Saguaro Socks
Designed by Joannamauselia Supplies: Colinette Jitterbug 110 gram ball
(Yarn amount is VERY close, so if you are making the foot longer than 8 inches from heel to start of toe, make the leg shorter than 8 inches.) Five double pointed needles, size 2.75mm Cable needle if desired (not really necessary) Gauge: 15 stitches over 2 inches in stockinet To fit size medium women.
Abbreviations: K: Knit P: Purl
S1: Slip one stitch as though to knit PSSO: Pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch P2 tog: Purl two together Loosely cast on 60 stitches divided evenly onto four needles. Join the stitches to form a circle, being careful that the row is not twisted. (l usually cast on one extra stitch at the beginning (making 61 stitches) and then when joining, I knit the first and last stitches of the row together, making a smoother join.
Ribbing
The single knit stitches in the ribbing are knit through the back. The “knit $3^{\prime}$ is knit in the usual way. Knitting ribbing “through the back" produces a more distinct and “stand uppish" looking ribbing. K1,P1,K1\* P2, $^{\star}\mathsf{K}3$ ,P1, $\mathsf{K}3^{\star}\,\mathsf{P}2^{\star}$ K1,P1,K1, $^{\star}\mathsf{P}2$ ,\*(K1,P1) 4 times, $\mathsf{K}1^{\star}\,\mathsf{P}2^{\star}$ Repeat once for total of 60 stitches Continue ribbing for 12 rows.
The patterns established in the ribbing will correspond to the pattern designs in the leg, and should “line up" accordingly. Begin leg with Twisted Braid pattern (3 stitches), purl 2, Herringbone pattern (7 stitches), purl 2, Twisted Braid, purl 2, Knit 9, purl 2. Repeat once for total of 60 stitches. Continue patterns as established until leg is desired length (My sock has an eight inch leg).
Heel flap:
Begin heel flap 8 stitches after start of the round - this will be in the center of a herringbone pattern. Knit 30 stitches onto one needle, which will be the working needle for the heel. There should be four stitches of right side herringbone, and three stitches of left side herringbone. The remaining 30 stitches will be waiting while you make the heel flap. Knit heel flap in pattern as established, but slipping the first stitch of every row on both front and back. l.e., Slip one, knit 3, purl 2, twisted rib, purl 2, knit 9, purl 2, twisted rib, purl 2, knit 3. On the return trip, slip the first stitch and then knit the knits and purl the purls. Knit back and fourth on the working needle until heel flap is a square, approximately 2.5 inches, ending with a purl row.
Turn the heel:
With the right side facing you, knit 16 stitches, S1, K1, PSSO, K1. Turn work. Row 2: S1, P 3, P2tog, P1. Turn. Row 3: S1, K4, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Turn. Row 4: S1, P 5, P2tog, P1. Turn. Row 5: S1, K6, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Turn. Row 6: S1, P7, P2tog, P1. Turn. Row 7: S1, K8, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Turn. Row 8: S1, P 9, P2tog, P1. Turn. Row 9: S1, K10, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Turn. Row 10: S1, P 11, P2tog, P1. TurnRow 11: S1, K12, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Row 12: S1, P 13, P2tog, P1. TurnRow 13: S1, K14, (S1, K1, PSSO), K1. Turn -- right side facing you. You should be at the end of the left side of the heel flap. There should be xx stitches. A stitch more or less is OK.
Gusset:
Pick up 13-14 stitches along left side of heel flap. Redistribute the stitches on the needles so that the 30 reserved stitches are stitches on one needle. (Needle A). Knit across top of foot, continuing pattern, and pick up the same number of stitches down the other side of the heel flap. Arrange stitches on the needles so that there are the 30 stitches on needle A, and the remaining stitches are divided onto the other two needles. (Needles B and C.) You should have 30 stitches needle A, and 21 to 23 on each of the other two. (About 72-75 stitches altogether.) Knit one round, with stockinet on needles B and C and pattern on needle A. Knit across top of foot, continuing pattern. K1, SSK on needle B. On needle C, knit to the within 3 stitches of the end, just before needle A, and K2 tog, K1. Two stitches decreased. Repeat these two rows, (two stitches decreased every other row) until 30 (total) stitches remain on bottom of foot needles. You are back to your original 60 stitches.
Foot:
Continue on these 30 stitches - pattern on top of foot and stockinet on bottom of the foot until foot is the desired length. The toe will be approximately 1.6 inches.
The toe will be in stockinet. Divide stitches on needles so that the top of the foot stitches are on one needle and the remaining 30 on the other two.
On needle B, K1, SSK, knit to within three stitches of the end of needle C. K2tog, K1. On needle A ,K1, SSK, knit (no more pattern) to within last three stitches, K2tog, K1. (Four stitches decreased.) Knit next row without decreases. Repeat these two rows until 32 stitches remain. Knit the decrease row only, decreasing 4 stitches every row until 8 stitches remain on TOF needle, and 4 on each of the other two. Transfer these to one needle. Weave stitches together. Sew in ends, block. Twisted Rib pattern (over three stitches) Row 1. Right twist. Row 2, 3, 4, Knit. Herringbone Pattern (over 7 stitches) Row 1. Right twist over three stitches, knit one, left twist over three stitches. Rows 2-5. Knit.
Right Twist
Knit into third stitch on needle. Pull the knit stitch through, but leave all three stitches on left hand needle. Knit the first stitch on needle, knit the second stitch on needle, and now pull third stitch off needle. Is this clear as mud? Alternatively, place first two stitches on a cable needle. Hold in back of work, knit the third stitch, knit the stitches off the cable needle. The first method is harder to describe, but easier to do.
Left twist:
Place first stitch on cable needle, hold in front of work, knit the next two stitches, and then knit stitch off the cable needle. Note: I don't like to keep track of a cable needle, so I did the right twist as described above, and used the left end of DP needle I had just knitted stitches off of for the left twist.
