EYE OF THE HELIX SOCKS
Cynthia Levy Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Ravelry.com: Redtiger www.redtigerdesigns.weebly.com
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering $80\%$ superwash merino; $20\%$ nylon $2\times115$ gram ball $=$ approx 400 yards colorway: Peacock Needles: $2.5\;\mathsf{m m}$ and $2.75\:\mathrm{mm}$ double point needles cable needle Gauge: 7.5 stitches and 10.5 rows $=1$ inch in stockinette on $2.75\,\mathsf{m m}$ needles
Ribbing:
Using 2.5 mm double point needles, cast on 66 stitches. Divide among 4 needles and join for knitting in the round. Work 6 rounds in ribbing following Chart A. Then work additional ribbing following Chart B. Note that cabling starts on the first round of Chart B. Ribbing will measure approximately 1 inch. The final round of Chart B will result in increases to 80 stitches. Smooth transitions from ribbing to cable pattern and from cable pattern to stockinette require increases and decreases concealed in the cable patterns. This shaping is found in the final charted row of ribbing and in the final charted rows before the toe.
Leg:
Change to $2.75\,\mathsf{m m}$ double point needles. Work leg in pattern following Chart C1. Complete 1 full repeat of Chart C1. Then work in pattern following Chart C2. Complete 1 full repeat of Chart C2. Then repeat rounds 1 through 11 once more. Work Chart D over the first 40 stitches. Continue working Chart C2 over the remaining 40 stitches, beginning with round 12 and concluding with round 17. Chart D allows the pattern to transition smoothly into the heel flap. Length of sock will be approximately 6 inches from start of ribbing.
Heel Flap:
Rearrange stitches on needles: Combine the first 32 stitches of the round onto needle #1 for heel flap. Move the remainder of the stitches from needle #2 to needle #3 and reserve for instep. Heel flap will be worked across 32 stitches. Row 1: Slip 1, knit 1. Repeat to end. Turn. Row 2: Slip 1, purl to end. Turn. Repeat rows 1 and 2 until a total of 30 rows have been worked. The heel flap will be approximately $2\%$ inches in length.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: Slip 1, knit 20, ssk. Turn. Row 2: Slip 1, purl 10, purl 2 together. Turn. Row 3: Slip 1, knit 10, ssk. Turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 until all stitches have been used and 12 stitches remain.
Gusset:
Needle #1: Knit across remaining 12 heel stitches. Pick up and knit into back of 16 slipped stitches along heel flap. Pick up and knit into back of 1 extra stitch in gap between needles. Needle #2: Continue in pattern across instep, now following Chart E. Needle #3: Continue in pattern across instep, now following Chart E. Needle #4: Pick up and knit into back of 1 extra stitch in gap between needles. Pick up and knit into back of 16 slipped stitches along heel flap. Knit 6 stitches across heel flap. 23 heel stitches on each of needles #1 and #4; 48 instep stitches on needles #2 and #3 combined. Rounds now start at the centre of the heel. Knit 1 round in pattern as established over instep on needles #2 and #3 and in stockinette over sole on needles #1 and #4.
Gusset Decreases:
Round 1: Knit to last 2 stitches on needle #1, knit 2 together. Continue in pattern as established in Chart E across needles #2 and #3. On needle #4, ssk, knit to end. Round 2: Knit heel stitches on needles #1 and #4; continue in pattern on needles #2 and #3. Round 3: Knit heel stitches on needles #1 and #4; continue in pattern on needles #2 and #3. Repeat these 3 rounds until 15 stitches remain on each of needles #1 and #4.
Foot:
Continue in pattern as established in Chart E on instep and in stockinette over sole until 1 full repeat of the chart has been completed. Then work rounds 1 through 20 once more. Work in pattern following Chart F on the instep and in stockinette over sole. Chart F incorporates decreases necessary for a smooth transition to the stockinette toe. 30 instep stitches remain Work in stockinette if necessary until foot is approximately 2 inches shorter than desired length. Toe: Rearrange stitches if necessary so that there are 15 stitches on each needle. Decrease Round: Knit to last 3 stitches on needle #1, K2tog, K1. On needle #2: K1, ssk, knit to end. Repeat on needle #3 and needle #4. Knit 2 rounds. Repeat decrease round.Knit 2rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Repeat decrease round on every round until 2 stitches remain on each needle. 8 stitches remain. Combine stitches on needles #1 and #2 and on needles #3 and #4. Use kitchener stitch to graft remaining stitches for toe. Sew in ends.
This method grafts the remaining toe stitches from side to siderather than from top tobottom.Atutorial with detailed photos can be foundonmywebsiteat redtigerdesigns.weebly.com.
Stitch Key
Knit Purl No stitch Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit into front and back of next stitch, knit 2fromcableneedle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, purl 1, knit 2 from cable needle Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2, purl 1 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2, purl 2 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, purl 2, knit 2 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2; purl 1, knit 1 from cable needle Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit 1, purl 1; knit 2 from cable needle Make 1 stitch by picking up strand before next stitch and purling into back of strand Knit 2 together Slip 2 as if to knit, knit together through back loops Purl 2 together Purl 2 together through back loops
Chart A: Ribbing (33 stitch repeat - work 2 times)
Chart B: Ribbing (33 stitch repeat increasing to 40 stitches - work 2 times)
Chart C1: Leg (40 stitch repeat - work 2 times)
Chart C2: Leg (40 stitch repeat - work 2 times)
Chart D: Transition to Heel Flap (40 stitches)
Chart E: Instep (48 stitches)
Chart F: Transition to Toe (48 stitches decreasing to 30 stitches)
