Two-tone textured socks
CAROL MELDRUM
THE CABLE LIKE columns on these socks are formed by pulling up stitches from lower rounds, and the results have a fascinating, organic appearance. This Seed Head stitch pattern is paired with an irregular rib pattern on the soles. Carol Meldrum’s design is knitted with an afterthought heel; the cast-on, heel and toe are worked in a contrasting colour of Scheepjes Metropolis sock yarn, which comes in an astonishing choice of 80 different shades.
STITCH PATTERNS IRREGULAR RIB
Round 1: *P2, K5, P2, K3; rep from * to end. Rep Round 1 for pattern.
SEED HEAD
Round 1: *P2, PUL5, P2, K3; rep from * to end.
Round 2: P2, LKtogtbl, K3, KLtog, P2, K3; rep from * to end.
Round 3: P2, K5, P2, PUL3; rep from * to end.
Round 4: P2, K5, P2, LKtogtbl, K1, KLtog; rep from * to end.
Rounds 5-8: *P2, K5, P2, K3; rep from * to end.
These 8 rounds form the pattern.
LEFT SOCK CUFF
Using 3mm needles and yarn B, cast on 72 sts.
Pm and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts.
Round 1: *K1, P2tog; rep from * to end. 48 sts.
Break yarn B and join in yarn A.
Round 2: *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Rep Round 2 another four times.
LEG
Work 6 rounds in Irregular Rib patt.
Work 62 rounds in Seed Head patt, ending after a Round 6 of pattern. **
PLACE HEEL POSITION
Slip 1 st to RH needle.
Using waste yarn, knit next 24 sts and break waste yarn. This is the position for the heel. Slip sts back to start of round and pick up yarn A.
FOOT TOE
nd
Using yarn A, work Irregular Rib patt on the sole half of the sts and the Seed Head patt on the instep sts as follows:
Next round: Work 24 sts in Irregular Rib patt, cont from Round 7 of Seed Head patt, working in patt to end.
*** Cont in patt as set a further 70 rounds, ending after a Round 5 of Seed Head patt.
Break yarn A and join yarn B.
Set-up round: Remove mrk, slip 1 st to RH needle, pm for new beg of round, K24, pm, knit to end.
Dec round: *K1, K2tog tbl, knit to 3 sts before mrk, K2tog, K1; rep from * once more. 4 sts dec’d.
Next round: Knit.
Rep last 2 rounds until 24 sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Divide rem sts between two needles and graft sts together using Kitchener stitch.
AFTERTHOUGHT HEEL
Using one DPN, pick up left leg of all sts along the bottom of the waste yarn for the heel until you have all 24 sts on the needle. Using a second DPN, pick up all the sts above the waste yarn. 48 sts.
Carefully unpick the waste yarn and divide the sts evenly on your needles. Join yarn B.
Round 1: Starting at one end of the heel sts, pick up 1 st at beg of round, K24, pick up 2 sts at gap between top and bottom heel sts, placing a mrk between the picked-up sts, K24, pick up 1 more st in gap at end of round. Join to work in the round and pm for beg of round.
52 sts.
Round 2: (K1, K2tog tbl, knit to 3 sts before
mrk, K2tog, K1) twice. 4 sts dec’d. Round 3: Knit.
Rep Rounds 2-3 until 24 sts remain.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Divide rem sts between two needles and graft sts together using Kitchener stitch.
FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.
Work as for Left Sock to **.
PLACE HEEL POSITION
Slip 23 sts to RH needle.
Using waste yarn, knit next 24 sts and break waste yarn. This is the position for the heel. Slip sts back to start of round and pick up yarn A.
FOOT
Using yarn A, work Irregular Rib patt on the sole half of the sts and the Seed Head patt on the instep sts as follows:
Next round: Cont from Round 7 of Seed Head patt, patt 24 sts, work next 24 sts in Irregular Rib patt to end.
Complete as for Left Sock from *** to end.
THE DESIGN HAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT HEEL WHICH IS KNITTED IN A CONTRASTING COLOUR