Dongle USB Mini Socks
Mini-socks make cute keychain accents for guys or girls and can be used to protect a USB thumb drive. They're also a great way to use up leftover sock yarn. Knit a whole flock of socks or just one - since they don't need to be pairs, there's no risk of SsS (second-sock syndrome)!
Project Specifications & Requirements
Gauge: 8.5 sts / 12 rows = 1" (2.5 cm) in stockinette stitch Size: One (approx. 1.75" / 4.5 cm from cuff to heel bend, 2.5" / 6.35 cm from heel to toe tip, 1.25" / 3 cm diameter) Needles: US 000 (1.5 mm) dpn (OR size to obtain gauge) Yarn: Approx. 20 yd / 18 m fingering weight yarn per sock. Shown: Plymouth Sockotta colors 6670 (white / hot pink / yellow) and 364 (pink / orange), 45% Cotton, 40% Wool, 15% Nylon (Polyamide), 414 yds / 379 m; Zitron Trekking XXL, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 459 yd / 420 m, color 310(gray, green & gold stripe); Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering Weight, 100% Merino Wool, 175 yd / 160 m per skein, color Caribbean Blue; Knit Picks Stroll Tweed, 65% Merino, 25% Nylon (Polyamide), 10% Other, 231 yd / 211 m, color Russet Tweed Notions: Stitch markers; yarn needle for weaving in ends; crochet hook (optional); small split keyring. Skills: Knit, purl, knitting in the round, short rows. Notes: Gauge is not very important. Size can be varied by using thicker yarn and appropriate needles. In this case, yarn amounts may vary.
"Dongle" UsB Mini Socks, p. 2
INSTRUCTIONS
CO 22 sts. Join, being careful not to twist. Work 4 rounds of K1, P1 ribbing.
LEG
Knit 10 rnds or until piece meas approx. 1.25" from CO. On last rnd, K11, place marker, K11.
HEEL
Decreases
R1: K11; wrap & turn. R2: P10; wrap & turn. R3: K9; wrap & turn. R4: P8; wrap & turn. R5: K7; wrap & turn. R6: P6; wrap & turn. R7: K5; wrap & turn.
Increases
Pick up wrap(s) as you come to them and work with wrapped st. R1: P6; wrap & turn. R2: K7; wrap & turn. R3: P8; wrap & turn. R4: K9; wrap & turn. R5: P10; wrap & turn. R6: K11; K to end of rnd.
FOOT
Remove gusset marker, leaving only end of rnd marker. Knit 15 rounds or until foot meas approx 1.75" from back of heel. TOE Rnd 1: [K2tog] to end. (11 sts) Rnd 2: [K2tog] to last st, K1. (6 sts) FINISHING BO loosely in pattern. Attach twisted cord. Weave in ends and block.
Twisted Cord
Cut a strand of yarn approx 18" / 45 cm long. Fold in half and knot ends together. Twist very tightly. Hold the knotted and folded ends together and let the yarn twist back on itself to form a cord. Knot the ends together and cut any excess yarn away. Use a crochet hook to pull the doubled end partway through the ribbing on the inside of the sock at the back. Pull so knotted end is closest to the sock fabric. Open the twist into a loop, pull the other end through, and tug to tighten. Attach a small keyring to the looped end of the cord. Have leftover yarn from a pair of full-size socks? Of course you do - so make a Dongle to match. Shown: "Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe," pattern available from KnitDesign by Caroline.
