Oh Jamie, My Jamie!!!
I spent the better part of the winter of 2010 obsessed with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and more specifically, the male protagonist, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. So it's no surprise that he was the inspiration for this sock. The stag and crown appear prominently in the Fraser Clan crest. The strawberry has additional symbolic significance that I won't get into because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who is also equally obsessed. This pattern assumes that you have knit socks before. Go to it Sassenachs!
Materials
Yarn: Fingering weight yarn in the following colors: Natural, Deep Red, Brown, Gold, Dark Green. For these sock I used Knitpicks Bare Superwash Merino (natural) (130 yards), Knitpicks Essential Sock in Auburn (deep red) (90 yards), Timber (brown) (90 yards), Gold (gold) (45 yards), Ivy (dark green) (90 yards). Yardage is approximate. Needles: 1 set of US size 2 double points for plain stockinette; 1 set of US size 3 for color work or size to obtain gauge. (Or use size 2 and 3 40 inch circular for magic loop). Stitch markers if necessary and tapestry needle. Gauge: 8 stitches and 10 rows per inch in stockinette and stranded stockinette. Use any needle size to achieve this. Size: M and L (8, 8.5 inches foot circumference). For smaller sizes, knit sock at a gauge of 9 stitches/inch. At this gauge the M will give you a foot circumference of 7 inches and the L, 7.5 inches. With size 2 needles and the natural color, cast on 64 (68) stitches. Join being careful not to twist. Cuff: Work [k2 in natural, p2 in red] for 10 rounds. Leg: Work 6 rows of stockinette in natural. Then change to size 3 needles (if necessary) and follow rows 1-38 of stag chart twice per round. For size M, follow chart within the red lines. For size L, complete entire chart. Remember to keep the yarn floats between colors extremely loose. Stranded colorwork doesn't have nearly the amount of stretch as regular stockinette does. Heel: The heel flap is worked over 32 (34 stitches). Row 1: In Ivy, \*sl 1 purlwise with yarn in back, k1; rep from \*. Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl to end. Row 3: In Timber, \*sl 1 purlwise with yarn in back, k1; rep from \*. Row 4: Sl 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl to end. Repeat rows 1 through 4 until 32 (34) rows have been worked. You will either end at row 2 or row 4. To turn the heel, in Timber, knit across 18 (19) stitches, ssk, k1, turn work. This is row 1. Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1. Turn. Row 3: Sl 1 purlwise, knit to one stitch before gap, ssk, k1, turn. Row 4: Sl 1 purlwise, purl to one stitch before gap, p2tog, p1, turn. Continue rows 3-4 until all of the heel stitches have been worked, ending on the purl side. You should end up with 18 (20) stitches. The heel gusset: Knit across all heel stitches and pick up 16(17) stitches along selvedge edge of heel flap. Place marker Knit across the instep stitches that were held waiting, place marker, then pick up 16(17) stitches along the other selvedge edge of the heel flap, joining back to the heel stitches. You should have a total of 82(88) stitches on the needles. Round 1: Knit to last 3 stitches before first marker, k2tog, k1. Knit across instep to next marker. Then k1, ssk1 and knit to heel. Round 2: Knit. Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until you are back to 64(68) stitches per round. Foot: Continue to knit until approximately 2 inches before you want to start your toe decreases. Then start following the Strawberry chart. Complete rows 1-29 twice for each row. For size M, follow chart within the purple lines. For size L, complete entire chart. Toe: While continuing to follow chart, decrease for toe. Round 1: k1 ssk 1, knit to 3 stitches to end of chart k2tog, k1 twice. Round 2: k according to chart Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until you have 32 (36) stitches on the needles. Then repeat round 1 until you have 18 (20) stitches. Graft remaining stitches using the kitchener stitch. Weave in ends and block. A good blocking will take care of some of the wonkiness from the stranded knitting, so dinna fash yourself.
