The Polaris Star (or North Star) is the brightest star in Ursa Major which is the constellation that adorns the Alaska state flag. For my first sock design I wanted something that was meaningful to me, pretty and also simple enough for new sock knitters to tackle. This sock is that; Alaska is my home state and I have always been particularly drawn to images of stars, which I find to be very pretty and the simple lace chart is a great way for new sock knitters to do something more complex than a stockinette sock but without the challenge of an all over pattern to work around.
Shoe Size: Woman
Small/Medium (Medium/Large - large size worked in a larger needle.) Gauge: 8sts/12 rows per inch Needle Description: US 0 (1.5) 40 inch circular OR set of 5 DPNs Yarn: Pictured in Southwest Trading Company Jezabel （ $100\%$ Merino) OR anyfingering weight yarn.
Polaris Secks
Chart Notes: Work the chart as given, chart only gives odd numbered rows, even numbered rows are always knit all stitches around.
Polaris Socks
Toe: (note on the toe: if you have a preferred method of working a toe on a toe up sock feel free to replace your method here, just make sure that you have 60 sts when you begin the foot.) Cast on 16 sts loosely. (I recommend the Figure 8 Cast On) Divide sts on 1 circ as follows: Needle Shaft: 8 bottom of foot sts Cable: 8 top of foot sts Join. Place marker for beginning of round Shape Toe Rnd 1: knit around Rnd 2: kfb, knit 5, kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb, knit to last st, kfb Rnd 3: Work even. Rnd 4: kfb, kto 1 st before m, kfb, sl m, k1, sl m, kfb, k to 1 st before m, kfb, sl m, k1 Repeat Rnds 3 and 4 until there are 60 total sts. (30 sts for top of foot, 30sts for sole)
Place marker between 4th and 5th sts on top of sock and after 26th st, this marks where the lace panel will go.
Work 1 inch in stockinette, begin Polaris Lace chart. Work lace chart between stitch markers on top of foot and continue in st st the rest of the sts. NOTE: You may need to begin your gusset before you are finished with the lace chart depending on how long you're knitting your foot. Continue in pattern until foot is 2 inches short of the length of your foot, if you aren't done with the lace chart continue working lace chart on top of sock and begin gusset shaping on the sole. If you finish the chart before you need to begin gusset shaping then continue working in rnds until foot measures approximately 2 inches short of length of foot. (Measured from tip of toe)
Pelaris Secks
Shape Gusset: Rnd 1: (Inc Rnd) Heel: K1, M1R, work to 1 sts from end. M1l, k1. Rnd 2: Work even. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 15 times. 90 total sts. [30 rnds total] Next row: Work across instep. PM Work the next 15 sts. Slip these sts onto the needle with the instep stitches. Knit next 30 sts, Knit last 15 sts onto the needle with the instep sts, pm. Knit across instep and first set of gusset sts. Gusset stitches are now separated from instep stitches by the markers. Begin short row heel. Short Row Heel: Slip heel sts onto needle shaft.[ 30 sts] Rw 1: (RS) K28 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 2: (WS) P26 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 3: K24 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 4: P22 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 5: K20 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 6: P18 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 7: K16 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 8: P14 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 9: K12 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 10: P10 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 11: K8 sts, wrap the next st. Turn. Rw 12: Purl across to the last st, and, at the same time, pick up wraps and purl tog with st. Purl the last st together with first st from gusset. Turn. Rw 13: Knit across the row, picking up wraps on second half of the row. Knit the last st tog with the gusset st. Rw 14: Slip 1 purlwise. Purl to the last st. Purl the last st tog with the next gusset st. Heel Flap with Heel Stitch: [30 sts] With RS facing, work back and forth as follows: Rw1: $\ast_{\mathsf{S l\,1}}$ purlwise, k1. Repeat from \* to last st. Knit last st together with next gusset st. Rw 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to last st. Purl last st together with next gusset st. Repeat these 2 rows untilall gusset sts have been worked on purl side, work row 1 once more until all gusset sts are worked. Remove markers. Leg: Continue working in the round. Work in stockinette stitch for 5 inches (or desired length for leg.) Cuff: Work in k2, p2 rib for 1 inch. Finishing: Bind off cuff (Uea stretchy bind off;I recommend thefollowing: 1, slthat stitch backtolft needle,tog \*work next st in patt,slip back to eft needle, K2tog\* rep from \*.) Weave in ends. Work second sock.
