NEW BOOTS AND CONTRACTS
(we went out and got our name in small print on the poster...)
A return to the Recession Series of free patterns, New Boots and Contracts is my very first sock design. As more design work comes my way, I've got to make time to remember why I knit all this stuff, anyway. Size To fit 8.5 to 10.5 ankle circumference (stretches nicely to fit average male or female foot) Skills Used Knitting in the round, simple traveling stitch pattern
Supplies
380 yds/1 skein Yarn Hollow Bitty ( $100\%$ Superwash merino wool; 490 yds/ $\mathrm{^{100g}}$ skein) in Forest Glen (MC) and $100\,\mathrm{yds}/1$ skein Cherry Tree Hill Supersock ( $100\%$ Superwash merino wool; 420 yds/113g skein) in Red (CC) 4 US size 1 $(2.25\mathrm{mm})$ double-pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge ·1 stitch marker Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Gauge
30 sts and $48\ \mathrm{rows}=4$ inches in St st To save time, take time to check gauge
WEAVERKNITS
twisting it, k1] repeat from \* to end of round.
Stripe Pattern
Note: Twist the MC and CC yarns around each other at the beg of each row to minimize holes created by the color changes. Round 1: Using CC, k2, \*[k1 wrapping yarn twice, k3], rep from \* to last 2 sts of round; end k1 wrapping yarn twice, k1. Round 2: Using MC, \*[sl2 wyib, drop st with extra wrap and leave in front of work, sl the 2 sts back to LH needle, pick up and k dropped st without twisting it, k3], rep from \* to end of round. Rounds 3-8: Using MC, work k3, p1 rib around all sts. Round 9: Using CC, $\ ^{*}[\mathbf{k}]$ wrapping yarn twice, k3], rep from \* to end of round. Round 10: Using MC, \*[drop $1^{\mathrm{{st}}}$ St with extra wrap, leaving dropped loop in front of work, k2, pick up and $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}}$ dropped st without Rounds 11-16: Using MC, work k3, p1 rib around all sts.
Instructions
Using CC, CO 60 sts. Distribute sts evenly on 3 needles (20 sts on each needle). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm to indicate beg of round. K 1 round. Cut CC, join MC, and k 1 round. Work in k1, p1 ribbing until cuff measures 2.5 inches. At 2.5 inches, work k3, p1 ribbing for 4 rounds. Work 3 full reps of 16-round Stripe Pattern (above), carrying CC along while working MC rounds. For a longer cuff, work as many additional reps of Stripe Pattern as desired. Work Rounds 1-5 of Stripe Pattern once more. Cut CC yarn.
Heel Flap
Using MC, ${\bf k}\ 1^{\mathrm{st}}\ 15$ sts of round, turn and p30 sts. These 30 sts are the heel sts, the unworked sts are the instep sts. Divide the unworked sts onto 2 needles. Note: S1 the $1^{\mathrm{\st}}$ st of each heel flap row. Rejoin CC yarn. K 1 row, p 1 row. Using MC, k 1 row, p 1 row. Work these 4 rows a total of 7 times. Cut MC yarn. Turn Heel (this portion of the heel is worked in CC only) Row 1: Using CC, sl1 wyib, k17, ssk, k1, turn. Row 2: Sl1 wyif, p7, p2tog, pl, turn. Row 3: Sl1 wyib, k to within 1 st of the gap, ssk, k1, turn. Row 4: Sl1 wyif, p to within 1 st of the gap, p2tog, p1, turn. Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts are worked. There are 18 heel sts. Note: On the last 2 rows of the heel turn, omit the k1 that follows the ssk and the pl that followsthep2tog.
Gussets
$\mathrm{~K~}1^{\mathrm{{st}}}\,9$ sts of heel in CC. Rejoin MC and k rem 9 heel sts. Pick up and $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}}16$ sts along R side of heel flap. Work instep sts in established Stripe Pattern, beg with Round 6. K last 2 sts of instep tog (the instep pattern should begin and end with $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}}1$ ). Pick up and k16 sts along L side of heel flap. K9 heel sts. Distribute sts so there are 25 sts on needle 1 (9 heel sts and the 16 sts along R side of heel flap), 29 sts on needle 2 (the instep sts), and 25 sts on needle 3 (the 16 sts along L side of heel flap and 9 heel sts). Note: When working CC rounds of Stripe Pattern on foot, simply k the sts on needles 1 and 3 withCC. Decrease gussets on next and every other following round as follows until 15 sts rem on needles 1 and $3\colon\mathrm{K}$ to last 3 sts of needle 1, k2tog, k1, work instep sts in est pat, ${\mathrm{~k~}}1^{{\mathrm{{st}}}}$ st on needle 3, ssk, k to end of round. Continue to work Stripe Pattern without shaping until foot measures $2^{\circ}$ less than desired length. End with either Row 6 or 14 of Stripe Pattern, whichever is closer to your desired length.
Toe
Round 1: Using CC, k to last 3 sts of needle 1, k2tog, k1, $\mathrm{~k~}1^{\mathrm{st}}$ st on needle 2, ssk, k to last 3 sts on needle 2, k2tog, k1, $\mathrm{~k~}1^{\mathrm{{st}}}$ st on needle 3, ssk, k to end of round. Round 2: Using CC, k. Round 3: Work Round 1 in MC. Round 4: Work Round 2 in MC. Work Round 1-4 until 8 sts rem on needles 1 and 3 and 15 sts rem on needle 2. Continuing to alternate 2 rounds in CC and 2 round in MC, work decs every round until 4 sts rem on needles 1 and 3 and 8 sts rem on needle 2. Note: To leave 8 sts on needle 2, omit $I^{s t}$ deconneedle2on lastdecround.
Work sts from needle 1 onto needle 3. Using CC, graft toe sts tog.
Weave in ends.
