Wintery Socks

I was very excited about creating hand dyed yarn!  It was bright and looked great  held with another strand of yarn. Sooo, 

Taking inspiration from the mission and guidelines of Wool-Aid, the Wintery Socks were designed to create a warm woolen pair of socks for a child who lives in the coldest climate and has the least access to resources. 
The Wintery Socks work well in a fingering superwash wool blend, held with wool worsted weight yarn. The socks are worked as a K2 x P2 rib, with optional directions for Rib & Ridges, and Rib Interrupted modifications. This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of sock (and stitch) construction is helpful.

Finished size: leg height about 10”, about 7” flat, stretch 10”circumference, foot length 9.5”
(update: 3/17/19 pattern pdf available with additional sizes on Ravelry) 

Gauge: 5 stitches, 6 rows = 1” Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials:

Yarn: superwash wool blend in fingering weight, 100% worsted weight,

and 3 yards worsted waste yarn for set-up afterthought heel

Photo: KnitPicks Chroma Twist, 70%Superwash Wool/30%Nylon,  437yards/100grams, color Natural, then hand dyed with PAAS Classic Egg Decorating Kit and red & pink food color (this project used 50grams of the fingering yarn)

Classic Heather by Ella Rae, Worsted 100% Wool 219 yards / 100 grams, color 164

Needles: Size US#7(4.5mm), 16”and 24” circular needles or size US#7 set double pointed needles

and smaller set double pointed needles to pick up stitches for afterthought heel

Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers

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

KNITTING circles around SOCKS ,by Antje Gillingham

Abbreviations: CO= cast on       K = knit       p= purl       k2tog=knit 2 stitches together       MC=main color       Rnd/s=round/s      st/s=stitch/es

Directions: The directions are written for size child/teen, and working with 2 circular needles.

(notes are in italic) Make 2 socks.

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size US#7 needles, cast on 60stitches.

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

Set Up: * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (40 sts = 20sts per needle)

Leg Rnds: with 20sts per needle, K1, p2, * k2, p2; repeat to last st, k1.

Work leg 8” from heel CO for desired height.

Optional: 
Cuff: Rnds: 1-15: K1, p2, * k2, p2; repeat to last st, k1.

Rib & Ridges:

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: K1, p2, * k2, p2; repeat to last st, k1.

Optional: 
Cuff: Rnds: 1-15: K1, p2, * k2, p2; repeat to last st, k1.

Rib Interrupted

Rnds 1-4: K1, p2, * k2, p2; repeat to last st, k1.

Rnd 5: Purl (Set up for Instep and Heel following a Rnd 4)

Instep and Heel set up:

Work front needle/instep as established.

Heel: Drop MCyarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel 20 stitches.

Turn, and with the strand of different colored yarn purl back across heel to end/beginning of needle.

Drop colored strand, pick up MC, and knit across heel 20 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;

6” for desired length.

Toe:

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

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

Rnd 2 & even rounds: Knit

Continue until 10sts remain for instep, and 10sts remain for sole.

With 20 stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel:

Carefully slide the 20sts below(sole), and 20sts above the colored yarn(leg) to needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn.  Attach MC yarn, pick up one stitch at the beginning of needle, as you knit a round, pick up one stitch at the end of the needles. (44sts =  22sts per needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.)  Now, work the heel the same as the toe.

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

repeat from * to end (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: Knit

Continue until 10sts remain for leg, and 10sts remain for sole.

With 20 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.

Wintery Socks pattern pdf available on Ravelry.
Copyright 2019, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 2-24-19

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com