These are directions for socks I made for "afghans for Afghans". They would also be good for Children in Common, or Dulaan, or any children's charity. This is just a basic top down sock with classic French heel and a round toe. You are free to use the directions for any purpose you want. If you copy them to hand around, please just include the credit line at the end.
You will need:
- Odds and ends of worsted weight wool yarn (wool is important for warmth)
- Set of 5 double pointed needles, in a size that gives you a gauge of 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 stitches per inch.
- ring marker
- tapestry/yarn needle
Finshed size: 8 inch foot (shoe size 1-2) if worked at 4 1/2 sts/inch. (smaller at a tighter gauge.)
Standard abbreviations are used through out. All slipped sts are slipped purlwise. If the knit side of the fabric is facing you, slip with yarn in back. If the purl side is facing you, slip with yarn in front.
Cast on 32 sts and distribute evenly on 4 needles (8 per ndl). Place marker and join round.
Work 8 rounds in 1 x1 or 2 x 2 ribbing.
Knit 24 more rounds (32 rnds total).
Knit the 8 sts on the first needle. Turn work. Slip the 8 sts from the fourth needle onto the first needle, purl all 16 sts and turn work. At this point there should be 16 sts on one needle for the heel flap, and two needles with 8 sts each for the instep. Just let the instep needles hang (pretend they aren't there) while you work the heel flap back and forth.
Heel flap Row 1: (sl 1, k1) 8 times. Row 2: (sl 1, p15). Repeat Rows 1 & 2 seven more times (total of 16 rows worked). You should end by working a purl row (Row 2). Turn work.
Heel turn
Row 1: K10, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, k6, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, k8, ssk, turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, p9, p2tog, turn.
At this point there should be 10 sts on the heel needle.
Pick up round Knit the first five heel sts. With a free needle, knit the next next 5 heel sts and then pick up 9 sts along the side of the heel flap (14 sts total on first needle). Continuing in the round: knit the first 8 instep sts (second needle), knit the next 8 instep sts (third needle). With the fourth needle, pick up 9 sts along the second side of the heel flap and then knit the first 5 heel sts (14 sts total on fourth needle). Place marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Gusset decreases Round 1: Knit to 3 sts before the end of the first needle, k2tog, knit the last stitch. Knit even across the second and third needles. Knit the first stitch of the fourth needle, ssk, knit to the end of the fourth needle. Round 2: Knit. Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until there are 8 stitches on each needle (32 sts total).
Foot Work even, knitting every round, until there are 32 rounds from the pick up round.
Toe
Rnd 1: (k6, k2tog) four times.
Rnds 2 & 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (k5, k2tog) four times.
Rnds 5 & 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (k4, k2tog) four times.
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (k3, k2tog) four times.
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: (k2tog) eight times.
Cut off yarn leaving a 6 inch tail. With a tapestry needle, run the tail through the 8 remaining sts and pull up tight. Weave in any loose ends. Make a second sock to match first.
Directions written by Cindy Guggemos http://baxterknits.blogspot.com
