Winding Way Desigped by Page Selinsky
This is a mellow colorwork sock worked toe-up with a short row heel on two circular needles. The version shown pairs a wildly variegated yarn with a compatible semisolid color. Size - Women's Small, [Medium] Finished measurements - 8 [9] inches
Materials
[MC] Hazel Knits Artisan Sock $[80\%$ superwash merino/ $20\%$ nylon; 400 yards per 120g skein]; color: Chuckanut Drive; 1 skein [CC] Hazel Knits Artisan Sock $[80\%$ superwash merino/ $20\%$ nylon; 400 yards per 120g skein]; color: Spanish Wine; 1 skein Needles - US 1.5 (2.5mm) Two $16^{\circ}$ Circulars (other lengths are fine as well) US 2 $(2.75\;\mathsf{m m})$ TWo $16^{\circ}$ Circulars (other lengths are fine as well) Notions - tapestry needle; stitch marker, preferably split ring (for marking the top offoot) Gauge - 32 sts/40 rows per 4 inches in stockinette colorwork Pattern Notes This sock begins from the toe so requires a special cast on. Although there are several choices for this, by far my favorite is the Turkish cast on. This is a simple and elegant toe-up sock cast on where the yarn is wrapped around two needles forming two sets of stitches. The best tutorial I have seen on the technique complete with photos is available at FluffyKnitterDeb's blog. Another tutorial is available from Knitting Daily. The heel is done using a short row technique which I first learned from Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ Priscilla's Dream Socks Pattern. It took a while to get it down at first, but now it is my favorite method. Both toes and heels are worked on the smaller needles as gauge in colorwork tends to be tighter than plain stockinette stitch. This will help prevent your toes and heels from being too loose and make them more durable.
Pattern Toe Using smaller needles and MC cast on 32 [36] sts (16 [18] wraps) using the Turkish method (see pattern notes above). After completing cast on, knit one round. Begin Increases for toe: R1: Inc round - (K1, kfb, knit to last stitch on first needle, kfb, K1) repeat for second needle [4 stitches increased] R2: Knit one round {At this point I find it helpful to place a stitch marker on the first needle (or on the stitches themselves if you have a split ring marker) to identify of the beginning of the round (top of foot stitches) and keep track of the increases.} Repeat these two rows 8 [9] times. (64 [72] sts). If necessary, continue working straight until toe measures two inches.
Foot
Switch to larger needles. Using MC and CC begin knitting from chart.
Knit foot in colorwork pattern until it is about 2 inches shorter than total desired length. (Since the sock is being knit toe-up, I usually establish this by trying it on and measuring from the back of my heel.)
Heel
Knit in pattern across only the first needle (top of foot) stitches. Make a note of which pattern row you are on for when you finish heel and commence the leg. The heel will be worked back and forth on half the stitches using one color only (instructions are written for heel in the CC). R1: Using smaller needle and CC, knit across the stitches of the second needle (heel stitches) to last stitch. Turn work. R2: Move yarn to back and purl first stitch, creating a yarn over1 (YO). Continue purling normally across to the last stitch. Turn work. R3: Bring yarn to front and knit first stitch creating a YO. Continue knitting across until you come to stitch paired with Yo. Turn work. R4: Move yarn to back and purl first stitch, creating a YO. Continue purling normally across to stitch paired with Yo. Turn work. Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 11 [13] stitches left in the middle without accompanying yarn overs. R5: This is a right side row. YO and knit across stitches until you come to the first stitch paired with a YO. Knit this stitch. The YO is backwards on the needle. Turn it so that it is correctly oriented and return to left needle. Knit this YO together with the next stitch on the left needle (k2tog). There is now a YO as the first stitch on the left needle. Turn work. R6: (WS) Bring yarn to back and purl making a YO. Purl across to the first stitch paired with a YO. Purl this stitch. Slip the YO and the next stitch knitwise and return to left needle. Purl these two stitches through the back loop (ssp). There is now a YO as the first stitch on the left needle. Turn work. R7: YO and knit across to the stitch paired with a YO. Knit the stitch leaving two YO's as the next stitches on the left needle. Turn both of these so they are correctly oriented and return to left needle. Knit these two YO's with the next stitch on the needle (k3tog). Turn work. R8: Bring yarn to back and purl making a YO. Purl across to the first stitch paired with a YO. Purl this stitch leaving two YO's as the next stitches on the left needle. Slip both YO's and the next stitch knitwise and return to left needle. Purl these three stitches through the back loop (sssp). Turn work. Repeat rows 7 and 8 until all YO's of the heel have been knitted or purled. R9: (RS) YO. You should now have an unpaired YO at both ends. Knit across to YO. You are now approaching the top of the foot stitches and are preparing to rejoin and work in the round again where you left off in your colorwork chart. To prevent a gap from forming at this point you will pick up one stitch in the gap area and move the remaining YO onto the needle holding the top of foot stitches. Knit the first stitch for the top of foot along with the picked up stitch and YO together (k3tog). Continue working in colorwork chart until last stitch. Again, knit this last stitch with one picked up stitch and the remaining YO from the heel section which you will move to the front needle. This part can be a little fiddly and I have found that a gap may still form. You can repeat the picking up one stitch and k2tog with one of your working stitches on the next round or, you can sew the gap shut when you weave in ends.
Leg
Switch back to larger needle for heel stitches and continue knitting the leg following the colorwork chart until it is 6 inches (or desired length). Ending with Row 6 of chart. Switch to MC for cuff and knit one round plain. Begin $2\!\times\!2$ ribbing as follows: P1, (K2, P2)\* repeat across until last stitch P1. Knit 1.5 inches of ribbing (or desired length). For a nice stretchy top, I favor Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind off from Knitting WithoutTears. Cut a yarn tail 5 times the width of your sock. (You could get by with less, but running out during bind off really stinks!) Thread tail through a tapestry needle.
Bind Off
As if to purl (right to left), pass the tapestry needle and yarn tail through the first two stitches and leave on knitting needle. As if to knit (left to right), bring the tapestry needle and yarn tail through only the first stitch and drop off knitting needle. Repeat this action until all stitches have been bound off.
Finishing
Weave in ends using a tapestry needle. Wash and block if desired. Wear and enjoy! Contact Me Questions or Comments: live4rabbits@gmail.com
