Teeny Tiny Socks-Take 5

I know it's still summer, but we're pretty excited about the arrival of a new grand-daughter in October, and this Grams thinks that special occasion calls for a pair of Teeny Socks! Why not include the Tiny Socks, too?     

 Marilynn Blacketer '16

The Teeny Tiny Socks-Take 5 work well in a superwash wool blend. The Take 5 ribbing is fun to work, and the socks can be knit in just a few days making them the perfect gift or accessory.  This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of sock (and stitch) construction is helpful.

Finished size:

Newborn: leg height cuff to heel 3”, foot length heel to toe 3”, foot circumference 3” flat, stretch 5”

Infant: leg height cuff to heel 3.5”, foot length heel to toe 3.5”, foot circumference 4” flat, stretch 6”

Gauge:

Newborn: US#1(2.25mm) needles: 9 stitches = 1”

Infant: US#2.5(3mm) needles: 8 stitches = 1”

Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials:

Yarn: MC superwash wool blend in fingering weight, CC cotton/elastic blend,

or CC superwash wool blend in fingering weight, and 2 yards of waste yarn in a different color

Photo: KnitPicks Stroll, Spring Blooms Tonal; 75%Superwash Merino Wool/ 25%Nylon;

CascadeYarns, Fixation; 98.3%Cotton/ 1.7%Elastic;

Pair of socks used 15 grams of yarn.

Needles: Size US#1(2.25mm), 16”and 24” circular needles, or size US#1 set double pointed needles

Size US#2.5(3mm), 16”and 24” circular needles, or size US#2.5 set double pointed needles

Notions:           tapestry needle, stitch markers, spare US#1 double pointed needles

Resources: Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles  , by Cat Bordhi

KNITTING circles around SOCKS  , by Antje Gillingham

Learn to Knit SOCKS  , by Edie Eckman

Abbreviations: CO=cast on       k = knit       p= purl      k2tog=knit 2 stitches together      Rnd/s=round/s      sts=stitches      yo = yarn over      MC = main color      CC= contrasting color     

Special Stitches: Take 5 Ribbing

Rnds 1-4: with MC,  * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 5: with CC,  * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

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

Ruffle: Use the long-tail cast-on method, with spare US#1 needle and size US(#1, #2.5) needles held together, with MC, cast on 60 stitches. Carefully slide off the spare needle.

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

Rnds 1-4: with MC, Knit

Rnd 5: with MC, K2tog to end.       30sts

Eyelet Ruffle: Use the long-tail cast-on method, with spare US#1 needle and size US(#1, #2.5) needles held together, with MC, cast on 61 stitches.  (Save 9” tail to sew ruffle together as you finish the sock. 

Row 1: with MC, Knit  
(You'll be working back and forth.)

Row 2: with MC, K1, * yo, k2tog; repeat from * to end

Row 3: with MC, Knit

Row 4: with MC, Knit to last two stitches, k2tog      60sts

Rnd 5: Place marker & join together by k2tog, being careful not to twist, continue with MC, k2tog to end.       30sts

Not in photo:

Plain cuff: Use the long-tail cast-on method, with spare US#1 needle and size US(#1, #2.5) needles held together, with MC, cast on 45 stitches. Carefully slide off the spare needle.

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

With MC, * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end.                                        30sts

Sock Leg: (15sts per two needles)

Rnds 1-4: with MC, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 5: with CC, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Repeat rnds 1-5, working leg to the desired length, ending on rnd 5, set up for heel and foot. 

                                                                                    (2”, 2.5”) from CO for desired height

Instep and Heel set up:

Rnds 1, 2: with MC as established, [K3,p2](2)times, k3 (13sts instep, slip last 2sts to back needle), knit 17 (heel)

Rnd 3: with MC as established, [K3,p2](2)times, k3; instep stitches.

Drop MC yarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel 17stitches.

(If working with US#1needle, purl back with colored yarn, just to provide more space later)

Drop colored strand, pick up MC, and knit across heel 17 stitches once more.

After this, work instep as established, and knit sole; the heel will be put in later.

Instep and Sole:

Work instep as established, and knit sole until sock measures from heel (colored yarn) marker, ending on rnd 5,  (1.5", 1.75") for desired length.  Cut CC.

Toe:

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with MC, * 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 MC, knit

Continue to work Rnds 1&2 until 7sts remain for instep, and 11sts remain for sole.

Work 2 more rounds: K7(instep), k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1(sole)

With 14 stitches remaining (7sts per needle), cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel:

Carefully slide the 17sts below(sole), and 17sts above the colored yarn(leg) to needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn.

Attach MC yarn, knit a round, and pick up one stitch at the beginning and end of the needles. (You'll have 19sts 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 MC, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1;

repeat from * to end (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with MC, knit

Continue to work Rnds 1&2 until 14 (7sts per needle) stitches remain.

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.
Jr. Socks-Take 5 pattern pdf available on Ravelry.com (login needed)

Copyright 2016, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 8-19-16

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Here are photos of the process:

Gather supplies.  These socks were knit with stash yarn.

Cast on 60st holding two needles together.

Carefully remove the spare needle.

Working the eyelet cuff, it is now time to join, then k2tog around the cuff, reducing to 30sts.

Work rnds 1-4, then add the CC at rnd 5.

Work leg (2", 2.5"), and set up for the afterthought heel.  I decided to use a blue yarn rather than pink to make it easier to remove the "colored" yarn to work the heel.

One sock, I knitted the "colored" yarn.

This sock, I knitted across, and purled back with the "colored" yarn. I recommend this when working with size US#1 needles. 

Work (1.5", 1.75") past the "colored" yarn, ending the work on rnd5.  Cut the CC yarn, and start the toe decreases.

At 7sts per needle, cut 18" MC yarn,

and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.  My mantra: (front needle) knit off, purl, (back needle) purl off, knit

This sock was inside out.  I was weaving in the tails, and I whip-stitched about 4 sts to sew the eyelet ruffle together.

Using a US#1 needle, on the sock knitted with  size US#2.5, I had no trouble picking up the stitches on both sides of the "colored" yarn.  During the first round of knitting, I used the US#2.5 needles to set the work to gauge.

I had a problem using a US#1 needle to pick up the stitches, on the sock knitted with size US#1 needle. I solved the problem of  not having space, by sliding the first set of picked up stitches to the cable of  the US#1 circular needle. 

Having two rows of "colorful" yarn made it easier to pick up the stitches for the afterthought heel.

 I worked the decreases on the heels as if they were toes.  There were 19sts per needle. The front and back needles started and came out even.  Ready for more Kitchener Stitch.

I tried this, and that, and still got little "holes" at the corners of the heels.  I solved that problem by weaving the tails of the starting and closing heel yarn through the little "holes". 

These socks are teeny and tiny, and too cute!

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.

Copyright 2016, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 8-19-16

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com