Pop Rocks Socks by Mary the Hobbit
These light summer socks are worked from the top down. They use a very simple [k2, p2] ribbing broken by four rounds of stockinette, and have a Dutch (square) heel.
SIZE
Women's medium. Leg is about 7-1/2 inches around. The larger needles and ribbing make this sock very stretchy.
MATERIALS
· Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn, 220-250 yds. Photo shows the Limited Edition colorway for July 2009, "Rocket Pops". · Set of 4 dpns size 2 (2.75mm). · Tapestry needle for happy Kitcheneering
GAUGE
7-1/2 sts = 1 inch in stockinette
ABBREVIATIONS
dpn double-pointed needle EOR End Of Round, a/k/a beginning of round instep the top of the foot LHN Left-Hand Needle, the needle containing the stitches you're about to knit ndl needle pm place marker RHN Right-Hand Needle, the needle you're knitting with rnd round RS right side sole the bottom of the foot ssk slip 1 knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise, then knit the two slipped sts together through the back loops st stitch tbl through the back loop WS wrong side
PATTERN
Pops Pattern (multiple of 4 sts and 12 rows): R1-2: \* k2, p2 \* Repeat from \* around. R3-6: Knit. R7-8: \* p2, k2 \* Repeat from \* around. R9-12: Knit.
DIRECTIONS
Cast on 56 sts using the long-tail caston or another stretchy caston. Arrange sts onto 3 dpns (20-20-16) and join for working in the round.
Cuff
Work in [k2, p2] ribbing for 4 rnds. This is the first rnd of the Pops Pattern, so the cuff pattern merges seamlessly with the leg pattern.
Leg
Work Pops Pattern for 3-4 inches, or desired length to ankle bone. End with R6 or R12 (i.e. after four knit rnds).
Heel
This is a Dutch or square heel worked over slightly more than half the total number of sts, with a modified Eye of Partridge pattern in the heel flap. Feel free to substitute another type of heel if you wish. Setup for the heel flap If you stopped doing the Pops Pattern after R6: k14 and turn work. If you stopped doing the Pops Pattern after R12: k16 and turn work. The idea here is to position the heel so that later we can resume working the instep on R1 of the Pops Pattern without worrying about edge sts. After turning, ws is facing you and the heel flap will be worked over the next 30sts. Heel Flap: R1 (ws): \* Sl1, p1 \*, repeat from \* across 30 sts. Turn. R2 and all RS rows: Sl1, k29; turn. R3: Same as R1. R5: Sl1, p2; repeat \* sl1, p1 \* to last st, p1. Turn. R7: Same as R5. Repeat rows 1-8 until you've done 32 rows (about 2-1/4"). R1 (WS): sl1, p19, p2tog, turn. R2 (RS): sl1, k10, ssk, turn. R3 (WS): sl1, p10, p2tog, turn. Repeat R2 and R3 until all but 2 sts have been worked = 14 rows. R15 (WS): sl1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn. R16 (RS): sl1, k11, ssk, k1. Do not turn. There are now 14 sts left on the heel flap. We're going to resume knitting in the round.
Gussets
R1: With RS facing you and with working yarn at the left side of the heel flap, pick up and knit 15 sts along the edge of the heel flap, then pick up one more stitch in the corner before the instep. With another dpn, work across the 26 instep sts using R1 of the Pops Pattern (k2, p2 rib). With yet another needle, pick up and knit one stitch in the corner after the instep and then 15 more sts along the other edge of the heel flap. Knit half (7) of the sole sts. Place marker for EoR here in the center of the sole. Arrange sts so that you have: 7 sole sts + 16 gusset sts on N1, 26 instep sts on N2, 16 gusset sts + 7 sole sts on N3 = 72 sts total. R2: On N1 - k7, k13 tbl, k2tog, k1 tbl; on N2 (instep sts) - work R2 of Pops Pattern (k2, p2 rib) on N3 - k1 tbl, ssk, k13 tbl, k7. R3: On N1 and N3 - knit; work instep sts in Pops Pattern. Pop Rocks Socks R4: On N1 - knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on N2 (instep sts) - work in Pops Pattern; on N3 - k1, ssk, knit to EOR. Repeat R3 and R4, decreasing gusset sts on even-numbered rnds, until you have 56 sts left (15 + 26 instep sts + 15) = 16 rnds.
Foot
Continue to work the Pops Pattern on the instep sts and stockinette stitch on the sole sts until the length of the foot is 1-1/2 inches shorter than you want it.
Toe
EOR is still in the middle of the sole, hopefully. Arrange your 56 sts on 3 dpns like this: N1 - 14 sts N2 - 28 sts (instep) N3 - 14 sts R1: On N1 - knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; On N2 (instep sts) - k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; On N3 - k1, ssk, knit to EOR. (4 sts decreased) R2: Knit. Repeat R1 and R2, decreasing 4 sts every other rnd, until there are 32 sts left (8+16+8). Then keep working the decrease rnd only until there are 20 (or 16) sts left. With N3, knit sts from N1 so that the 10 (or 8) sole sts are on one needle and instep sts are on the other needle. Cut yarn, leaving a 15" tail. Graft toe sts closed with Kitchener stitch. Weave in ends.
