Something For The Weekend

This pattern for summer socks has been proving quite popular on Ravelry so I thought I'd put it on here for anyone who isn't a member but might like to knit it. What makes them summer socks? Well the yarn I used is a mixture of wool and bamboo fibre, which is cool to the touch and much better for warm weather than pure wool.


Tutti Frutti Summer Socks
Cool to the foot ankle socks made with gorgeously soft bamboo yarn in a riot of summer berry colours.

The instructions are for cuff down socks using the magic loop method which is by far my preferred method of working in the round. If you’ve never tried it before please do, it’s surprisingly easy! There’s a great video tutorial here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques

Materials and Measurements
2 x 50g balls Regia Bamboo Sockwool in Passion 1065
1 40-inch circular needle size 2.25mm, or size required to achieve gauge.
3 stitch markers
Tapestry/wool needle

Gauge
32 stitches to 4”(10 cm) on 2.25mm needles

Size
Medium (adjustable)

Pattern Notes
Interrupted Rib
Rows 1 – 4
*K4, P2; repeat from * to end
Rows 5 & 6
*K4, P8; repeat from * to end
Rows 7 – 10
As 1st row
Rows 11 & 12
*P6, K4, P2; repeat from * to end


Instructions
Cast on 60 sts and divide so that there are 30 sts on each needle with the cable loop between the two sets of stitches.
Join, making sure not to twist the stitches, and knit 10 rows

Change to Interrupted Rib stitch and work until leg measures approx. 4” (10cm) - more if you prefer a longer leg – and ending on the 6th row of the pattern.

To centre the stitch pattern before beginning the heel flap work as follows:
Needle 1: slip last stitch from needle 2 up onto needle 1 - this is now the first (purl) stitch on needle 1. Work to the end of needle 1 then move the last purl stitch on this needle onto needle 2.
30 stitches on each needle.

Heel Flap (worked over 30 stitches)
Work the heel flap back and forth over half the stitches as follows:
Row 1
[Sl1, K1] repeat to end
Row 2
Sl1, P to end

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until flap measures 2.75” (7cm)

Turn Heel
Row 1
Sl1, K17, SSK, K1, turn
Row 2
Sl1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 3
Sl1, K to 1 stitch before the gap, SSK, K1, turn
Row 4
Sl1, P to 1 stitch before the gap, P2tog, P1, turn

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all the sts have been worked and 16 sts remain.

Gussets
On needle 1:
knit half the heel stitches and place marker. This point will be the start of the round from now on.
Next row (still on needle 1):
knit across the heel stitches. Pick up 1 st in each slipped stitch along the side of the heel flap plus 1 st between the heel flap and instep join. (23 sts picked up)
Place stitch marker.
Work across the 15 instep stitches in the pattern as set.
Note: from hereon you will be purling 1 stitch at each end of the instep.

On needle 2:
work across remaining 15 instep stitches and place marker.
Pick up and knit 1 st between the instep and heel flap join and 1 st in each slipped stitch along the other side of the heel flap. (23sts picked up)
Knit half the heel stitches.

(96 sts total)

Knit 1 row, remembering to work the instep stitches in the pattern set.

Now begin the gusset decreases:
Next row:
Knit until 3 stitches before the marker, K2tog, K1, slip marker, work instep stitches in pattern, slip marker, K1, SSK, K to end. (2 sts decreased)
Repeat this row until until you have 60 sts remaining: 30 sts for instep and 30 sts for the sole.

Rearrange stitches so that the instep stitches are on needle 1, and the sole stitches are on needle 2. Remove all markers.

Foot
Continue in rounds, working the instep stitches in the fleck stitch pattern and knitting the sole stitches until the foot measures 6.5” (16.5cm) from the back heel or approx. 2” (5cm) less than the length of your foot from heel to toe.

Shape Toe
Row 1:
K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts on needle 1, K2tog K1, K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts on needle 2, K2tog, K1.
Row 2:
K to end
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 8 sts remain on each needle, 16 sts in total.

Finishing
Graft toe stitches together and weave in all ends.



Copyright Francesca Burras 2008. For non-commercial use only.