Wise Hilda's Basic Ribbed Sock
This sockdesign was developed as a solution to two problems: socks with a plain stocking-stitch leg tend to fall down, and I find k1p1 ribbing very tedious. Sizes Women's S (shoe size 5-7), Women's M (shoe size $71/2-9$ ), Women's L (shoe size $91/\!\!_{2}+$ ), Men's S (shoe size 6- 9 ), Men's L (shoe size $91/\!\!_{2}+\!\!\!_{\!}$ Materials 100 gm/400m sock yarn - this pattern works for any sock yarn with a 28-30 stitch gauge 1 set of 2.5mm double-pointed needles
Gauge
32 sts, unstretched, across 4 inches/10cm in K3 P1 rib with 2.5mm needles.
Glossary
ssk: slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip next stitch knitwise, insert left needle into the fronts of these two slipped sts, and knit them together
Method Cuff:
Cast 56(60, 64, 64, 68) sts onto a single needle. Distribute sts evenly across 3 needles. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. Work 15 (15, 17.5, 20, 20) cm/6 (6, 7, 8, 8) inches of K3 P1 ribbing, as follows: Round 1: $^{*}\mathsf{K}3$ , p1; repeat from \* to end of round. Repeat this for every round.
Turn Heel:
This portion is worked flat in plain stocking stitch. Knit first 27 (27, 31, 31, 35) sts. Put remaining 29 (33, 33, 33, 33) sts onto a holder. Starting with a purl row, work 21 (21, 23, 23, 25) rows of stocking stitch, slipping the first stitch of every row. The right side is facing for next row. RS: Knit 18 (18, 21, 21, 23) sts, ssk, turn WS: Slip 1, purl 9 (9, 11, 11, 11) sts, p2tog, turn RS: Slip 1, knit 9 (9, 11, 11, 11) sts, ssk, turn Repeat last two rows untilall sts have been worked. 11 (11, 13, 13, 13) sts remain, and RS is facing.
Re-establish Round and Create Gusset:
Knit all heel sts. Using that same needle, pick up and knit 15 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts along selvedge edge at side of heel, using slipped sts as a guide. With a new needle, work in rib pattern across the 29 (33, 33, 33, 33) sts of instep -those sts that you'd set aside on the stitch holder. Using another new needle, pick up and knit 15 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts along selvedge edge at other side of heel, using slipped sts as a guide. Work 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts from the first needle. The beginning of the round is now at the centre of the heel. There should be 20 (20, 22, 22, 23) sts on the first needle, the 29 (29, 33, 33, 37) sts of the instep on the second, and 21 (21, 23, 23, 24) stiches on the third. Rearrange the sts if you need to. From here on in, the 29 (33, 33, 33, 33) instep sts wilbe worked in the rib patten, and the gusset and sole will be worked in stocking stitch - that is, knitting every round.
Decrease Gusset:
Work a round even - keeping the instep sts in pattern - twisting allpicked-up sts. Work a decrease round as follows: Needle 1: Knit to last three sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2: Work all sts in pattern. Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end. Work an even round, keeping continuity of pattern. Repeat these last two rounds unti Needles 1 has 13 (13, 15, 15, 17) sts and Needle 3 has 14 (14, 16, 16, 18) sts. 56 (60, 64, 64, 68) sts total on your needles. Work until foot measures 6.5 (18, 19, 19, 21) cm/6.5 (7, 7.5, 7.5, 8.5) inches, or $6\,\mathsf{c m}/2.5$ inches less than foot length. (Note that the finished sock should be a little shorter than the foot. This makes for a better fit.)
Shape Toe:
From hereonin, you work entirely instocking stitch, Rearrange the sts so that youve got 14 (15, 16, 16, 17) each on Needles 1 and 3, and 28 (30, 32, 32, 34) on Needle 2. Work a decrease round, as follows: Needle 1: Knit to last three sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to last three sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end. Work 3 rounds even. Work a decrease round fllowed by 2 even rounds, twice. [6 rounds tota] Work a decrease round followed by 1 even round, three times. [6 rounds total] Work decrease rounds until 8 sts remain. To finish, cut yarn, draw through the final sts and tighten. Weave in ends.
