These were inspired by three things: watching the World Cup; α wonderful new book of stitch patterns ("The Knitter's Stitch Collection"); and the difficulties encountered by some during Sock Madness 4 with tight insteps on some of the socks. I fell in love with the stitch pattern as I like stretchy socks with ribbed legs but find ribbing a bit tedious to do over the whole sock; and I wanted to do stripes that didn't "bleed" colour on the purl ribs where the colours change. The two knit rounds ensure the colour changes stay crisp, and alternating the rib sections and offsetting them makes for a more entertaining knit than just rib. The two knit rounds between the rib panels speed up the knitting and rest the wrists as well. So my Supporter's Socks were born. The first pair in black and red were for my husband....who supports Manchester United football team (he beefed that I should have done them with a bit of white in them...he says they are more "Dennis the Menace" than MU!!). But these did not photograph well, especially the heel in the black, so I have also done them in blue and white (the colours of Portsmouth United Football Club...or "Pompey" ...our local team) so that details can be better seen. The heel is the "Mock Short-Row Heel" from "The Sock Knitter's Workshop" and is a complete doddle to do if you like this shape heel but hate wrapping! I have modified it slightly from the book. The ribbing is stretchy enough that the instep will go over the widest part of the foot even though this style of heel is not usually a good one for folks with high insteps.
Requirements:
The red and black pair took almost all of two balls of Regia 4ply. They were worked on size Us 3.5 (3mm) needles to fit my husband (but with 2.5mm for the heels, soles and toes. Circulars would be best if you did the socks this way as it is almost impossible to knit with dpns if you decide to do the sole in a tighter gauge). The blue and white are in Knitpicks Palette. I used US1.5 (2.5mm) circs. They took 110 yards of the white, and 210 yards of the blue for a pair which fit me quite nicely(big feet for a woman! Size 8UK). Gauge on the blue and white socks was 9 stitches and 11 rows (unblocked) to one inch over stocking stitch.
To knit the sock
Starting at the cuff cast on 68 stitches in Yarn A arranged with 34 on each needle (I used the cable cast on but do any stretchy cast on that you prefer). Work in K2 P2 rib for 16 rows. Knit I row plain. Change to yarn B and follow the pattern chart alternating colours as suggested. When you have completed 2 pattern repeats work up to and including row 16 (at this point you have done half the rows of the wider stripe) and then start the heel as follows.
HEEL
Change to Yarn B. Row 1.Working on the front needle only knit one row. Turn. Row 2. (On the purl side of the work) K 1, purl to the last two stitches, K2 tog. Turn. Row 3. K to last two stitches, K2 tog. (These decreases should make a prominent "bead" on the edge of the knitting.) Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have 14 stitches left on the front needle.
This is a "bead"! On the next row start to increase the stitches back up again. Row 1. Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl to the end then pick up an extra stitch by purling into the "bead" on the edge below the last stitch (See the photo for how to identify a "bead"!). The first "bead" is very close to the stitch on the needle. (NB. To make this easier the first time you do it it may help to identify and "pick up" the 10 beads each side onto a thin circular before starting the increases.) Turn. Row 2. Slip the first stitch, knit across the stitches until you reach the end then pick up the "bead" and knit through it. Continue thus until you have 34 stitches on the needle again. (I sometimes had 36 stitches when I had re-used all the "beads". On one sock I decreased invisibly on the next row, on the other pairs...for my husband... I left this anomaly 'til I got to the toe then just decreased by knitting 2 tog on the sole at each end of the row. Extra stitches don't matter for his big feet) At this point the heel is done and you will resume knitting in the round. The sole stitches should be continued in stocking stitch, and the instep in pattern. Cut yarn B and continue with Yarn A until the wider stripe is done (this should be 7 more rib rows, then one row knit) Complete two more pattern repeats, then the first 8 rows of the pattern (in yarn B) and finally change back to Yarn A for the toe. The work will measure 7.25 inches from the back of the heel at this point.(unblocked). Extra length can be added here for those with longer feet. TOE Knit 3 rounds in stocking stitch. To shape the toe Row 1: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. Repeat on the second needle. Knit 3 rounds Row 5: Repeat row 1 Knit two rounds Row 8: Repeat row 1 Knit two rounds Row 11: Repeat row 1 Knit two rounds. Row 14: Repeat row 1. Knit two rounds. Rows 17, 18, 19 and 20: Repeat row 1. Row 21: SSK, knit to last two stitches, K2tog. Repeat on the second needle. (14 stitches) Cut yarn, and Kitchener stitch the toe together. Block socks and give to your Supporter!
Here are the socks done for my husband in a more subdued yarn choice! I re-inforced the heels and toes with Woolly Nylon...hoping to reduce the need to darn! Chart Please note: Rows 1 to 8 in Yarn B, rows 9 to 24 in Yarn A
The plain squares are Knit stitches. The dashed squares are purl stitches.
