Siberian Iris Sock
By Meggan Frost To Fit Sizes: 7 (8, 9) inches foot circumference Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport ( $100\%$ wool; 184 yards $[168\;\mathrm{m}]/50\;\mathrm{g})$ : #N62S Amethyst, 2 balls. Needles and Notions: Set of 4 double pointed needles in US O or size needed to obtain gauge, yarn needle Gauge: 14 stitches and 19 rows $=2^{\prime\prime}$ in stockinette stitch Finished size: 7 (8, 9) inches foot circumference. 4.25 (5.25, 6.25) inches from the top of the cuff to the top of the heel flap. 8.5 (9.5, 10.5) inches from the back of the heel to the toe. Notes: This pattern is written for three sizes, each size using a different stitch count in most instances. In certain places, there will be only one set of numbers. This number applies to all sizes. If you are between sizes, knit the smaller size as lace is quite stretchy. In the yard of the house where I lived as a child grew a clump of Siberian Iris which had been divided from a patch in my great-grandmother's yard. Vivid blue-violet and delicate, these petite little gems were a favorite of mine. These socks, knit in a similar blue-violet, are meant to evoke the Siberian Iris petals through the curving V's which flow down the back and front of the sock and the "beard" (the fluffy raised part that runs down the middle of the petals) by use of a raised, eyelet ribbing and the side panels. They feature a stockinette heel and a wedge toe.
Since this sock uses a pattern with a long row repeat, adjusting for foot length can be a little tricky. If you need to make the foot longer or shorter, add or subtract portions of the chart before separating for the heel flap. For instance, knitting 4.5 repeats before starting the heel flap and working 9 repeats total as specified in the pattern willshorten the foot of your sock by $\mathcal{Y}_{2}^{\prime\prime}$ to $\%^{\prime\prime}$ depending on your size. You could also continue the center of the chart into the toe for a few rounds, changing the side panels to stockinette and following the indicated decreases. If lace socks aren't your thing, you can replace the yarn overs with a lifted increase (M1). This will preserve the movement of the stitches while closing up the holes.
Abbreviations:
K: knit P: purl Ssk: slip, slip, knit K2tog: knit 2 together Sl: slip P2tog: purl 2 togetherSts: stitches Kwise: knit-wise Pwise: purl-wise Cuff Cast on 48 (56, 64) sts using the long-tail method. Divide the stitches between three needles as follows: 12 (14, 16) sts on needles 1 and 2 and 24 (28, 32) sts on needle 3. Join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches, and knit the ribbing chart. Switch to the Iris chart appropriate for your size. You will repeat the chart twice, once for the front and once for the back of the sock. All sizes will knit the Iris chart 4 times, ending with the last row of each chart. Work will measure approximately 4.25 (5.25, 6.25)".
Heel Flap
For all sizes: Slip the first stitch on needle 1 kwise and knit across all stitches on needles 1 and 2. The stitches on needle 3 will be held until after the heel is turned. Heel is worked back and forth on 24 (28, 32) sts using two needles. Slip the first stitch on the working needle pwise and purl to the end of the row. Repeat these two rows, slipping the first stitch at the beginning of each row, until the heel measures 2.25 (2.25, 2.5)" ending with a purl row.
Turn the Heel
Heel turn begins with a right side row. Row 1: k13 (15, 17), ssk, k1 Row 2: sl 1 pwise, p3, p2tog, p1 Row 3: sl 1 kwise, k4, ssk, k1 Row 4: sl 1 pwise, p5, p2tog, p1 Continue as established, working one more stitch after the slipped stitch on each row and working the decrease across the gap until no more sts are left to be worked. 14 (16, 18) sts remain. Gusset Pick up sts along the edges of heel flap and rejoin for working in the round as follows: With needle1, K14 (16, 18) sts across the heel and pick up 12 (14, 16) sts along the side of the heel flap; with needle 2, work the instep stitches in pattern; with needle 3, pick up 12 (14, 16) sts in the chain stitches along the side of the heel flap and k7 (8, 9) sts from needle 1 again. The beginning of the round has moved to the center of the heel - 19 (23, 25) sts on needle 1 and 3; 24 (28, 32) sts on needle 2. Work one round even. Work gusset decreases as follows: Round 1: k until 3 sts before the end of needle 1, k2tog, k1, work across the instep sts in pattern on needle 2, k1, ssk, k to the end on needle 3. Roind 2. knit and nurl as estahlished Repeat rounds one and two until 12 (14, 16) sts remain on needles 1 and 3.
Foot
Continue as established, knitting the sts on needles 1 and 3 without decreasing until the Iris chart has been worked for a total of 9 repeats for all sizes. Work measures approximately 6.5 (7.5, 8.5)" from the back Toe Round 1: needle 1: k until 3 sts before the end, k2tog, k2. Needle 2: k1, ssk, k until 3 sts before the end, k2tog, k1. Needle 3: K1, ssk, k to end. Round 2: K all sts Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 16 (24, 32) sts remain. With needle 3, k4 (6, 8) sts from needle 1 - 8(12, 16) sts on each of 2 needles. Cut the yarn, leaving a $12^{\prime\prime}$ tail. Join the toe using kitchener stitch. Weave in loose ends.
Eyelet Ribing
。 yo
48 stitch chart
64 stitch chart
