The Lismore Cable Socks
Perfect for stalking the Irish Sea along the many wonderful cliff walks on the east coast of Ireland. The cable pattern was one of many designs by Cyril Cullen to be used by homeknitters who knit up his sweater patterns for sale in the 1960's.. More information can be found on his knitwear designs at http://cyrilcullen.wordpress.com/about/ I love this cable with its simplicity and chain-like symmetry. It does have one quirky bit but on the whole it is easy to memorize and quite intuitive. Since I knit it from a photo of a swatch and then adapted it for the sock, it may not be exactly as Cyril Cullen himself wrote it. This is what my original swatch looked like:
And here is my 12-row pattern in words: Lismore Cable Pattern for Socks Row 1: ( K2, P2, C4L, P4, C4L, P2 ) four times - you should have one complete pattern repeat on each needle making four cables. (18 st per needle) Row 2, and all even rows: K all Knit stitches; P all purl stitches Row 3: (K2, P2, K2, C2LP, P2, C2RP, K2, P2) four times Row 5: (K2, P2, K2, P1, C2LP, C2RP, P1, K2, P2, ) four times Row 7: (K2, P2, P2, K2, P2, C4R, P2, K2, P2) four times Row 9: (K2, P2, K2, P1, C2RP, C2LP, P1, K2, P2) four times Row 11: ( K2, P2, K2, C2RP, P2, C2LP, K2, P2) four times
Abbreviations used:
C4L = sl2 st to cable needle (cn), hold in front of work K2, K2 from cn C2R = sl 2 st to cn, hold in back of work, k2 , K2 from cn C2LP = sl 2 st to cn, hold in front of work, P1, K2 from cn C2RP = sl 1 st to cn, hold in back of work, K2, P1 from cn M 1 - increase 1 stitch SSK - sl next 2 st knitwise, The Sock - this is a top-down pattern Yarn : 4ply fingering: approx. 400 meters Needles: double point needles 2.75mm; set of five. Cable needle. Gauge: 9 stitches and 11 rows = 1 inch Cast on 64 stitches distributed on 4 needles (16 stitches each needle). Join in the round. Work K2, P2 rib for 20 rows. Set-up Row: (K2, P2, K3, M1, P4, M1, P2) four times You should now have 18 stitches each needle. Begin Lismore Cable pattern and continue until desired length. I worked five 'chain links' before the heel flap on the longer socks. Only one on the anklet length.
Heel flap:
Knit across all stitches on first 2 needles, decreasing 2 stitches and placing all stitches on one needle Work Row 2 of Pattern over next 36 stitches. These are the instep stitches and will rest while you knit the heel flap. Working flat on the 32 heel stitches: Row 1 (RS): sl 1, K1 across Repeat these two rows 16 times. Short-row Heel Shaping: Row 1 (RS): sl 1, K 17, SSK, K1, turn Row 2(WS): sl 1, P 6, P tog, P1, turn Row 3 (RS): sl1, K to last st before 'gap', SSK, K1, turn Row 4 WS): sl 1, P to last stitch before 'gap, P 2 tog, P 1, turn Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 18 st on needle, ending with a WS row. Next row: Sl 1, K across; with same needle (needle 1) pick up 18 stitches down side of heel flap Work Row 3 of Pattern across the 36 instep stitches on Needles 2 and 3 With needle 4, pick up 18 stitches up the heel flap; with same needle K 9 stitches to center of heel
Make Gusset:
Round 1: On needle 1, K to last 3 stitches: K2 tog, K1; K in Pattern across needles 2 and 3; On needle 4: K1, SSK, K to end. ound 2: Needle 1: K to end; Needles 2 and 3: Knit Pattern; Needle 4: K to er Repeat these 2 rows until there are 18 stitches each on Needles 1 and 4 Foot of Sock: At this point I usually put all heel stitches on one needle to avoid any gaps in the foot but it's not necessary if you prefer to continue working on four needles. Continue to work in Pattern and stocking stitch as established until foot is 2 inches less than desired length. Knit all stitches in Next round decreasing 2 stitches on Needles 2 and 3 - 16 stitches each needle. (Or 32 on needle 1, and 16 each on Needles 2 & 3)
Shape Toe:
Round 1: (K1, SSK, K26, K2tog, K1) twice Round 2: Knit all stitches Repeat these two rounds until you have 12 instep stitches and 12 sole stitches left. Cut yarn leaving long enough tail for grafting. Graft stitches together. Weave in ends. You're finished! Try on sock. Admire your great work. And you only have one more to make.
