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 dp 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.
Next, knit around all loops, being careful not to split the yarns of the cast-on row. The first [B] ____ stitches will be hanging the "wrong" way, so you'll have to knit through the back leg of the loop. The second [B] ____ will be hanging the right way. When you have finished this round you'll have two needles, each with [B] ____ stitches, and the cast-on row between them.
Knit a round changing to four needles, with [C] ____ stitches each. (Sometime after you've knitted a couple of rounds you will be able to tighten up the cast-on, using a crochet hook to work the slack toward the tail of the yarn. Fasten off and weave in the end.)
Round 1: Increase one stitch each needle as follows:
Needles 1 and 3: k1; lift the stitch below the stitch on the left
needle and knit it; k to the end of needle.
Needles 2 and 4: k to within 1 st of end; lift the stitch below
the stitch on the right needle and knit it; k1.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until there are [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
#1. The stitches on needles 1 and 2 are the sole of the sock,
and on needles 3 and 4 are the instep.
Round 1:
Needle 1: K1, lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and
knit it, k to the end of needle.
Needle 2: Knit to within 1 st of end; lift the stitch below the
stitch just knitted and knit the lifted stitch, k1.
Needles 3 and 4: Knit plain.
Round 2: Knit around plain.
Repeat these two rounds [E] ____ times altogether. Needles
1 and 2 have [F] ____ sts, and needles 3 and 4 have [G]
____ ( [H] ____ sts in all).
Place the heel sole stitches on their own needle as follows:
Knit [I] ____ stitches from needle 1 onto needle 4.
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 [J] ____ from
needle 1 and [K] ____ from needle 2 onto the heel needle.
Slip the remaining [L] ____ sts from needle 2 onto needle
3. There are now [M] ____ stitches held on each of needles
3 and 4; you will work back and forth on the heel needle only.
Row 1: Turn, P2 tog, p across row.
Row 2: Turn. SSK, k across row.
Repeat these two rows until [N] ____ stitches remain, ending
with a wrong-side row.
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.
Row 1: Sl 1 as if to knit, k across row to the last st.
Sl 1, sl 1 from the next needle, k these 2 together through back
loop. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1 as if to purl, p across row to the last st.
Sl 1 as if to p, sl 1 from the next needle, p these 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] ____ on each instep
needle).
Turn, sl 1, and knit a full round, adjusting stitches so that
there are [U] ____ on each of four needles.
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
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