Winter Wheat Socks
Sturdy warm socks, knit top down in a wheat sheaf pattern. These socks are fulled, to make them softer and warmer. Materials: Briggs & Little Tuffy - $2\mathrm{~x~}114\mathrm{~g~}$ $3.0\;\mathrm{{mm}}$ double pointed needles cable needle darning needle for grafting toe markers (optional) Finished Size - Medium (fits Ladies US 8) Gauge: 5.5 stitches and $8\,\mathrm{rows}=1$ inch in stockinette stitch The finished socks are fulled, which makes them warmer and softer. You can control the amount of fulling (and shrinking) just as you do with felting: more heat and more agitation will make the wool shrink more. My own method isn't very scientific - I toss the finished socks into a load of wash (warm water wash and cold water rinse), then do it again if they need to be fulled more. Note: I don't like counting rows, so the cables on these socks alternate: two of the four cables are twisted on row 1 of the pattern and two are twisted on row 3. This way, I work a row plain, then know I have to cross two of the four cables - it's easy to see which ones they are. If you prefer to keep all your cable crossing on the same row, feel free to do it that way. You can also turn every second cable crossing to make OxO cables, just to mix it up a bit. Abbreviations: K - Knit P - Purl S1-Slip PSSO - Pass Slipped Stitch Over C4B - Cable 4 Back. Put next 2 stitches on cable needle and hold in back of work. Knit next 2 stitches from left needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle. C4F - Cable 4 Front. Put next 2 stitches on cable needle and hold in front of work. Knit next two stitches from left needle, then knit 2 sttiches from cable needle. PM - place marker Cast on 56 stitches. Join in round and PM at join. Arrange stitches so that there are 14 stitches on needle one, 24 stitches on needle two and 18 stitches on needle three. Work in (K1, P1) ribbing for 2 inches. Next Row - Establish pattern placement: $^{*}\mathrm{K}9$ P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, PM. Repeat from \* three times (the last time you'llalready have a marker at the join). Begin pattern: Row1: $^{*}\mathrm{K}9$ , P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, C4F, K1, C4B, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from \* once. Row 2: \*K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from \* three times. Row 3: \*C4F, K1, C4B, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from \* once. Row 4: $^{*}\mathrm{K}9$ , P1, K1, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from \* three times. Continue in patern until work measures $8.5^{\circ}$ from cast-on or desired length, ending with Row 3. Arrange stitches to ensure that the cables are positioned at the centres and sides: Move 9 stitches from the beginning of 3rd needle to end of 2nd needle. Move 4 stitches from beginning of second needle to end of first needle. You will have 18 stitches on needle one, 29 stitches on needle two and 9 stitches on needle three. Divide the 29 stitches on needle two onto two needles and leave them for the instep. Knit the stitches from the first needle onto the third needle as follows: K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K4. These 27 stitches on this needle are for the heel. Turn and continue working on these 27 stitches to makehee flap. Next row: P 13, P2tog, P12. 26 stitches remain. Turn. To make heel: 1st row: $\ast_{\mathrm{Sl.1}}$ , K1. Repeat from \* to end of row 2nd row: Sl.1, P to end of row Repeat these two rows for $2.5^{\bullet}$ , ending with 1st row. To turn heel: 1st row: Sl.1, P14, P2tog, P1. Turn. 2nd row: Sl.1, K5, Sl.1, K1, PSSO, K1. Turn. 3rd row: Sl.1, P6, P2tog, P1. Turn. 4th row: Sl.1, K7, Sl.1, K1, PSSO, K1. Turn. 5th row: S1.1, P8, P2tog, P1. Turn. 6th row: Sl.1, K9, Sl.1, K1, PSSO, K1. Turn. 7th row: Sl.1, P10, P2tog, P1. Turn. 8th row: Sl.1, K11, Sl.1, K1, PSSO, K1. Turn. 9th row: S1.1, P12, P2tog, Pi. Turn. 10th row: Sl.1, K13, Sl.1, K1, PSSO, K1. 16 stitches remain on heel. To make and shape gusset: Put the 29 instep stitches on one needle. With right side of work facing, pick up and knit 13 stitches along edge of heel flap. Work across the instep: K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5. Pickup andknit 13 stitches along the right edge of the heel flap.Knit stithes from theheel n t this third needle. There will be 21 stitches on the first needle, 29 stitches on the second needle and 21 stitches on the third needle. 1st round: Ist needle - K to last 3 stitches. K2tog, K1. 2nd needle - K1, C4B, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, C4F, K1 3rd needle - K1, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K remaining stitches. 2nd round: Ist needle - Knit. 2nd needle - K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5. 3rd needle-Knit. 3rd round: Ist needle - K to last 3 stitches. K2tog, K1. 2nd needle - K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, C4F, K1, C4B, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5 3rd needle - Ki, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K remaining stitches. 4th round: Ist needle - Knit. 2nd needle - K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5. 3rd needle - Knit. Repeat these four rounds 2 times. Work rounds 1 and 2 again, then this modified 3rd round: Ist needle - Kto last 3 stitches. K2tog, K1. 2nd needle - K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, C4F, K1, C4B, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5 3rd needle - Knit. There are 56 stitches remaining: 13 on the first needle, 29 on the second needle and 14 on the third needle. Keeping 2nd needle in pattern, continue until work measures 6” or desired length from row where stitches were picked up for gusset. Move 1 stitch from the eginning of the second needle on to the end of the first needle. To shapetoe: 1st round: Ist needle - Knit to last three stitches. K2tog, K1. 2nd needle - K1, SK2P, knit to last three stitches K2tog, K1. 3rd needle - K1, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, knit to end of needle. 2nd round. Knit all stitches. Repeat these two rows until 20 stitches remain. Move stitches from third needle to first needle and graft toe. Sew in ends. Full the socks, as per instructions above.
