Curve Ball Socks
Alyson Johnson Yarn: Cabin Cove Mercantile Sock in "Yankee Ikat? colorway (Substitute: Fingering weight sock yarn) Needles: US Size $1~\%$ (2.50 mm) DPNs (or size to achieve gauge) Gauge: 28 sts& $40\,\mathrm{rows}=4$ in. $(10\mathrm{cm})$ Note: Because of the uneven number of stitches required for the cabling pattern,the back “half” of the sock, including the heel flap, is worked over a smaller number of stitches than the front "half".The heel flap,normally worked over half of the total stitches, isworked overless than half.Because of this, you mayfind it diffcult to distribute your stitches evenly as you normally would, since the cable should be worked on one needle to keep things simple. Make careful note of the beginning of your round, and keep in mind that the cable is worked down the center back leg. (If you've been wanting to try knitting socks on circulars, this would be a good pattern to try it out on, as it will eliminate any need to organize and group stitches.)
Abbreviations:
k- knit p- purl k2tog - knit two together ssk - slip, slip,knit two together through back loop
Cuff:
Cast on 60 stitches. Distribute evenly over four DPNs and join for working in the round, placing a marker to mark the beginning of your round. Work every round in p3, k3 rib for $1\,\,^{1}\!/\!_{2}$ inches (about 15 rounds). Leg: Work the first 27 stitches of the next round according to the Braided Cable Chart, and continue the remaining 33 stitches in rib, now k3, p3. Work all following rounds in the same manner: $1^{\textrm{s t}}27$ stitches:Braided CableChart rem.33 stitches: $^{*}\mathrm{k}3$ ? $\mathfrak{p}3^{*}$ Work a total of 56 rounds (seven repeats of the chart) or to desired length. Important note: On your final round, work the Alternate Final Row Chart over the $1^{\mathrm{\,st}}\,27$ stitches, and work the remaining 33 stitches as before. You will now have 59 stitches on the needles.
Heel Flap:
Setup Rows: Knit across the $1^{\mathrm{\,st}}\,26$ stitches (remember, you decreased to 26 on that final round; distribute the remaining 33 stitches across two needles. These are your instep stitches.) Turn and knit 3, purl 20, knit 3. Row 1: knit across Row 2: k3, p20, k3 Repeat these two rows 12 times (24 rows) total, not including the setup rows. You willhave 12 garter ridges along the selvedge.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: sl1, k14, k2tog, k1, turn Row 2: sl1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn Row 3: sl1, knit to one stitch before gap, k2tog over gap, k1, turn Row 4: sll, purl to one stitch before gap, p2tog over gap, k1, turn Continue in this manner, decreasing over the gap, until all stitches have been worked. You will have 16 stitches remaining.
Instep/Gusset:
Knit across to end of heel stitches. There are 13 stitches in the gusset to pick up - pick up and knit 12 stitches, then pick up and PURL the last stitch (this is Needle 1). Knit across the instep stitches in k3, p3 rib as before (Needles 2 and 3). Pick up and PURL one stitch in the garter ridge selvedge, then pick up and knit 12 stitches (Needle 4). Knit eight stitches from the heel onto Needle 4. You will have 21 stitches on each gusset needle and 33 stitches for the instep. Continue knitting the gusset as follows: Round 1: Needle 1: Knit the remaining eight heel stitches on Needle 1 and continue knitting across the picked up gusset stitches to the last three stitches; knit two together, and purl the last stitch. Needles 2 & 3: Knit in k3, p3 rib Needle 4: Purl one, slip/slip/knit, knit to end of round Round 2: Needle 1: Knit Needles 2 & 3: \*k3, $\mathfrak{p}3^{*}$ Needle 4: Knit Round 3: Needle 1: K to last three stitches, k2tog, p Needles 2 & 3: $^{*}\mathrm{k}3$ ， $\mathfrak{p}3^{*}$ Needle 4: P, ssk, k to end of round Round 4: Needle 1: Knit across, purl last stitch Needles 2 & 3: $^{*}\mathrm{k}3$ ， $\mathfrak{p}3^{*}$ Needle 4: Purl first stitch, knit across Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until there are 13 stitches each on Needle 1 and Needle 4. You should have 33 stitches for the top of the foot and 26 stitches for the bottom of the foot.
Foot:
Continue knitting as in Round 4 of the Instep/Gusset, working the top of the foot in rib and the bottom of the foot in plain stockinette. Note: Remember to continue to purl the last stitch on Needle 1 and the first stitch on Needle 4. Toe: Set-up Round: Needle 1: Knit Needle 2: Knit Needle 3: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 4: Knit Now there are 32 stitches for the top of the foot and 26 on the bottom. Since you have more stitches on the top of the foot than on the bottom, the decreases are done in varying increments for the top and bottom until there's an equal number of stitches on all four needles. You'll be decreasing every other round on Needles 2 and 3, and every fourth round on Needles 1 and 4. Knit as follows: Round 1: Needle 1: Knit Needle 2: K1, SSK, k to end Needle 3: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 4: Knit Round 2: Knit round plain Round 3: Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end Needle 3: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1 Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end Round 4: Knit round plain
Knit these four rounds four times total. There will be ten stitches on each of the four needles; finish with Round 4 and continue working Round 3 and 4 (now decreasing on each needle on every other round) until there are five stitches left on each needle. Knit the five stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 4 and slip the stitches from Needle 2 onto Needle 3. Graft the remaining stitches using Kitchener stitch, weave in ends. If you're feeling up to it, knit another one!
Braided Cable - Chart
Alternate Final Round Chart
Glossary:
T3F: slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle, hold to front of work; purl 1, then knit 2 from cable needle T3B: slip next 1 stitch onto cable needle, hold to back of work; knit 2, then purl 1 from cable needle C4B: slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle, hold to back of work; knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle C4F: slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle, hold to front of work; knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
Braided Cable - Written Instructions
Round 1: p3, k3, p3, t3f, t3b, t3f, p3, k3, p3 Round 2: p3, k3, p4, k4, p2, k2, p3, k3, p3 Round 3: p3, k3, p4, c4b, p2, k2, p3, k3, p3 Round 4: p3, k3, p4, k4, p2, k2, p3, k3, p3 Round 5: p3, k3, p3, t3b, t3f, t3b, p3, k3, p3 Round 6: p3, k3, p3, k2, p2, k4, p4, k3, p3 Round 7: p3, k3, p3, k2, p2, c4f, p4, k3, p3 Round 8: p3, k3, p3, k2, p2, k4, p4, k3, p3
