurements are given at each section; mark your measurement anc follow the instructions for it. Note that socks always need some negative ease of about 7o% for a good fit and to prevent slipping off, around or twisting.
Abbreviations:
b/o bind off k knit k2tog knit two stitches together p purl p2tog purl two stitches together psso pass stitch over sll slip one stitch sllp slip one stitch purlwise
Top Ribbing:
Measurements of leg above the ankle: 22cm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32cm). Using an elastic method such as chain, cast on 48 (52, 56, 60, 64, 68) stitches in the round. Take care not to twist the stitches as you close the round. Keep a good tension between the needles to avoid holes. Place your marker at the start of your round. For 20 rows for lady's socks and 30 rows for men's socks, knit a double rib, i.e. repeats of (k2, p2). If you like to turn your ribbing over. knit twice as manv rows.
Sock Neck:
Now switch to plain stockinette stitch and knit until this section measures llcm for lady's socks and 13cm for men's socks.
Heel:
Redistribute your stitches putting aside 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 43) stitches while knitting the heel. For the remaining 24 (26, 28, 30, 32,43) stitches knit 12 (12, 14, 16, 16, 18) rows in stockinette stitch. If you prefer a more reinforced heel, do 12 (12, 14, 16,16,18) repeats of one row in (sllp, kl) followed by a row in (sllp, pl).
Turning the Heel:
Knit 14 (15,16, 18, 19, 19) stitches, sll, kl, psso, kl, turn your work. Sllp, p5, p2tog, pl, turn your work. Sllp, knit to one stitch before the gap, sll, kl, psso (the last action incorporates one stitch from each side of the gap), kl, turn your work. Sllp, purl to one stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1 turn your work. Repeat the last two steps until all stitches are worked. You should now have completed the wrong side leaving 14 (16, 16, 18, 20, 20) stitches. Turn your work.
Gusset:
Knit 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) stitches. The next needle is Needle Nr 1. Knit 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) stitches and pick up 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 18) stitches from the side of the heel. Make sure that you pick up stitches at either extreme end to avoid holes later on. Knit these stitches through the back loop to avoid long loops or gaps. Needle Nr 1 should now have 20 (22, 23, 26, 28, 28) stitches. On Needle Nr 2, knit 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 43) stitches from the spare needle(s). Needle Nr 3 is used to pick up and knit across 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 18) stitches from the side of the heel - in the same manner as before. Knit the remaining 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) stitches. Needle Nr 3 should now have 20 (22, 23,26, 28, 28) stitches. Measurements for the circumference of the middle of the foot: 20cm (22, 24, 26,28, 30cm). Place your marker at the start of the coming round. Now we reduce the gusset: On needle Nr 1, knit to the last 3 stitches, k2tog, kl. Knit all stitches on Needle Nr 2. On Needle Nr 3, kl, sll, kl, psso, knit to end. Continue these last three steps until you have reached a total of 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) stitches. Now knit plain rounds until the sock measures from heel to needles 4cm (for lady's sizes) and 5cm (for men's sizes) less than the foot length. Toes: Now we reduce more to shape the toe area: Needle Nr 1: Knit to the last three stitches, k2tog, kl. Needle Nr 2: Kl, sll, kl, psso, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, kl. Needle Nr 3: Kl, sll, kl, psso, knit to end. Repeat until only 16 stitches (for lady's sizes) and 20 stitches (for men's sizes) remain. Now there are several methods of binding off: Easy bind-off: bind of by always knitting 2 stitches, one from the front and one from the back needle together.
Neater bind-off: Using the bodkin and a thick piece (or double) yarn thread one piece of yarn through the stitches at the top and one through the stitches at the bottom. Turn the sock inside out and pick the stitches up from the yarn, one from each yarn at a time. Then do the easy bind-off method above.
Cut the yarn.
Finishing:
Using the bodkin, weave in all yarn ends.
Tip:
If you are using variegated/ selfstriping yarn, start the yarn for each sock at the same place within the colour pattern of the yarn for an even look! Similarly, avoid that for a more jazzy result!
