Willow Socklets
Yarn: About 230 to 450 yards of any sock yarn will do. Many people will prefer to use a cotton yarn if the socks will primarily be used for summer. I was able to complete a pair women's size 8 socklets using just shy of one 230 yd skein of KnitPicks Stroll Glimmer in White.
Cuff/ Leg Chart:
Cast on 72 sts loosely. Divide sts on 4 dpns; 18 sts per needle. Join in the round. Cuff: Work only rnd one of the Cuff/ Leg chart for 8 rnds. Leg: Work rows 1-4 of the Cuff/ leg chart to desired length. For sample socklets, the chart was repeated twice. To set up for the heel, slip the stitches from needle two onto needle one. You will work back and forth on these 36 sts to complete the heel flap; beginning with the RS facing.
Heel Flap:
Rw 1: \*Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from \* to end. Rw 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to end. Rw 3: Sl 1, \*Sl1, k1. Repeat from \*. End k2. Rw 4: Repeat Rw 2. Repeat these 4 rows until 32 rows have been completed. Turn Heel: For the turning of the heel, Sl1 will always mean slip 1 purlwise. Rw 1: (RS) K 19, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 3, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 4, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 5, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 5: (RS) Sl 1, k 6, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 6: (WS) Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 7: (RS) Sl 1, k 8, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 8: (WS) Sl 1, p 9, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 9: (RS) Sl 1, k 10, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 10: (WS) Sl 1, p 11, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 11: (RS) Sl 1, k 12, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 12: (WS) Sl 1, p 13, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 13: (RS) Sl 1, k 14, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 14: (WS) Sl 1, p 15, p2tog, p1. Turn. Rw 15: (RS) Sl 1, k 16, ssk, k1. Turn. Rw 16: (WS) Sl 1, p 17, p2tog, p1. Turn. 20 sts remain. Work 10 sts. This is now the beginning of the round.
Heel Gusset:
With a free needle, knit remaining 10 heel sts. [N1] Continuing with the same needle, pick up 16 sts along the side of the heel. Pick up and knit a st from row below the first instep st to prevent a hole. With a free needle, work across 18 instep sts following chart. Begin with the rnd on the chart that comes after the row you ended with on the cuff/leg. [N2] With a free needle, work across 18 instep sts following chart. Begin with the rnd on the chart that comes after the row you ended with on the cuff/leg. [N3] With free needle, pick up and knit from row below the first heel st to prevent a hole. With same needle, pick up 16 sts along side of the heel and work across remaining heel sts.
Shape Gusset:
Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd) N1: Work to 3 sts from end. K2tog, k1. N2: (lnstep) Work chart. N3: (Instep) Work chart N4: K1, ssk, work to end. Rnd 2: Work even. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 72 sts remaining.
Foot:
Continue working in rnds until foot measures approximately 2" less than desired length from base of heel. Toe: Rnd 1: N1: (Sole) Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. N2: (lnstep) K1, ssk, work to end. N3: (lnstep) Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. N4: (Sole) K1, ssk, complete round. Rnd 2: Work even. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 48 total sts remain. Work decrease rnd only until 20 sts remain.
Finishing
Work sts on N1. Slip sts from N4 to opposite end of N1. Slip sts from N3 onto N2. Holding two needles together, graft sts using Kitchener Stitch. Weave in ends. Work second sock.
