Mini Skein Striped Socks These directions are written for magic loop, if you are using DPNs I would suggest using five, then converting. See notes in italic for help on how to do this. Directions are for one sock at a time, but if you are brave (or possibly slightly bonkers) like me, you can do two at a time, but be warned, you may end up with spaghetti instead of yarn! ;)
Glossary:
Kfb $=$ knit into front of stitch, then knit into back of same st $\mathsf{S S K}=1$ Slip st as if to knit, twice, knit two slipped stitches together through the back loop K2tog $=$ Knit two stitches together St, sts $=$ stitch, stitches
Directions:
Using colour 1 and using magic or Turkish cast on, cast on 16 stitches (8 per needle) (If using 5 dpns, C/0 4sts per needle).
Round 1: [Kfb, Kto 2sts from end of needle, Kfb, K]x2 Repeat round 1 until you have 18sts on each needle (36sts total) (DPN: 9sts on each needle, 3 sts total). Round 2: Knit Work rounds 1 & 2 until you have 32sts on each needle (64sts total) (DPN: 16sts on each needle). Round 3: Change to colour 2, knit 3 rounds. Round 4: Change to colour 1, knit 3 rounds. Continue working rounds 3 & 4 until you run out of a colour, change to colour 3. Work sock in alternating bands of two colours, 3 rows of each, until you are 5cm (2 inches) short of your total foot length. Take a piece of scrap yarn, knit 32sts in crap yarn, turn work, purl 32sts in scrap yarn
Return to main colours and continue as established pattern (rounds 3 & 4) until overall sock length is 15cm short of overall foot and leg length required (measure from toe, base of heel, up back of leg to required height on leg to get overall sock length as shown vaguely by line on picture adjacent.) Work 5cm (2 inches) of ribbing. Cast off loosely.
Afterthought Heel:
Pick up 32sts on each side of waste yarn; to limit chance of holes where heel is joined, pick up 2sts at gap between needles (34sts on each needle, 68sts total) (DPN: 17sts on each needle, 68sts total). Remove waste yarn. Round 1: Knit Round 2: [K, SSK, Knit to 3sts from end of needle, K2tog, K]x2 Repeat rounds 1 & 2, working 3 rounds then changing colour, until 20sts remain on each needle (40sts total) (DPN: 10sts on each needle, 40sts total) Repeat round 2 until 8sts remain on each needle (16sts total) (DPN: 4sts on each needle, 16sts total). Graft sts together. Sew in ends. Notes: All Natural Dye Studio mini-skeins will knit 6 sets of 3 rows per sock, except Alpaca/Silk, which will only knit 4 sets. Alpaca silk is both hairy and slippery, if you try to wind it into a centre pull ball, it will just fall apart (ask me how I know!) Iif you are still unsure, just guestimate half of each skein (use scales to weigh the full skein, then wind until you get half weight in one ball) so you can knit without worry. Any questions, please contact me on Ravelry (l'm Xen!) and I'll be more than happy to help you through something.
