Cornflower Socks
Designed by Karen Scott
Description
This top down sock, with gusset and heel flap, is α combination of a small cable and twisted stitch pattern; a lovely textured design which is simple and easy to memorise and much easier than it looks! The miniature circular cable looks like a little row of Cornflowers, hence the name. The pattern is written using dpns, but can be adapted to your usual method of knitting in the round. The pattern is charted only: however it is colour-coded and VERy easy to follow. Cabling without a needle will ensure this pattern flows along nicely and really speeds up the knitting process (see References).
Materials
100g/400 yards Wild Fire Fibres Fantasia 4 ply $100\%$ Merino (pictured in Cornflower above) or 100g/400 yards Wild Fire Fibres Bambino 4 ply $80\%$ Merino/ $20\%$ Bamboo (pictured in Silverdale below) or any sock yarn to get the correct gauge. $2.50\;\mathsf{m m}$ $\begin{array}{r}{(\mathsf{U}S\,\mathsf{1}\frac{\mathsf{1}}{\mathsf{2}})}\end{array}$ dpns Stitch markers Tapestry needle
Tension/Gauge
15.5 sts $\times\,21$ rows over 5 cms $(2")$ in st st.
Size
Ladies Medium Re-sizing this sock can be tricky because of the large pattern repeat. $\pmb{\mathcal{T}}\pmb{\mathcal{F}}$ your foot circumference is outside of the measurements listed below, the easiest option is to go up or down a needle size and/or experiment with the yarn weight.
Finished Measurements
The foot width is 18 cm $(7^{\mathfrak{n}})$ circumference and it will stretch comfortably up to approx 23 cm $(9^{\prime\prime})$ The finished foot length is up to you.
Abbreviations
st st Stocking/Stockinette Stitch k Knit P Purl ssk Slip 2 stitches knit-wise onto the right needle, and then knit them together k2tog Knit 2 sts together slm Slip marker pm Place marker dpns Double pointed needles sts Stitches SI1 Slip one stitch purl-wise tbl Through back loop WS Wrong side RS Right side pw Purl wise
Cuff
Cast on 64 sts evenly over $4\times2.50~\mathsf{m m}$ dpns. There will be 16 sts on each needle (one pattern repeat per needle). Join together for working in the round and pm, taking care not to twist the stitches. Knit in $1\times1$ Twisted Rib for 2.5 cms $(1\frac{1}{4}")$ or desired length. Twisted Rib: \*k1tbl, p1; \*repeat to end
Leg
Using the chart below, work the 20 rows of the pattern across the 64 sts until the leg measures $15\;c m$ $(6^{\prime\prime})$ or desired length. After reaching the required length, do not work the last stitch at the end of Needle 4.
C1R-sl1 to cable needle,hold in back,k1tbl,k1tbl from cable needle C1L -sl1 to cable needle,hold in front, k1tbl, k1tbl from cable needle T1L - sl1 to cable needle, hold in front, p1, kitbl from cable needle ktbl - Knit stitch through back loop purl
Heel Flap
Slip the unworked stitch from Needle 4 onto the beginning of Needle 1, then slip the last 2 sts from Needle 3 onto the end of Needle 2. There will now be 17 sts on Needle 1 (beginning with a purl stitch) and 18 sts on Needle 2 (ending with an extra knit and purl stitch). 35 stitches altogether for the top of the foot. Leave these stitches to work on later. Slip all of Needle 3 stitches onto Needle 4 and with WS facing work back and forth on the 29 heel flap stitches as follows: Row 1: Sl1 pw, purl to end of row Row 2: Sl1 pw, k1; repeat to last st, k1 Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the heel flap is about 6 cm $(2\frac{1}{2}")$ long.
Heel Turn
Row 2: sl1 pw, P4, p2tog, p1, turn Row 3: sl1 pw, kto 1st st before gap, ssk, k1, turn Row 4: sl1 pw, p to 1st st before gap, p2tog, p1 turn Repeat the last two rows, taking in one more st on every row until all the sts are worked. You will now have 17 sts on the needle and Rs facing.
Gusset Shaping
Sl1, k7, pm (centre marker and the beginning of the round). Using the same needle (now Needle 1) pick up and k17 sts along the slipped stitch edge of the heel flap. With Needles 2 and 3 pattern across the 35 sts on the top of the foot. Using a new dpn (Needle 4) pick up and K17 sts along the other slipped stitch edge of the heel flap and then k8 sts to the centre marker. (When picking up stitches pick up then knit into the back of the loop to make a tighter stitch). You will now be back to knitting in the round, and the stitches will be arranged as follows: 26 sts on Needle 1, 17 sts on Needle 2, 18 sts on Needle 3, 25 sts on Needle $4=86$ sts Row 1: Knit to 2 sts before the end of Needle 1, k2tog Knit across the top of the foot in the pattern on Needles 2 and 3. ssk at the beginning of Needle 4, knit to centre marker. Row 2: Work even. Repeat the last two rows until there are a total of 64 sts back on your needles spread across the 4 dpns as follows: 15 sts on Needle 1, 17 sts on Needle 2, 18 sts on Needle 3, 14 sts on Needle $4=64$ sts
Foot
Continue in the established pattern, knitting the sole in st st and patterning across the top of the foot, until the foot measures 5 cm $(2")$ less than the total foot length. Sl1 from the end of Needle 2 onto Needle 1 and sl2 from the end of Needle 3 onto Needle 4 ready for the toe shaping. There will now be 16 sts on each needle.
Shape Toe
Row 1: Needle 1- Knit to last 3 sts; k2tog, k1, Needle 2 - k1, ssk, knit to end, Needle 3 - Knit to last 3 sts; k2tog, k1, Needle 4 - k1, ssk knit to end. Row 2: Knit one round even. Continue in this manner, repeating the last two rows until 5 sts remain on each needle, 20 in total. Using Needle 4, knit to the end of Needle 1. Then slip stitches from Needle 2 onto Needle 3 ready for grafting (10 sts on each needle).
To Finish
Break yarn, leaving a longish tail. Thread onto a tapestry needle and using Kitchener Stitch graft the remaining toe sts together (see References below). Weave in ends and block lightly if desired.
References:
Kitchener Stitch and cabling without a needle: www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques
Wildfire Fibres: www.wildfirefibres.etsy.com
Small cable stitch modified from: Cable and Aran Harmony Stitch Guide by Erika Knight If you have any questions about this pattern, please do not hesitate to contact me.
@ K M Scott 2009
This pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only, please do not reproduce this pattern in any way without the express permission of the author.
