Woolie Socks

Taking inspiration from the mission and guidelines of Wool-Aid, the Woolie Socks are 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 Woolie Socks are worked with worsted weight wool yarn held with a fingering superwash wool blend. The socks are worked with a K1 x P1 cuff, and K3 x P1 leg and instep. These socks utilize an after-thought heel. The pattern is written with modifications for three sizes. This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of sock and stitch construction are helpful.

Finished size: foot length 10”[9”, 8”]

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

Materials: Yarn: 100% wool in worsted weight, held with superwash wool blend in fingering weight, and 3 yards worsted waste yarn for set up after-thought heel

Photo: Wool of the Andes Worsted by Knit Picks,           2 skeins 100%Wool; 2x 110 yards / 50grams  = 220yards/100grams, color 25983 Peapod;                 Stroll Fingering by Knit Picks; 75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 462yards / 100 grams; color: bare hand-dyed with 3 PAAS Classic Egg Decorating Kits

Needles: Size US#8(5mm), 12”, or 16”and 24” circular needles or size US#8 set double pointed needles to Cast On.

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 after-thought heel)

Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers

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

Wool-Aid: Zannie’s general recipe for worsted + sock on size 7 needles:

https://www.ravelry.com/groups/wool-aid/pages/SOCKS-6

Abbreviations: CO= cast on       K = knit      p=purl      k2tog=knit 2 stitches together

MC=main color      N=needle       Rnd/s=round/s       st/s=stitch/es

 

Directions: The directions are written for size teen,[child, small child in brackets], and working with 2 circular needles. (notes are in italic) Make 2 socks.

With US#8(5mm) needles, use the long-tail cast-on method to cast on 40[36, 32]stitches.

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

Cuff Rnds 1- 14[12, 10]:With US#7(4.5mm) needles * K1, p1; repeat to end (2.5”[2.25”, 2”])

Leg Rnds: * K3, p1 repeat to end.

with 20[-,16] sts per needle, * K3, p1; repeat to end.

with [18sts per needle] N1: * K3, p1; repeat to last 2sts, k2. N2: k1,p1, * k3, p1; repeat to end

Work K3, p1 rib for leg 8”[7”,7”] from CO for desired height.

Instep and Heel set up:

With 20[-, 16sts] per needle, work front/instep N1 as established: * K3, p1; repeat to last st, do not knit last stitch, slip last stitch to back needle. (Now, 19, 21sts per needle [-, 15, 17sts per needle]

With [18sts per needle] Knit and move the first stitch to the back needle, work front/instep

N1: K2, p1 * K3, p1; repeat to last 2sts, k2. [Now, 17, 19sts per needle]

Heel set up: N2: Drop MCyarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel 21[19, 17] 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 21[19, 1 7] stitches once more. After this, work instep as currently 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”[5”, 5”] 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 9[7,7]sts remain for instep, and 11[9,9]sts remain for sole.

This last Rnd 2: (instep) Knit 9[7,7]sts, (sole) K2tog, knit to last 2sts, k2tog

With 18[14, 14] stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel: 

Carefully slide the 21[19, 17]sts below(sole), and 21[19, 17]sts 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. (46sts = 23sts per needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.)

[42sts = 21sts per needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.]

[38sts = 19sts 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 9[7,7]sts remain for leg, and 9[7,7]sts remain for sole.

With 18[14,14] stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the heel.

Finishing: Weave in tails. Make second sock.

 

This Woolie Socks pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com

Woolie Socks pattern pdf is available on Ravelry.

Copyright 2020, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 9/1/20

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com