Down the Rabbit-Hole
A sock pattern by Kimberly Pieper "Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end!" -Alice in Wonderland This simple pattern is intended to show off the natural beauty of a self-striping or heavily variegated yarn. Beginning at the cuff, pairs of travelling stitches spiral symmetrically down the legs of these socks, continuing right to the tips of the toes.
Yarn:
Approx. 350 yards of fingering weight yarn; this pattern is well suited for a self-striping or variegated yarn, but solids and semi-solid colourways would also work well. The sample sock was knit using: One skein of Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs Laudanum Gothsocks in Drink Me (380 yds/125 g 0f 80% merino/10% cashmere/10% nylon)
Abbreviations:
kknit k tbl knit through back loop ppurl sl slip k2tog knit 2 together p2tog purl 2 together ssk slip slip knit c2f hold 1 stitch to front, k1, k held stitch tbl c2b hold 1 stitch to back, k1 tbl, k held stitch Other Materials: One set of five 2.50mm double pointed needles (or size required to obtain gauge), tapestry needle. Gauge and Sizing: 8 stitches per inch in plain stockinette stitch. Three sizes are provided: S(M,L) with circumferences of approximately 7(8,9) unstretched inches.
Directions:
Note: The sample pictured uses solid portions of yarn for the cuff, heel and toe sections. However, the following set of directions is written for a continuous strand without reference to any colour changes. If you do wish to use a contrasting colour(s) in any of these places, switch out your yarn wherever appropriate.
Cuff:
Cast on 56(64,72) stitches using the long-tail method, distributing the stitches evenly over 4 needles. Work 10 rows of k1 tbl, p1 ribbing.
Leg:
Right shifting:
Round 1: (k10(12,14), c2b x2) x4 Round 2: (k9(11,13), c2b x2, k1) x4 Round 3: (k8(10,12), c2b x2, k2) x4
Left shifting:
Round 1: (c2f x2, k10(12,14)) x4 Round 2: (k1, c2f x2, k9(11,13)) x4 Round 3: (k2, c2f x2, k8(10,12)) x4 Continue on in this manner for either sock, shifting the block of travelling stitches (to either the left or the right, as appropriate) by one in each round. Work the leg for 5 inches or until desired length is reached. It is not essential to stop exactly at the beginning of a round. For the left shifting sock, begin the heel at a point when the block of travelling stitches is the first four stitches on the next needle to be worked. For the right shifting sock, this block should be last four stitches you worked before you start the heel.
Heel Flap:
The heel flap is worked back and for over the next 28(32,36) stitches and is the same for bothsocks: Row 1 (RS): (sl1, k1) x14(16,18), turn work Row 2 (WS): sl1, p27(31,35), turn work Work these 2 rows 14(15,16) times or until flap reaches desired length
Heel Turn:
Row 1: (RS) sl1, k16(18,20), ssk, k1, turn work Row 2: (WS) sl1, p7(7,7), p2tog, p1, turn work Row 3: (RS) sl1, kto 1 stitch before gap, ssk to close gap, k1, turn work Row 4: (WS) sl1, p to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog to close gap, p1, turn work Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. 18(20,22) heel stitches remain. Flip work and knit across 9(10,11) stitches. This point will be the new beginning of round and the next needle will become needle 1.
Gusset:
Knit across the stitches on needle 1 and then pick up one stitch in each chain stitch along the edge of the heel flap. Knit across the instep stitches in the established leg pattern for either the left or right shifting sock on needles 2 & 3. Pick up stitches along the remaining edge of the heel flap on needle 4 and knit to the end of round. Work the gusset decreases as follows: Row 2: k to instep, work instep pattern, k to end of round Repeat these two rows until 28(32,36) sole stitches remain (14(16,18) stitches each on needles 1 and 4). Please note that the travelling stitch pattern does not spiral continuously around the foot. The travelling stitches move only across needles 2 & 3 and will terminate against one edge of the instep. Whenever this happens, you will need to initiate new travelling stitches at the opposite side. There should always be 10(12,14) plain knit stitches between blocks of travelling stitches on any given row.
Foot:
Continue working instep according to pattern with a plain stockinette sole until the foot is approximately 1.5(1.75,2.0) inches less than the desired length.
Toe:
Row 1: k to 3 stitches before end of needle 1, k2tog, k2, ssk, work in pattern to 3 stitches before end of needle 3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k to end of round Row 2: kto end of needle 1, work needles 2 & 3 in pattern, k to end of needle 4 Repeat these 2 rows 4 more times (36(44,52) stitches remain). Repeat row 1 only until 16(20,24) stitches remain. Knit to the end of needle 1. Graft the toe closed with the kitchener stitch and weave in ends.
This knitting pattern, including all instructions, charts and photographs are @ 2010 by Kimberly Pieper. This pattern may not be copied or offered for sale without the permission of the designer. Please feel free to contact me as purrlescent on Ravelry or at kimberlypieper@gmail.com with any questions or problems you may encounter with the pattern.
