Corinne's Knits: Blois Sock Pattern with Spiral Staircase Inspiration from Loire Valley, France

CORINNE'S KNITS

Blois

Description

The name of these socks comes from the Blois Castle (in the Loire Valley, in France). One of its most famous pieces of architecture is a magnificent spiral staircase. The side twist in this pattern reminded me of this spiral staircase. It is also the region of origin from my mum's family and I have fond memories of visiting my Great-Aunt there as a child. Difficuty Intermediate

Yarn

about 205(215,230) m/ 225(235,255) yards of Lang Jawoll sock yarn

Notions

Needles

2.5mm/US 112 circular needle (or 5 DPNs) or size needles needed to obtain gauge Accessories Cable needle Darning needle

Necessary Skills

Knitting in the round, simple cables, Turkish cast on or toe up magic cast on, short rows

Gauge

32 sts x 44 rows for 4"in stocking stitch

Sizes

Women: S(M,L) Length: 21-24(23-26,25-28) cm / 81/-9(9. 10,10-11)" Circumference: 14-20(16-23,18-25) cm / 51%-7(61%4-9,7-10)

About The Designer

Corinne's passion for yarn started around age 8 when she started to knit. Today, she especially loves to design with sock yarn. Although French, she lives in Germany with her English partner and their two

boys, where she can fully put her second passion - languages - to the test. Her patterns can be found on Ravelry on the Corinne's Knits designer page or on her blog: corinnesknits.wordpress.com. For pattern support, email: corinnesknits@googlemail.com.

Notes

These socks with gusset and heel flap are knit toe-up, using either the toe up magic cast on1 (my favourite) or the Turkish cast on2.There are other methods out there, so feel free to use the one with which you are most confident. The list of abbreviations used in the pattern is available on the last page.

Stitch Pattern

The cables used in this pattern are simple. A picture tutoria is provided for the RFC special st. You will find the directions written and charted (on pages 5-6). 1 Knitty's tutorial: http:/www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html 2 A good tutorial: http://fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com/2005/10/knitting-made-easier-turkish-cast-on.html 2010 Corinne Fourcade, Corinne's Knits For personal use only. Pattern or items made from pattern may not be distributed or sold without authorisation - 1 -

Toe

Cast on 8(12,16) sts using the toe up magic cast on or the Turkish cast on (or another method of your choice). Place 4(6,8) sts on each needle if you use a circ or 2[3,4) sts on each needle if you use DPNs.K 2 rds. Rd 1: K1, M1, K to last st of first needle on circ or to last st of 2nd needle if you use DPNs, M1, K2, M1, K to last st of rd, M1, K1 (4 sts incr.) Rd 2: K to end of rd Repeat these two rds until you have 56(60,64) sts, ending with rd 2. K 4(5,5) rds

Foot

The 12 rds below form the pattern (charts for corresponding sizes can be found on pages 5-6) In this part of the socks, the pattern is only done on the top of the foot, i.e. on needle 1 on circ. or needles 1 & 2 on DPNs. See photo tutorial for RFC st on the next page. C3B (Cable 3 Back): Sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold at the back, K1 from left needle, K2 from cable needle C3F (Cable 3 Front): Sl 1 st on cable needle and hold at the front, K2 from left needle, K1 from cable needle Rd 1: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, K2, SI 2 pw wyib, K2, P1(1,2) K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, Kto end of rd Rd 2: P1, RFC, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, C3B, C3F, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, RFC, P1, K to end of rd Rd 3: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, K2, Sl 2 pw wyib, K2, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, K to end of rd Rd 4: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, C3B, C3F, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, Kto end of rd Rd 5: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, K2, SI 2 pw wyib, K2, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, K to end of rd Rd 6: P1, RFC, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K6, P2, C3B, C3F, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, RFC, P1, Kto end of rd Rd 7: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K2, SI 2 pw wyib, K2, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, K to end of rd Rd 8: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), C3B, C3F, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1(1,2), K to end of rd Rd 9: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K2, SI 2 pw wyib, K2, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, K to end of rd Rd 10: P1, RFC, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), C3B, C3F, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, RFC, P1, K to end of rd Rd 11: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), K2, Sl 2 pw wyib, K2, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, Kto end of rd Rd 12: P1, K3, P1, K1(2,2), P1(1,2), C3B, C3F, P2, K6, P1(1,2), K1(2,2), P1, K3, P1, Kto end of rd Repeat these 12 rds another 1(2,2) times.

Sizes S and L only: K rds 1-6 again

RFC (Right Front Cross) - Worked over 3 sts as follows:

1. Insert right needle into the third stitch from the tip of the left needle as if to knit. 2. Pull a loop of yarn through, but do not slide any stitches off of the left hand needle. 3. Insert right needle into the stitch closest to the tip of the left needle,

4. knit, and slide off left needle as usual.

5. Knit next stitch (originally second from the tip, now closest to the tip),

6. slide it together with the first stitch knit (originally the third stitch from the tip of the left needle) off the left needle.

Gusset

The incr. for the gusset are done on the 2nd needle if you work on circ. needle or on needles 3 & 4 if you work with DPNs. The 1st needle on circ and needles 1 & 2 on DPNs stay in pattern and the st count is unchanged (28(30,32) sts). Rd 1: Knit 28(30,32) sts in pattern, K1, M1, Kto last st, M1, K1 (2 sts incr., 1 on each side) Rd 2: Knit 28[30,32) sts in pattern, K to end of rd Repeat these 2 rds until you have increased a total of 26(28,30) sts [13(14,15) sts on each side) for a total st count of 82(88,94), ending with rd 1.

Heel turn

Knit 28(30,32) sts in pattern The heel is turned on the stocking st part of the sock by working short rows and knitting back and forth. Row 1: K40(43,46), w&t Row 2: P26(28,30), w&t Row 3: K25(27,29), w&t Row 4: P24(26,28), w&t Row 5: K23(25,27), w&t Row 6: P22(24,26), w&t Row 7: K21(23,25), w&t Row 8: P20(22,24), w&t Row 9: K19(21,23), w&t Row 10: P18(20,22), w&t Row 11: K17(19,21), w&t Row 12: P16(18,20), w&t Sizes M & L only: Row 13: K17(19) sts, w&t Row 14: P16(18) sts, w&t You should now have 6(7,7) wrapped sts on each side. K to end of row, picking up the wraps as you go, wrap the 1st st from the top part of the foot (instep) & turn. P30(24,34), Sl2 wyif, P to end of row, picking up the wraps as you go, wrap the last st from the top part of the foot (instep) & turn.

Picking up the wraps

On the Rs: Insert right needle tip into the wrap from bottom to top, place it on the left needle and knit st and wrap together. On the WS: In order to be invisible, the wraps need to be picked up on the RS of the work. Pick up the wrap from bottom to top, place it on the needle and purl st and wrap together.

Hee flap

The pattern is started on st 2 and finished on st 27(29,31) of the pattern. On the set up row, start pattern at row 8(2,8). The last st of the pattern is always purled together with the next st on the RS and knit together with the next st on the WS. These 2 sts are the 2 purled sts on each side of the RFC (on the RS). ow (RS): K12(13,14), P2tog, knit the next 26(28,30) sts in pattern, P2tog, tur1 Row 1 (WS): Sl1, resume knitting in pattern the next 26(28,30) sts (remember to knit the WS, not the RS - see charts), K2tog, turn Row 2 (RS): Sl1, resume knitting in pattern the next 26(28,30) sts (knit the RS), P2tog, turn Rep. these 2 rows until you have worked all the gusset sts and have 28(30,32) sts, ending with a RS rrow.

Leg

Resume knitting in the round and continue the 28(30,32)-stich pattern on both sides where you left it. On the first rd, pick up the wraps on the 1st and last st of the instep. Continue in pattern until total length from heel measures 15 cm/6" ending with an odd rd. On the last rd, do not slip the central cable sts, knit them instead.

Ribbing

The RFC is continued in the ribbing. Continue the pattern on these 3 sts where you left it at the end of the leg and keep doing the RFC every 4 rds. Rd 1: \*P1, knit the next 3 sts in pattern (RFC), P1, K1(2,2)tbl, P1(1,2), K2tbl, P2, K2tbl, P2, K2tbl, P2, K2tbl, P1(1,2) K1(2,2)tbl, P1, K the next 3 sts in pattern (RFC), P1\*, rep on the other side Rep this rd until you have 2.5 cm/1" of ribbing. Cast off using a stretchy bind off. I like to use Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off3. Repeat from beginning to make 2nd sock.

Charts

Size S

Size M

Size L