Allgäu Socks by Susi Ferguson
Allgau Socks
("Allgau" rhymes with “all joy") by Susi Ferguson Difficulty [Piquant] These top down socks are knitted in two or more colors. The slipstitch pattern combined with blues and browns remind me of the mountain peaks and alpine lakes where I live...thus the pattern name. I am assuming you have the skills for knitting a top down sock (casting on, knitting in the round, turning a heel, picking up stitches for the gussett and knitting a toe and grafting stitches together with the kitchener stitch), so this pattern does not include that kind of general knowledge. Here are some great links though... sock tutorial LatvianBraid kitchener stitchlivepage.apple.com grafting video
ABREVIATIONS
ssk = slip next two stitch as if to knit then knit these two stitches together through the backloops. k2tog = knit the next two stitches together MC = main color CC = contrast color
Allgäu Socks by Susi Ferguson
SIZE Women's size 8 to 8.5 in length in two widths medium and wide.
FINISHEDMEASUREMENTS
Foot circumference: 9 inches/23 cm Length of foot: 9 inches/23 cm Leg circumference: 8 inches/20cm, 9 inches 23/cm
MATERIALS
[MC] Rohrspatz & Wollmeise [100% merino super-wash wool; 574yd/350m per 150g skein]; color: Vergissmeinnicht; about 50g [CC] Rohrspatz & Wolmeise [80% merino super-wash wool, 20% nylon; yd/..m per ..g skein]; color: Spice Market; about 50g 1 set US 1/2.5 mm double points
GAUGE
6.5 stitches = 1inch/2.5cm in stockinette 46 stitches and 46 rows= 4 inches/10 cm x 4 inches/10 cm in slip stitch pattern
Allgäu Socks by Susi Ferguson
PATTERN NOTES
Latvian Braid is used on cuff. The leg and top of foot are knitted following chart. Heel and toe both have the same slip stitch striped pattern. Bottom of foot is stockinette stripes. The braid should sit snugly but not bind, I recommend trying on the sock once the braid is knit to make sure you can get it over your foot, other wise you need to go up a needle size, or two. If you are not up to the challenge of the braid, a 1 x 1 ribbing (knit 1, purl 1) is a simpler alternative for the cuff.
Latvian Braid: Knit LOOSELY!
Round 2: With both yarns in front of work, purl one in MC then purl one in CC2 always bringing the working yarn UNDER the other yarn. The yarns will twist together but untwist on the next round. Round 3: purl one in MC then purl 1 in CC always bringing the working yarn OVER the other yarn. Slip Stitch pattern
| SI | SI | |||||||||
| ☆ | ☆ | ☆ | ￥ | 7 | ||||||
| SI | SI | 9 | ||||||||
| ☆ | ☆ | * | * | ５ | ||||||
| SI | SI | 4 | ||||||||
| ☆ | ☆ | ☆ | 3 | |||||||
| SI | SI | ２ | ||||||||
| SI | SI | 1 | ||||||||
| 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ２ | 1 |
\*\*\* = place next 2 stitches on cable needle behind work. Knit next stitch then knit one and slip one from the cable needle. ☆☆☆ = place next stitch in the cable needle in front of work. Slip one stitch, knit one and then knit the stitch from the cable needle. Row 1 and 2: knit 2, \* slip 2, knit 8 \* repeat from \* to last 6 stitches and knit these.
Allgäu Socks by Susi Ferguson
Row 3: with MC \*place next 2 stitches on cable needle behind work, knit next stitch then knit one, slip one from cable needle. Place next stitch on cable needle in front of work, slip one, knit one, knit stitch from cable needle, then knit 4\* repeat from \* to end. Row 4: with MC repeat row 2. Row 5: repeat rows 3 and 4 with CC. Row 6: like rows 1 and 2 but with CC. Repeat rows 3 through 6. Photo below is a toe up version (upside down) but the colors might inspire you...
PATTERN Cuff Cast on 56 [66] stitches with MC. Divide evenly over 3 needles. Knit one round. Work Latvian braid LOOSELY 3 times with MC and CC (see pattern notes). Leg Knit one round in MC, increasing 14 stitches evenly - 70 [80] stitches. Next round begin following chart or written directions for Slip Stitch pattern on row 2. Repeat rows 3 through 6 until work is 8 inches/20 cm long from cast on edge (don't stretch work when measuring) ending with MC, divide for heel.
Allgäu Socks by Susi Ferguson
Heel
Break off all yarns. Slip first 20[23] stitches from needle 1, and 14 [17] stitches from needle 3 for heel stitches (34 [40] stitches). Place stitches for top of the foot on one needle (needle 2). Attach CC. Row 1: slip1 then knit across all heel stitches. Row 2: \*Slip one, purl one\* repeat from \* to end of row. Attach MC and repeat rows 1 and 2 of heel. Change color every two rows, work 18 [20] striped rows (36 [40] rows) ending with MC. Break off CC.
Turn Heel
The heel turn is worked in MC. Slip first stitch then knit 18 [20]stitches, ssk, knit one then turn work. Next row, slip first stitch purl three stitches then purl two together, purl one and turn work. Continue working back and forth in rows (always stranding CC behind work) until one stitch before the gap then knitting/purling two together until all stitches have been worked. 18 [20] stitches.
Gusset
Break yarn. Attach CC to instep stitches (round now begins here!) and knit across them in pattern. Then pick up and knit 20 [22] stitches (pick up one extra stitch at heel and at instep), knit across heel stitches, pick up and knit 20 [22] stitches. Divide stitches on needles as follows: 36 stitches on needle 1 (instep stitches), 28 [30] stitches on needle 2 (gussett and heel), 28 stitches on needle 3. Next round, knit across instep in pattern. On needle 2 knit one, ssk, knit to end of needle. Needle 3, knit to last three stitches k2tog, knit one. Continue this way following pattern on instep, changing colors every other round and decreasing every other round until there are 18 [20] stitches on needle 2 and 3 (72[82] stitches total).
Foot
Continue knitting in the round following pattern across instep and stockinette stripes on needles 2 and 3 until foot measures 7inches/18cm (or 2 inches from desired length), endingwithMC. Toe The toe is worked similarly to the heel in slip stitch stripes (two rounds each in MC and CC). With CC knit one round. Next round \*slip 1 stitch, knit 1\* repeat from \* to end. Next round change color to MC. On needle 1, knit one, ssk and knit to last three stitches on needle then k2tog and knit one. On needle 2, knit one, ssk and knit to end of needle. Needle 3: knit until last 3 stitches one needle then k2tog and knit 1. Continue decreasing every other round in this way until 18 stitches remain on needle 1, then begin decreasing every round always knitting first and last stitches of every round on slip stitch rounds before and after the decreases) until 16 stitches total remain (8 on needle 1 and 4 each on needles 2 and 3). Place all stitches from needles 2 and 3 on one needle. Break yarn leaving about 10 inches/25 cm length of yarn. Graft stitches together with kitchener stitch. Weave in all ends. Dampen socks, iron lightly (they smooth out nicely). Wear and enjoy!
