Bessy Socks by Liz Rollo
The inspiration for this sock pattern comes from the poem “Bessy and Her Spinnin’ Wheel by Robert Burns I imagine any socks Bessy might have knitted with her wool would be simple and “no nonsense", but she loved the beauty of nature and the open rib pattern adds just a little decoration.
Size- Ladies medium (European shoe size 37-39. The rib pattern makes the socks quite stretchy. They can be sized up or down either by using larger or smaller needles or by increasing or decreasing the stitch number by multiples of five. Yarn Rico Designs Superba Chinee or other 4ply sock yarn to give the correct tension Needles One 2.5mm circular needle Tension 32 stitches and 40 rows to 10cm stocking stitch Abbreviations st stitch, p purl, k knit, yo yarn over, k2tog knit 2 together, ssk slip next 2 stitches onto right needle and knit them together s slip stitch, patt pattern, p2togpurl 2 together
Instructions
Cuff Cast on 65 sts , 35 on needle 1 and 30 on needle 2 \*p1, k3, p1. Repeat from \* to end of round Repeat this round at least 9 times Leg Round 1 : \*p1, kl, yo, ssk, p1. Repeat from \* to end of round Round 2 : \*p1, k3, p1. Repeat from \* to end of round Round 3 : \*p1, k2tog, yo, k1, p1. Repeat from \* to end of round Round 4 : As round 2 Repeat this 4 row patt 12 times, and rows 1 to 3 once more (Leg length can be adjusted here, finishing on row 3 of patt) Next round: Work the 35 sts of needle 1 in patt. Transfer the last st from needle 1 to needle 2 Continue in patt across needle 2 Transfer the first st from needle 1 to needle 2 and purl it. You now have 32 sts on needle 2 and 33 on needle 1 Heel flap The heel flap will be worked back and forth on the 32 sts on needle 2 The yarn should be kept at the back of work for all slipped sts
Turnwork Row 1 s1, k1, \*p3, k2. Repeat from \* to end of row Row 2 \*s1,k1. Repeat from \* to end of row Repeat rows 1 and 2 15 times and row 1 once more (or to your desired length, ending with row 1)
Turn heel
Row 1 s1, k 18, ssk, k1 Turn work Row 2 s1, p7, p2tog, p1 Turn work Row 3 s1, k to stitch before space, ssk, k1, Turn work Row 4 s1, p to st before space, p2tog, p1, Turn work Repeat rows 3 and 4 till all stitches have been worked. You should have 20 stitches Picking up and reorganising stitches for foot and gusset. Turn work and knit first 10 sts. Place marker for new start of round. Knit the remaining 10 sts. Pick up 16 slipped sts from side of heel flap and 1 st from space between heel flap and instep. Keeping continuity of pattern correct, work the 32sts of the instep. Pick up 1 st from space between instep and side of heelflap and 16 slipped sts from heelflap. K to marker at start of round Reorganise sts: 32 sts of instep on needle 1 and 54 sts of gusset and sole on needle 2
Shape gusset
Round 1 K to 3 sts before end of needle 2, k2tog, k1; pattern across needle 1; k1, ssk, k to marker Round 2 k to end of needle 2, pattern needle 1, k to marker Repeat rounds 1 and 2 till 32 sts remain on needle 2 Continue foot, knitting all the sole sts on needle 2 and pattern the top of foot on needle 1 till sock is about 5.5cm short of desired length of foot, ending with either row 2 or 4 of pattern.
Toe
On first round only, decrease 1 st in centre of instep to equalise number of sts on top and bottom of toe. If you want to, you can knit 2 or 4 rows stocking st. before starting toe shaping: Round 1 k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end of needle 1, k2tog, k1: k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end of needle 2, k2tog Round 2 k all sts Repeat rounds 1 and 2 till toe is required length, ending with a decrease row. Finish using Kitchener st. and sew in ends.
