A Season of Socks

October

Designed by Gail Bable

Copyright October , 2003

Materials

4 oz. Worsted weight yarn (Encore, Nature Spun, Lambs Pride, etc.)

Size 2 or 3 double point needles, Two 24" circulars, or one 12" circular

Yarn needle for weaving ends and toe

2 stitch markers

Gauge: 5 to 5 1/2 sts per inch

Cast on 48 stitches

Rows 1 - 12: K1 , P1

Begin Pattern Rows , working first diamond pattern then seed stitch pattern. Repeat both around: (Divide stitches on needles to easily work the pattern, however you like. I placed one complete pattern 24 stitches on needle 1, and 12 on each of needle #2 and #3)

Diamond Pattern                      Seed Stitch Pattern

1.K1, P3, K9, P3, K1              P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1

2. K2, P3, K7, P3, K2              K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

3. K3, P3, K5, P3, K3              repeat seed stitch row 1

4, K4, P3, K3, P3, K4,              repeat seed stitch row 2

5. K5, P3, K1, P3, K5               repeat seed stitch row 1

6. K6, P5, K6                            repeat seed stitch row 2

7. K 7, P 3, K 7                          repeat seed stitch row 1

Row 8: Repeat row 6

Row 9: Repeat row 5

Row 10: Repeat row 4

Row 11: repeat row 3,

Row 12: repeat row 2

Repeat pattern for desired length for sock top.

Begin heel:

Knit across next 20 stitches. Place next 24 stitches on a needle to work heel. Remaining 24 (original 20 you worked in this row and the remaining four can be left on separate needles or placed on a holder as you work the heel)

Heel:

Row 1: Sl 1, K1 across

Row 2: Sl 1, Purl across

Repeat these two rows until heel measures approx. 2 ½"

Begin turning the heel:

Row 1: Knit 14, K2 tog, K1 turn

Row 2: Sl 1, P 5, P2 tog, P 1 turn

Row 3: Sl, 1, K 6, K 2 tog, K1

Repeat like this , increasing 1 stitch each row until all stitches are worked.

Picking up gusset stitches:

Knit across heel stitches and pick up and knit 12 stitches on side of heel, place marker and knit the 24 (top of sock) stitches, place marker, pick up and knit 12 stitches on other side of heel. Divide your stitches once again evenly on the needles, 24 tops stitches on needle 1, half the heel stitches on needles 2 and 3. Knit one round even.

Begin decreasing the gusset stitches:

Row 1: Knit across 24 stitches on needle #1, Needle #2: K1, Sl 1, K1, Psso, Knit to end,

Needle 3: Knit across until three stitches remain, K 2 tog, K1

Row 2: Knit

Repeat until 12 stitches remaining on needles #2 and 3

Knit around until your sock has reached your desire sock length minus 1 ½".

Now begin decreasing for the toe.

Row 1: On Needle #1: K 1, Sl 1, K1 Psso, Knit to with in three stitches from end, K 2 tog, K1. Needle 2: K 1, Sl 1, K1, Psso, Knit to end, Needle 3: Knit to with 3 sts. From end , K 2 tog, K1

Row 2: Knit

Repeat these two rows until 12 stitches remain on Needle 1 and 6 stitches on Needles 2 and 3. Place all twelve stitches from Needles 2 and 3 together on one needle and weave the toe closed.

Diamond pattern from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Inverness Diamonds)