Phitosopher's Walk Socks
By PleximoPatterns
SIZE
To fit a woman's US 9/ European 40. Knit the foot longer or shorter as needed to fit your foot length. For a larger or smaller width, try going up or down needle sizes, or adding stitches to the side stripes. I find that stranded knitting requires more stitches to fit my foot than a regular sock would, because the stranding does not stretch, and my gauge is much tighter. (For example, for a plain vanilla sock, I would normally work on 64 stitches - these are worked on 78 stitches and fit nicely).
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Diameter of foot: 8 1/2" Length of foot: 10"
MATERIALS
Fingering weight solid or semi-solid sock yarn in contrasting colours: Main Colour (MC) - Approximately 75 grams Contrast Colour (CC) - Approximately 30 grams 1 set of 5 - 2.50 mm (US 1.5) Double Pointed Needles, or whatever type of needles you prefer for socks Stitch markers, tapestry needle
GAUGE
9.5 Sts / 10 rows = 1" in stranded pattern, washed and blocked. ABBREVIATIONS MC - Main Colour CC - Contrast Colour Dpns - Double Pointed Needles K - Knit P- Purl Rnd - Round WS - Wrong side K2tog - Knit 2 stitches together P2tog - Purl 2 stitches together SSK - Slip 2 stitches as if to Knit, then Knit those stitches together Sl - Slip stitch (as if to Purl) St - Stitch (es) PM - Place Marker SM - Slip Marker These socks are knit from the top down. They have a 2 colour ribbed cuff, 2 colour stranded charted pattern on the leg and foot, slip stitch gusset heel and they finish with a plain wedge toe. You should be comfortable with sock knitting in general and stranded knitting in the round. Pattern is written for 5 double-pointed needles, but you can of course use any type of needles you prefer.
PATTERN
Cuff
With MC and your favorite stretchy cast on (Il use a long tail caston over 2 Needles, stretching out the Sts well before starting to knit), cast on 78 Sts over 4 Dpns: Needle 1 - 20 Sts, Needle 2 - 19 Sts Needle 3 - 20 Sts, Needle 4 - 19 Sts Join in the round, being careful not to twist the yarn. P 1 Rnd. Work Two colour ribbing: \*P 1 in CC, K 2 in MC, \*repeat to end of Rnd. Work two colour ribbing for a total of 12 Rnds. With MC, K 1 Rnd, P 1 Rnd, K 1 Rnd.
Leg
Work 1st and 4oth st only as per Chart A (side stripe) while at the same time working all other Sts as per Chart B twice (on Sts 2-39, and 41-78), completing chart rows 1-14 with MC and CC. Repeat until leg measures approximately 8" from cast-on edge. ( I did 5 repeats of the pattern) Do not K last st on Needle 4. Sl last st from Needle 4 onto Needle 1. Slip first 2 Sts on Needle 3 onto Needle 2 - 36 Sts on Needles 3 and 4. Turn work. Heel will be worked on these Sts. 42 Instep Sts are on hold on Needles 1 and 2.
Heel Flap
Set up (WS) row: Do not cut CC yarn - it will be used later. With MC only, K 3, P 33 Sts onto one Needle. Turn. R1: P3, \*K 1, Sl 1, \*repeat to last 3 Sts, K3 Sts. Turn. R2: K 3, P remaining Sts. Turn. Repeat last 2 rows until 34 rows are complete or heel measures 2 14", ending with a WS row. Turn.
Turn Heel
SI 1 St, K 19, SSK, K 1, Turn heel. Sl 1 St, P 5, P2tog, P 1, turn heel. Sl 1 St, Knit to 1 St before gap, SSK, K 1, turn heel. Sl 1 stitch, Purl to 1 stitch before gap, P2tog, P 1, turn heel. Continue back and forth until all Sts have been worked and you have 20 Sts, ending with a WS row. Cut MC, leaving an 8" tail to weaveinlater. At the top of the heel flap on the opposite side where the CC remains, attach MC. (Facing the right side of the heel, you will be starting at the top right hand corner.) With Needle 3, pick up and Knit 1 St at the top of the heel flap in the gap, then 1 St in each of the garter bumps down Socks shown were knit in SandesGarn Sisu, Colour Charcoal as the Main Colour, and Fleece Artist Somoka (now discontinued) in a variegated yellow-gray as the Contrast Colour. Any contrasting yarns will work nicely. If using a variegated yarn, make sure that the colours are sufficiently different from the background, or you may find the pattern does not stand out sufficiently. the side of the heel flap - 18 Sts. Knit half the live heel flap Sts onto the Needle - 10 Sts (28 Sts total). With Needle 4, Knit half the live heel flap Sts - 10 on the Needle, then pick up and Knit one stitch in each of the garter bumps up the side of the heel flap and Knit 1 extra St at the top in the gap - 18 Sts (28 Sts total). You will now be at the start of the Instep Stitches where you left the CC yarn. Sl 1 St from Needle 1 to Needle 4, and 1 St from Needle 2 to Needle 3. Instep stitches: 40, Sole stitches:58.
Gusset
Set-up Rnd: Instep Sts (20 Sts each on Needles 1 and 2): Continuing in established pattern, Knit Chart A on 1st St, Chart B on Sts 2 to 39, Chart A on 4oth St. Sole Sts (29 Sts each on Needles 3 and 4): K 1 MC, K 2 CC, \* K 1 MC, K 1 CC \* repeat 4 times (11 Sts). PM. Work Chart C over 36 Sts, PM, \*K1 CC, K 1 MC \* repeat 4 times, K 2 CC, K 1 MC (11 Sts).
Gusset Decrease:
Rnd 1: Instep Sts (20 Sts on each of Needles 1 and 2): Continue in established pattern. Sole Sts: K1 MC, SSK using CC, K1 MC, K1 CC,\* repeat to marker. SM. Work Chart C, to Marker, SM, K 1 CC, K 1 MC \* repeat 4 times, K2tog CC, K1 MC. Rnd 2: Instep Sts (20 Sts each on Needles 1 and 2): Continue pattern. Sole Sts: K MC gusset Sts in MC, Knit CC stitches in CC as per Rnd 1 to Marker, SM, work Chart C, SM , K gusset Sts following coloursasknittedonRnd1. Repeat Rnds 1 (decreases are Knit using CC, other stitches knit as per established colour) & 2, until 38 Sts remain on Sole Needles. First and last St are Knit in MC (19 Sts each on Needles 3 and 4).
Foot
Continue in established pattern until foot measures 2" less than desired length, finishing with Row 7 or 14 of Charts B & C. Cut CC, leaving an 8" tail to weave in later. Toe will be worked on MC Only. These socks share the name of a serene and winding footpath steeped in tradition in the heart of my city, Toronto. The sock pattern is a blend of tradition and contemporary styling, as are the beautiful University buildings past which the pathway meanders. Wear these socks and think deep thoughts...
Toe
Set-up Rnd: SSK, Knit to last 2 Sts on Needle 2, K2tog, K to end of Rnd. (19 Sts on each Needle) ToeDecrease: Rnd 1: On Needle 1, K 1, SSK, K to last 3 Sts on Needle 2, K2tog, K1. Repeat on Needles 3 & 4. Rnd 2: Knit. Continue Rnds 1 & 2 until 6 Sts remain on each Needle. Transfer to 2 Needles and Bind off in Kitchener Stitch. Weave in all ends. Wash and block. Repeat for second sock. Photograph, add to your Ravelry page, wear and enjoy!
