Stroll Down Memory Lane

Stroll Down Memory Lane socks work well in a superwash wool blend. The quick bricks are fun work, and the socks can be knit in just a few days making them the perfect gift or accessory. This pattern is designed to use and enjoy those beautiful remaining balls of sock yarn from previous projects.This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of sock (and stitch) construction is helpful.

Finished size:

small: leg height about 9”, 8" foot length, about 6” flat, 
stretch 10”circumference

medium: leg height about 10”, 9.5" foot length, about 7” flat, stretch 10”circumference

large: leg height about 11”, 10.5" foot length, about 8” flat, stretch 10”circumference

Gauge: 7 stitches = 1”

Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials: Yarn: ~50 to 75 grams color A superwash wool blend in fingering weight for cuffs, mortar, toe and heels; ~50 to 75 grams color B (four to six ~10g balls) of superwash wool blend in fingering weight for bricks, 

and 2 yards of waste yarn in a different color to mark placement of afterthought heel.

Photo: Size small: HypnoticYarn; Seaside Yarn&Fiber; KnitPicks bare fingering (hand dyed)

Needles: Size US#2(2.75mm), 16”and 24” circular needles; or size US#2 (2.75mm) set DPN

Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers, 2 yards of waist yarn in a different color, set smaller size DPN for picking up afterthought heel stitches

Abbreviations: CO=cast on      k = knit       p= purl       k2tog=knit 2 stitches together      Rnd/s=round/s      S1= slip stitch purlwise with yarn in back      sts=stitches

A= color A      B= colors B      x=number of times

Special Stitches: quick bricks (these 10 rows/rnds, and 10sts make the quick brick pattern)

A Rnds 1, 2: Knit
B Rnd 3: * K9, S1
B Rnd 4: * (K1,p1)x4, k1, S1
B Rnd 5: * (P1,k1)x4, p1, S1
A Rnds 6, 7: Knit
B Rnd 8:  K4, S1, k5, S1
B Rnd 9: (P1,k1)x2, S1* (K1,p1)x2, k1
B Rnd 10: (K1,p1)x2, S1 * (P1,k1)x2, p1

Directions: The directions are written for adult size (small, medium, large) in parentheses, and working with 2 circular needles. (notes are in italic) Make 2 socks.

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size US#2 needles, with A, cast on (75, 90, 105) stitches.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist,

with A, * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (50, 60, 70) sts

Sock Rib: (20,30sts per needle; 30,30stst per needle; 30,40sts per needle)

Rnds 1-15: with A, * K1, p1; repeat from * to end

Sock Leg: (20,30sts per needle; 30,30stst per needle; 30,40sts per needle)

A Rnds 1, 2: Knit
B Rnd 3: * K9, S1; repeat from * to end
B Rnd 4: * (K1,p1)x4, k1, S1; repeat from * to end
B Rnd 5: * (P1,k1)x4, p1, S1; repeat from * to end
A Rnds 6,7: Knit
B Rnd 8: K4, S1, * K9, S1; repeat from * to end (last 5sts knit)
B Rnd 9: (P1,k1)x2,S1, * (K1,p1)x4, k1, S1; repeat from * to end (last 5sts(k1,p1)x2,k1)
B Rnd 10: (K1,p1)x2,S1, * (P1,k1)x4, p1, S1; repeat from * to end (last 5sts(p1,k1)x2,p1)

Repeat rnds 1-10, working leg to the desired length, completing a rnd 1 or 6, set up for heel and foot.  (7”, 8”, 9”) from CO

Instep and Heel set up:

With A, as established, knit (20, 30, 30sts)instep stitches.

Drop A yarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel (30, 30, 40)stitches, turn, S1, purl back. Drop colored strand, pick up A, and knit across heel (30, 30, 40) stitches once more. After this work instep as established, and knit sole; the heel will be put in later.

Instep and Sole: (optional sole: work rnds 3, 4, 5: * K9, S1; repeat from * to end; and rnds 8, 9, 10:  K4,S1, * K9, S1; repeat from * to last 5sts, knit5.)

Work instep as established, and knit sole until sock measures from heel (colored yarn) marker:

(4.5”, 5.5”,6.5”) for desired length, completing a rnd 2 or 7, then set up for toe decreases.

Toe: size small and large: Rearrange stitches to closely center instep, and even up the stitches on needles 1 & 2. (25,25sts per needle; 30,30sts per needle; 35,35 sts per needle)

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with A, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1;(instep)

repeat from * to end(sole) (4sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with A, knit

Continue until (11, 12, 13)sts remain for instep, and (11, 12, 13)sts remain for sole.

With (22, 24, 26) stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel:

Carefully slide the (30,30,40)sts below(sole), and (30,30,40)sts above the colored yarn(leg) to needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn.

Attach A yarn, knit a round, and pick up one stitch at the beginning and end of the needles.

(You'll have (32, 32, 42)sts on each needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.)

Now work the heel the same as the toe.

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with A, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1;

repeat from * to end (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with A, knit

Continue until (12, 12, 12)sts remain for leg, and (12, 12, 12)sts remain for sole.

With (24, 24, 24) stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the heel.

Finishing: Weave in tails. Make second sock.

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.

Quick Bricks Socks pattern pdf available on Ravelry.
Copyright 2019, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 11-14-19

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Here are photos of the process:

With many colorful small ball of fingering yarn remaining from 2019 projects, I wanted to design and knit a pair of socks.  I also included a hank of KnitPicks Hawthorne, Blackbird. I was planning to use that for the mortar, but  I didn't like the look, and soon "frogged" it out of the plan.  

I selected yarn and started the socks. 

I worked through the afterthought heel marker and to the toe of sock with Key Lime mortar.  That sock was colorful, and the other sock was pretty.  I solved that problem by  "frogging" the sock to the orange cuff, then knitted it again with Key Lime mortar.

I was getting ready to knit toes and heels.  At the time, the pink(PAAS dyed) yarn didn't feel bright enough.  I used some food color to over-dye the yarn a richer pink.

The pink yarn was dry and ready to be wound into a couple ball.

I made my yarn selection for the toes and heels.

I worked the toes two at a time on two circular needles.  I was ready to work Kitchener Stitch for the toes, and pick up the stitches for the heels.

The socks were finished!  Even with a couple restarts, the project took just a few days to knit.  I am excited to get the blog  published and start wearing this Stroll Down Memory Lane!

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.
Quick Bricks Socks pattern pdf available on Ravelry.

Copyright 2019, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 11/14/19, 5/3/20, 5/11/20

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com