Tilting at Windmills
by Deborah Tomasello
Size: Teen and Woman, medium Materials: 1 skein Valley Yarns Charlemont: Natural (100gms, 439 yds; 60% Fine Superwash Merino, 20% Mullberry Silk, 20\$ Polymide)\* 1 skein Persimmon Tree Farm: Piggy Toes SW (100 gms, 460 yds; 100% Superwash Merino)\* 5 DPNs size #3 for medium tapestryneedle \* There is more than enough yarn for a pair of socks. You may substitute any sock yarn of your choice. Gauge: 32 stitches = 4” on #3 needles Abbreviations: K2TOG= knit 2 stitches together SSK= slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position
SOCKS
Instructions: Socks are worked top-down.
LEG:
With DPNs CO 64 sts using Piggy Toes SW (16 sts on each of 4 DPNs). Join to work in round, placing marker and being careful not to twist stitches (if using a circ needle). Knit 15 rounds 2x2 rib. After ribbing, add Natural and begin following sock CHART B. Follow chart for 54 rounds.
HEEL:
My socks feature the Sweet Tomato Heel (STH). You may use the heel of your choice, but I recommend one that does not employ a flap or gussets to allow for an even design flow through the instep. For a tutorial on the STH, see this video: http://tinyurl.com/ Once you understand how to knit the STH, proceed using the STH heel instructions, knitting heel with Piggy Toes SW. Work three wedges on the 32 sts on needles 1 and 4. Work wedges leaving 7 stitch pairs on each side (4 heel sts left unpaired between pairs). Knit according to pattern across the instep stitches between wedges. (See CHART A for optional design in first wedge.) Follow the chart for the instep stitches (the sts you have on needles 2 and 3). After working the first half of wedge one, work across the instep per round 55 of the chart, the 2nd wedge will use the appropriate part of round 56, and the 3d wedge will use the appropriate part of round 57. Float, or knit every other stitch, Natural down when starting each wedge so that it is placed at the beginning of the instep when you are ready for it. See my Youtube tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeryKgB84M
FOOT:
Working allsts on circular needle or split evenly on DPNs as with leg, 16 sts on each of 4 needles Work chart from rounds 58-104.
TOE:
Using both colors in stripes, decrease for toe as follows: Needle 1: K to last 3 sts of NEEDLE 1, SSK, K1 Needle 2: K 1, K2TOG, knit until the last 3 stitches of NEEDLE 3 Needle 3: K to last 3 sts, SSK, K1 Needle 4: K1, K2TOG knit to last 3 sts of NEEDLE 1 Repeat this until there are 7 sts left on each needle. Place sts from needles 4 and 1 onto one needle (14sts). Place sts from needles 2 and 3 onto another needle (14sts). Jraft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener st, and weave in all ends Finishing: Tie and weave in or trim all yarn ends. Wash & block to fit.
CHART A
If desired, work both colors and knit design as shown in the first wedge. Then carry the Natural down to the instep to work pattern across per instructions.
