purrfectly catchy designsTM
JOHN'S SHORT FOOTIES
YARN: Wool-ease Worsted Weight - 1 ball. NEEDLES: Size 4 Double Points or Circulars - or size needed to obtain gauge. GAUGE: 6 STS PER INCH
ABBREVIATIONS
K - knit P - purl PM - place marker SL-ST - slip ST PSSO - pass SL ST over K2TOG - knit 2 stitches together ST/STS - stitch/stitches PZTOG - purl 2STS together ST ST - stockinette ST CAST ON: Using #4 needles, cast on 52 (44, 60) STS. Being careful not to twist the STS, join & work ribbing of K3, P1. Continue to do a total of 3 rounds of K3, Pl ribbing. THE HEEL: If you have a favorite heel, by all means, do it! I like this one since it is very basic & simple to do. The heel will be worked on 1/2 of your total STS 26 (22, 30). THE HEEL FLAP: K 13 (11,15) STS off your first needle, turn & P back those 13 (11,15) and 13 (11,15) STS from your third needle. ROW 1 - K 2 STS, (SL 1 ST, K 1 ST) repeat for the rest of the row. Turn. ROw 2 - P across entire row. Turn. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 till you have 2 1/2 to 3 inches, ending with row 2. I usually count my heel flap rows on the wrong side, by counting the slipped stitch rows. I need 13 "slip stitch rows" to have the heel long enough for me. Once you get used to doing this, you won't need a ruler. TURNING THE HEEL: You can use markers if it makes it easier for you to turn the heel. ROW 1 - K 9, PM, K8, PM, SL, K 1, PSSO, & turn (K7, PM, K8, PM, SL, K 1, PSSO & turn) (K10, PM, K10, PM, SL, K 1, PSSO & turn). Continue to slide markers when you come to them. ROW 2 - SL, P8, P 2 TOG (SL, P8, P 2 TOG) (SL, P 10, P 2 TOG) turn. Always remember to SL the first stitch in row 1 and row 2. Continue repeating rows 1 and 2 till you only have 10 (10, 12) STS left. K last row. GUSSETS: Using a new needle, pick up the side gusset stitches. You will pick up the entire loop of the stitch at the outside edge. I pick up a stitch on every other row. Change to a new needle and knit the other 26 STS that you had saved before doing the heel flap. Using a new needle, pick up the other side gusset stitches. You should have the same amount of stitches on each side; however, it isn't a crisis if you are off by one stitch! You will correct that with an extra decrease row. Using the same needle that you picked up the Znd set of gusset stitches with, K 5 (5, 6) STS off the next needle. This is the end of the sock round. Slide the remaining 5 (5, 6) STS onto the first needle you used to pick up the lst set of gusset stitches. You are now working in the round again. K 1 round. If you have a high instep, you may want to K 2 or 3 rounds. ROUND 1 - DECREASE ROUND - On needle 1, K to last 3 STS, K2 TOG, K1. K across needle 2. On needle 3, K 1, SL, K 1 & PSSO, K remaining STS on needle. ROUND 2 - KNIT ROUND - K all STS. Repeats rounds 1 and 2 till you have 52 (44, 60) STS left. This is the original number of STS that you started with. Continue to knit the foot in ST ST till you are approximately 7 1/2 inches (5 1/2 inches, 9 1/2 inches) from the heel back - or continue till you about are 2 to 2 1/4 inches shorter than the desired length. TOE SHAPING: Your STS should be divided on your needles like this: 13-26-13 (11- 22-11, 15-30-15). ROUND 1 - DECREASE ROUND - On needle 1, K to the last 3 STS, K 2 TOG, K 1. On needle 2, K 1, SL 1, K1, PSSO, K to last 3 STS, K 2 TOG, K 1. On needle 3, K 1 SL 1, K1, PSSO, K to end of round. ROUND 2 -K. Repeat these 2 rounds till you have 12 (8, 16) STS remaining. CLOSING THE TOE - You can make Lord Kitchener proud & use his method to close the toe or you can use the 3-needle bind off. NOW, unless you knitted 2 socks on circular needles, KNIT THAT SECOND SOCK! : can also be made with sockweight yarn, size 2 dpns & cast on of 64 st
