Life Cycle Socks Pattern by Star Athena: Knitting Guide with Sizing, Yarn, and Technique Legends

Life Cycle Socks by Star Athena

Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9, 10) inches 17.5 (20, 23, 25.5 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 8 (9,10, 11) inches 20 (23, 25.5, 28 cm). Sizes: This pattern is written for four sizes: Women's Small (Women's Medium/Men's Small, Women's Large/ Men's Medium, Men's Large) Yarn: Any Fingering weight yarn that gives you proper gauge. Sample shown: Wollmeise 10o% Merino Superwash [100% Merino; 575yd per 150g skein]; color: Olio Vergine; <1 skein. NOTE: Sample socks used 88 grams/337 yards for the Women's Medium size. Gauge: 32 sts/48 rows = 4" in Stockinette Stitch Needles: 1 set of US 1 (2.25 mm) 32" circular needles (magic loop) OR 2 sets of 24" circulars (two circulars) OR double pointed needles OR size to obtain correct gauge. Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, 5 stitch markers, cable needle. NOTES: These socks pay tribute to the time of harvest, the culmination of a thousand tiny miracles that embody the growing season. Earthworms work the soil at your feet, restoring the biological dross of previous years to the promise of new life. A leafy stalk, heavy with fruit, bursts from the gusset on top of your foot; there to dry in the waning summer sun, in anticipation of the approaching harvest. Sow your stitches carefully and prepare to reap a beautiful pair of hand-knit socks...and the cycle of life continues. This advanced-skill level sock pattern is worked from the toe up using multiple charts. Stitches include, bobbles, cables, lace, twisted stitches and dropped yarn-overs. This pattern is written using the magic loop or 2-circular method, where half the stitches are on Needle 1 (N1), and the other half are on Needle 2 (N2). You can easily divide these stitches again for double pointed needles. Kfb: (1-st increase) Knit into front of st and then into back of same st. K2tog: Knit two stitches together as one stitch M1L: Make one, left leaning. Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the bar between stitches, from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch increased. M1R: Make one, right leaning. Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the bar between stitches, from back to front and knit. One stitch increased. N1 (N2): Needle 1 (2) P:Purl Pfb: (1-st increase) Purl into front of st and then into back of same st. P2tog: Purl two stitches together as one stitch. Rnd (Rnds): Round (Rounds) RS: Right (or public) side of work Rw:Row Sl: Slip. As in, slip the next stitch from left to right purl-wise. SSK: Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip the next stitch as if to knit, insert left needle into front of these two stitches and knit them together. St (sts): stitch (stitches) Tog: Together W&T: Wrap and turn. Slip next st purlwise with yarn in back, bring yarn to front, slip st back to left needle, turn work. WS: Wrong (or non-public) side of work YQ: Yarn over

Start Sock:

Toe:

Using Judy's Magic Cast On (http://www.knitty.com/IS- SUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html), CO 20 sts (10 sts on each needle). Rnd 1: Knit. Rnd 2: [Kfb, knit until the last 2 sts, kfb, k1] twice. Work these two rounds 10 (11, 12, 13) times. Work Rnd 1 once more. 30 (32, 34, 36) sts each on N1 (instep) and N2 (sole); 60 (64, 68, 72) total sts.

Foot:

Start worm chart for appropriate size across instep, knit across sole. Repeat chart until 3.5" less than desired length or from back of heel.

Gusset:

Set up Rnd: (Instep) Work 14 (15, 16, 17) sts in Worm Chart, pm, work next st in Worm Chart, M1R, work next st in Worm Chart, pm, work to end of Worm Chart. Knit across sole. Rnd 1: (Instep) Work in Worm chart to marker, sm, work first row of gusset chart, sm, work to end of Worm chart. Knit across sole. Rnds 2-20: Work in Worm Chart to marker, sm, work rows 2-20 of gusset chart, sm, work to end of Worm Chart. Knit across sole. 79 (83, 87, 91) sts. Next rnd: K9 on N2. With N1, cont. as est until 2 sts before 1st m, k2tog, sm, work rnd 21 of gusset chart, sm, ssk, cont as est until last 9 sts on N1. Shift last 9 sts to N2. End here, ready to work sole (heel) sts. 31 (33, 35, 37) instep sts, 48 (50, 52, 54) heel sts.

Heel:

The heel is worked back and forth over the sole sts on N2. Row 1: [RS] K30 (32, 34, 36), kfb, w&t. Row 2: [WS] P14 (16, 18, 20), pfb, w&t. Row 3: K13 (15, 17, 19), kfb, w&t. Row 4: P12 (14,16, 18), pfb, w&t. Row 5:K11 (13, 15, 17), kfb, w&t. Row 6: P10 (12, 14, 16), pfb, w&t. Row 7: K9 (11,13, 15), kfb, w&t. Row 8: P8 (10, 12, 14), pfb, w&t. Row 9: K7 (9, 11, 13), kfb, w&t. Row 10: P6 (8, 10, 12), pfb, w&t. Row 11: K5 (7, 9, 11), kfb, w&t. Row 12: P4 (6, 8, 10), pfb, w&t. Row 13: K3 (5, 7, 9), kfb, w&t. Row 14: P2 (4, 6, 8), pfb, w&t.

14 sts increased, 62 (64, 66, 68) sts total on heel (N2). Transition to Heel Flap Work each wrap together with the wrapped stitch on rows 15 and 16. (Lift wraps over the needle and knit or purl together with the wrapped stitch) Row 15: [RS] Sl1, k15 (17, 19, 21), ssk to join together the 2 sts following the last wrapped st, turn. Row 16: [WS] Sl1, p28 (30, 32, 34), p2tog to join together the 2 sts following the last wrapped st, turn.

Heel Flap:

Row 1: Sl1, work Heel Chart in appropriate size, ssk to close the gap, turn. Row 2: Sl1, work Heel Chart in appropriate size, p2tog to close the gap, turn. Rep rows 1 & 2 fourteen times more (30 (32, 34, 36) heel sts remain), ready to work row 7 of the Heel Chart. 61 (65, 69, 73) total sts. With RS facing, sl1, work across back of leg (N2) in the Worm Chart, beginning on row 7, for 14 (15, 16, 17) sts. PM to indicate new beginning of round.

Leq:

OPTIONAL: You can omit working the worm chart on the back of the leg entirely. Substitute knit sts for Worm Chart instead. Work leg chart for appropriate size.

Cuff:

Bind off all sts using a stretchy, elastic bind off such as Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (http://www.knitty. com/ISSUEfall09/FEATjssbo.php)

Finishing:

Weave in ends. Block as desired. Thank you to Stephannie Tallent at www.sunsetcom.com for editing this pattern. Thank you to Lorna, Aparna, Constance, Sabine, Melissa, Anne, Aasa, Sarah, Lee, Pam, Noriko, Jessi, and Nancy for test knitting. Thank you to Grant Law for the trivia. Photos by Star Athena. This design is for personal, noncommercial use only. Thanks! Email: starina@hotmail.com TriviaAnswers: (1)D (2)B (3)A(4)B(5)D (6)C(7)D (8)D (9)B(10)A(11)C (12)C (13)D (14)D

Worm Chart Small

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	88888?		又双又双又双
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Heel Chart Smal


12
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Gusset Chart

Legend:	knit knit stitch
	purl purl stitch
B	knit tbl Knit stitch through back loop
o	yo
	Yarn Over No Stitch Placeholder - No stitch made.
	k2tog Knit two stitches together as one stitch
	ssk Slip one stitch as if to knit, Slip another stitch as if to knit. Insert left-hand needle into front of these 2 stitches and knit them together
MR	Make One Right Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased.
M stitch increased.	Make One Left Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One
	4-St Bobble [K1, p1] twice in one st, turn, p4, turn, sl1, k3tog, pass slipped st
	over. k1 elongated knit one stitch wrapping yarn twice. Drop extra wrap from needle on
	next row. k1elongated twice knit one stitch wrapping yarn three times. Drop extra wraps from
YK	needle on next row. Right Twist
K	Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, k1 from cn. Left Twist Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, k1, k1 from cn.
ZK	Right Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, p1 from cn.
XN	Left Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, p1, k1 from cn.
	cross 1 over 1right/purl bg s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, sl center st from CN back to left hand
	needle and purl it. k1 from CN c1over2right P
	sl2 to CN, hold in back. k1, p2 from CN c1 over 2left P sl 1 to CN, hold in front. p2, k1 from CN

Created in KnitVisualizer (www.knitoundry.com) Note: At the end of Round 40, you will work a Right Twist with purl bg, using the last stitch of round 40 and the frst stitch of round 41. These stitches are bordered in red in the chart. Work in pattern to the last stitch of Round 40, slip stitch to RH needle, remove beginning of round marker, slip stitch from RH needle to CN and hold in back, k1, place marker, p1 from CN. (Marker should be in between the two crossed stitches.) Continue with Round 41 in pattern.

Heel Chart Medium

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2		3

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又双又双又双					8
				又双又双又双	7
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	又双又双又双	8888888

Legend:	knit knit stitch
	purl purl stitch
B	knit tbl Knit stitch through back loop
o	yo Yarn Over
	No Stitch Placeholder - No stitch made.
	k2tog Knit two stitches together as one stitch
	ssk Slip one stitch as if to knit, Slip another stitch as if to knit. Insert left-hand needle into front of these 2 stitches and knit them together
MR	Make One Right Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased.
ML	Make One Left Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from front to back.Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch increased.
	4-St Bobble [K1, p1] twice in one st, turn, p4, turn, sl1, k3tog, pass slipped st over.
	k1 elongated knit one stitch wrapping yarn twice. Drop extra wrap from needle on next row.
	k1 elongated twice knit one stitch wrapping yarn three times. Drop extra wraps from needle on next row.
YK	Right Twist Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, k1 from cn.
	Left Twist Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, k1, k1 from cn.
ZK	Right Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, p1 from cn.
	Left Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, p1, k1 from cn.
	cross 1 over 1 right/purl bg s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, sl center st from CN back to left hand needle and purl it. k1 from CN
	c1 over 2right P sl2 to CN, hold in back. k1, p2 from CN
	c1 over 2left P sl 1 to CN, hold in front. p2, k1 from CN

Worm Chart Medium

Gusset Chart

Leg Chart: Medium

Created in KnitVisualizer (www.knitfoundry.com) Note: At the end of Round 44, you will work a Right Twist with purl bg, using the last stitch of round 44 and the first stitch of round 45. These stitches are bordered in red in the chart. Work in pattern to the last stitch of Round 44, slip stitch to RH needle, remove beginning of round marker, slip stitch from RH needle to CN and hold in back, k1, place marker, p1 from CN. (Marker should be in between the two crossed stitches.) Continue with Round 45 in pattern.

Heel Chart Large

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Worm Chart Large

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又双	又双又双又双	888888		又双	1

Gusset Chart

Legend:	knit knit stitch
	purl purl stitch
B	knit tbl Knit stitch through back loop
o	yo Yarn Over
	No Stitch Placeholder - No stitch made.
	k2tog Knit two stitches together as one stitch
	ssk Slip one stitch as if to knit, Slip another stitch as if to knit. Insert left-hand needle into front of these 2 stitches and knit them together
MR	Make One Right Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased.
M	Make One Left Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch increased.
	4-St Bobble [K1, p1] twice in one st, turn, p4, turn, sl1, k3tog, pass slipped st over.
	k1 elongated knit one stitch wrapping yarn twice. Drop extra wrap from needle on next row.
	k1 elongated twice knit one stitch wrapping yarn three times. Drop extra wraps from needle on next row.
YK	Right Twist Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, k1 from cn.
K	Left Twist Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, k1, k1 from cn.
	Right Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, p1 from cn.
	Left Twist with Purl Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, p1, k1 from cn. cross 1 over 1 right/purl bg
	s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, sl center st from CN back to left hand needle and purl it. k1 from CN
	c1 over 2right P s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, p2 from CN
	c1 over 2left P sl 1 to CN, hold in front. p2, k1 from CN

Created in KnitVisualizer (www.knitoundry.om) Note: At the end of Round 48, you will work a Right Twist with purl bg, using the last stitch of round 48 and the first stitch of round 49. These stitches are bordered in red in the chart. Work in pattern to the last stitch of Round 48, slip stitch to RH needle, remove beginning of round marker, slip stitch from RH needle to CN and hold in back, k1, place marker, p1 from CN. (Marker should be in between the two crossed stitches.) Continue with Round 49 in pattern.

Heel ChartXl

Worm Chart X-Large

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	888888	8888888	又双	2
又双

Legend: □	knit
	knit stitch μnd
	purl stitch knit tbl
B	Knit stitch through back loop
o	yo Yarn Over
	No Stitch Placeholder - No stitch made. k2tog
	Knit two stitches together as one stitch ssk Slip one stitch as if to knit, Slip another stitch as if to knit. Insert
MR	left-hand needle into front of these 2 stitches and knit them together Make One Right Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between
M	stitches,from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased. Make One Left Bring the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between
	stitches, from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch increased. 4-St Bobble
	[K1, p1] twice in one st, turn, p4, turn, sl1, k3tog, pass slipped st over. k1 elongated
	knit one stitch wrapping yarn twice. Drop extra wrap from needle on next row. k1 elongated twice
	knit one stitch wrapping yarn three times. Drop extra wraps from needle on next row. Right Twist
YK	Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, k1 from cn. Left Twist
	Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, k1, k1 from cn. Right Twist with Purl
XN	Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the back, k1, p1 from cn. Left Twist with Purl
	Slip 1 st to cn and hold to the front, p1, k1 from cn. cross 1 over 1right/purl bg s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, sl center st from CN back to left hand
	needle and purl it. k1 from CN c1 over 2right P
	s12 to CN, hold in back. k1, p2 from CN c1over2left P sl 1 to CN, hold in front. p2, k1 from CN

Gusset Chart

Created in KnitVisualizer (www.knitoundry.com) Note: At the end of Round 52, you will work a Right Twist with purl bg, using the last stitch of round 52 and the first stitch of round 53. These stitches are bordered in red in the chart. Work in pattern to the last stitch of Round 52, slip stitch to RH needle, remove beginning of round marker, slip stitch from RH needle to CN and hold in back, k1, place marker, p1 from CN. (Marker should be in between the two crossed stitches.) Continue with Round 53 in pattern.

Earthworm Trivia!

Answers on page 4 1) Q. How long do earthworms live? A. 6 months B. 1 year C. 3 years D. 6 years 2) Q. How many young are produced per y A.1 B.4 C.10 D.100 3) Q. Earthworms can detect light. A. True B.False 4) Q. How do earthworms breathe? 9) Q. And just what is that "bump" for? A. With lungs B. Through their skin C. Earthworms survive without oxygen D.Gills A.Produces a defensive chemical B. Secretes a cocoon for the eggs C. Aids in movement through the soil D. Contains chemoreceptors for "tasting" the earthworm's environment A. The baculum B. The refenstredt C. Lineaus' cowl D. The clitellum 5) Q. Which of these sources of nutrition do earthwormsutilize? 11) Q. How do earthworms make babies? A. Decaying roots and leaves B. Smaller organisms (nematodes, protozoans, rotifers, etc.) C. Decomposing animal remains D.All of the above 10) Q. Earthworms are hermaphroditic? 6) Q. What proportion of an earthworm's weight will it eat in a day? A. True B.False 8) Q. What is the "bump" in the middle of the earthworm? A.1/10 B. 1/5 C. 1/3 D. 1/2 7) Q. How do earthworms avoid freezing in the winter? A. Burrowing up to 2 meters below the surface B. Hibernation with reduced metabolic rates C. Increase metabolic rates to generate heat D.Aand B A. They give live birth B. They deposit small eggs throughout the soil C. They lay a few eggs in a cocoon, which develop, then emerge as tiny worms D. The babies form as buds which later break off from theirparents 2) Q. How good are earthworms at regenere A.Earthwormscannotregenerate B. Both tails and heads will survive after amputation C. Only the head section will survive amputation D. Only the tail section will survive amputation 13) Q. How do earthworms ingest their food? A. Nutrients are absorbed through the skin B. Food items are captured with jaws, chewed, and passed into the stomach C. Digestive enzymes are injected into the soil, then slowly slurped back into the esophagus D. Food items are taken into the digestive tract and macerated in agizzard 14) Q. How long are members of the largest earthwormspecies? A. 1 foot B. 2 feet C. 6 feet D.10 feet