Print this page and fill in the blanks from Chart 1, using the figures in the column indicated by your foot stitches. To calculate the total number of foot stitches for your sock [A], multiply the measurement in inches around the center of the foot--or perhaps even about half an inch less--and multiply this by the number of stitches per inch you get with your chosen yarn and needles. If your leg meaurement just above the ankle bones is much different from your foot, aim for somewhere in between. It's usually better for a sock to be a bit snug than too loose.
Based on the method used in Anna Zilboorg's Fancy Feet.
Hold two circ needles parallel and wrap the yarn in a figure-eight,
making [B] ____ loops on each of the two needles. To do
this, hold two needles parallel in the left hand, and also hold
the tail of the yarn. Pass the working end of the yarn over the
top needle away from you, through the middle toward you, under
the bottom needle away from you, and through the middle toward
you, until there are [B] ____ loops on each needle. Don't
tie or twist the end of the yarn--just let it hang loose, so you
can tighten up the cast-on later.
Slide bottom circ so that the bottom stitches are on the cable. This will make knitting the first [B] ___
stitches easier (and note that they hang the "wrong" way so you'll have to
knit through the back leg of each loop). You may tighten up the cast-on
stitches while they are still on the cable of the 2nd circ. Then slide
these stitches and knit the second [B] ___ stitches.
When you have finished this round you'll have two
needles, each with [B] ____ stitches, and the cast-on row
between them.
You may, if you choose, knit a another even round before beginning the toe increases. This is optional.
Round 1: Increase two stitches on each needle as follows:
k1, lift the stitch below the stitch on the left
needle and knit it; k to within 1 st of end; lift the stitch below
the stitch on the right needle and knit it; k1.
Round 2: Knit even.
Repeat these two rounds until there are [D+D] ____ stitches
on each needle ( [A] ____ stitches in all).
Knit on [A] ____ stitches, trying on the sock from time to time until you reach the point where the leg meets the top of the foot. This is about _____ inches less than the total length of the foot. (See Chart 2.) End at one of the sides of the foot, that is, above one line of toe increases.
The rounds begin at the next needle, which will be called needle A. The stitches on needle A are the sole of the sock,
and on needle B are the instep.
Round 1:
Needle A: K1, lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and
knit it, knit to within 1 st of end; lift the stitch below the
stitch just knitted and knit the lifted stitch, k1.
Needle B: Knit plain.
Round 2: Knit around plain.
Repeat these two rounds [E] ____ times altogether. Needle A has [F+F] ____ sts, and needle B has [G+G]
____ ( [H] ____ sts in all).
Place the heel sole stitches on their own needle as follows:
Knit the first [I] ____ stitches from needle A onto needle B. Move the last [I] ___ stitches from needle A onto the other end of needle B.
There will be [2+J+K] ___stitches left on needle A for the heel extension, and [M+M] ___ stitches on needle B. You will work back and forth on needle A as follows:
Row 1: SSK (that is, slip 1 st as if to knit, sl 1 as if to knit, knit
these 2 sts together through back loop), k across row.
Row 2: P2 tog, p across row.
Repeat these two rows until [N] ____ stitches remain, ending after completing a Row 2.
Turn, sl 1, knit across heel.
Pick up [O] ____ stitches by knitting along the decrease
edge. Turn.
Sl 1 as if to purl, p back across the heel and pick up [O]
____ stitches by purling along the other decrease edge. Turn.
You now have [P] ____ sts on the heel needle. You will
be knitting the heel flap upward, incorporating one stitch from
the adjacent instep needle each time you turn.
Preparation: slide [I-1] ___ stitches from needle B to the start of needle A (the working yarn will no longer be at the end of needle A). Next, slide [I-1] ___ stitches from needle B to the other end of needle A. Using the far end of needle A, slip the first [I-1] ___ stitches from the start of needle A to the end of needle A and then begin working back and forth as follows
Row 1: Sl 1 as if to knit, k [P-2] ___ stitches, ssk. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1 as if to purl, p [P-2] ___ stitches, p 2 together.
Turn.
Repeat these two rows for a total of [Q] ____ times, ending
with a purl row. You should have [R] ____ stitches (
[S] ____ on the heel needle and [T+T] ____ on the instep
needle).
Turn, sl 1, and knit a full round, adjusting stitches so that
there are [U+U] ____ on each needle.
You're on your own from here! A few rounds of stockinette and then K1P1 ribbing all the way will work--or anything you like. A good height for a sock from the floor is the same as the length of the foot, longer if you want to fold the cuff over.
If you will be using a standard cable bind-off, bind off in pattern as loosely as possible, either giving each loop a tug to lengthen it as you pull it through, or using a needle a couple of sizes larger for the binding off.
Copyright Notice
You may print this pattern and chart for your personal noncommercial use, providing this statement is included. No commercial use or publication in any form, including on the Internet, is permitted without the explicit permission of the coyright holder. Contact the author at jgibson@cts.com.
Revised 25 July 1999
Circ added 20 June 2003