CABLE KNIT SOCKS

Treat your toes to a pair of super-soft mohair cable socks by Sarah Dennis

Keep feet cosy with these slouchy socks

HOW TO MAKE… CABLE KNIT SOCKS MATERIALS

Wool and the Gang Take Care Mohair, 78% kid mohair/13% wool/9% polyamide, 100m/109yd per 50g ball, five balls in Bubblegum Pink Set of four 4mm (UK 8, US 6) double-pointed knitting needles Cable needle Stitch markers Stitch holder Tapestry needle

TENSION

Approx. 24 sts and 24 rows over pattern using 4mm needles measures 10 x 10cm (4 x 4"). 1 pattern repeat of 20 stitches and 24 rows measures approx. 8 x 10cm (31/ x 4").

ABBREVIATIONS (UK)

st(s) stitch(es) k knit p purl rep repeat m1 make 1 stitch by picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back of it skpo slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch DPN(s) double pointed needle(s) k2tog knit 2 sts together k3tog knit 3 sts together p2tog purl 2 sts together tbl through back loops sl1 slip one st from left needle to right needle without knitting it st st stocking st (if knitting on straight needles – knit one row, purl one row repeated, if knitting in the round knit all rounds) cn cable needle C4B slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, k2, then k2 from cn C4L slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, p1, then k3 from cn C4R slip next st onto cn and hold at back of work, k3, then p1 from cn C6B slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, k3, then k3 from cn T4L slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, p1, then k3 from cn T4R slip next st onto cn and hold at back of work, k3, then p1 from cn

FINISHED SIZE

To fit ladies size 5-6, but can be made longer

Chilly mornings are a whole lot sweeter with a big mug of tea and a pair of super-cosy socks to pad about in – simple pleasures.

These oversized slouchy beauties, with their impressive cable texture, are just what you need to keep warm this winter. Knitted with a luxurious mohair yarn that looks like candy floss, and feels just as soft, prepare for your feet to be seriously spoilt. And for your Instagram feed to be filled with gratuitous sock shots.

Sock (make 2) Cast on 64 sts and distribute the sts over three of the DPNs so there are 16 sts on the first two needles, and 32 sts on the third needle. Use a stitch marker to show the start of each round.

Cuff Round 1 *k2, p2; rep from * to end of round Repeat last row 8 times more Next round *k2, p2, m1; rep from * to end of round [80 sts]

Leg Round 1 *C4B, p4, C4R, C4L, p4;

rep from * to end of round Round 2 *k4, p4, k8, p4; rep from * to end of round Round 3 *k4, p3, C4R, k2, C4L, p3; rep from * to end of round Round 4 *k4, p3, k10, p3; rep from * to end of round Round 5 *k4, p2, T4R, k4, T4L, p2; rep from * to end of round Round 6 *k4, p2, k3, p1, k4, p1, k3, p2; rep from * to end of round Round 7 *C4B, p1, T4R, p1, C4B, p1, T4L, p1; rep from * to end of round Round 8 *k4, p1, k3, p2, k4, p2, k3, p1; rep from * to end of round Round 9 *k4, T4R, p2, k4, p2, T4L; rep from * to end of round Round 10 *k7, p3, k4, p3, k3; rep from * to end of round Round 11 *k7, p3, C4B, p3, k3; rep from * to end of round Round 12 as 10th round Round 13 *C4B, T4L, p2, k4, p2, T4R; rep from * to end of round Round 14 as 8th round Round 15 *k4, p1, T4L, p1, C4B, p1, T4R, p1; rep from * to end of round Round 16 as 6th round Round 17 *k4, p2, T4L, k4, T4R, p2; rep from * to end of round Round 18 as 4th round Round 19 *C4B, p3, T4L, k2, T4R, p3; rep from * to end of round Round 20 as 2nd round Round 21 *k4, p4, T4L, T4R, p4; rep from * to end of round Round 22 *k4, p5, k6, p5; rep from * to end of round Round 23 *k4, p5, C6B, p5; rep from * to end of round Round 24 *k4, p5, k6, p5; rep from * to end of round Last 24 rounds set pattern. Repeat last 24 rounds twice more. At this point, the leg should measure approximately 32cm (125/ 8") from the cast on edge.

Prepare heel Next row k1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, skpo, k7, k2tog, k7, k2tog, turn Next row p33, p2tog tbl, turn [34 sts] Slip next 34 sts onto 1 DPN. Work heel in rows from this point. Leave remaining 40 sts on a stitch holder. Row 1 *sl1, k1; rep from * to end of row Row 2 sl1, purl to end Repeat last 2 rows 7 times more.

Turn heel Next row sl1, k19, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k8, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k10, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k12, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k14, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k16, skpo, k1, turn Next row sl1, p17, p2tog, p1, turn Next row sl1, k18, skpo, turn Next row sl1, p18, p2tog, turn [20 sts]

Instep K20, pick up and k 11 sts along side of heel, using a 2nd DPN work across 40 sts on spare needle as follows: (C4L, p4, C4B, p4, C4R) twice, using a 3rd DPN pick up and knit 11 sts along side of heel, k10 [82 sts]

You will now have 21 sts on the first needle, 40 sts on the second needle and 21 sts on the third needle, and you will work in rounds on 4 DPNs from this point, beginning at centre back of heel. The cable pattern will now only be worked across the 40 sts across the foot (the sole being worked in st st).

HOW TO MAKE… CABLE KNIT SOCKS

Shape gusset Round 2 k18, k2tog, k1, (k4, p4) twice, k8, (p4, k4) twice, k1, skpo, k18 [80 sts] Round 3 k17, k2tog, k1, (k1, C4L, p3, k4, p3, C4R, k1) twice, k1, skpo, k17 [78 sts] Round 4 k16, k2tog, k1, (k5, p3, k4, p3, k5) twice, k1, skpo, k16 [76 sts] Round 5 k15, k2tog, k1, (k2, T4L, p2, k4, p2, T4R, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k15 [74 sts] Round 6 k14, k2tog, k1, (k2, p1, k3, p2, k4, p2, k3, p1, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k14 [72 sts] Round 7 k13, k2tog, k3, p1, T4L, p1, C4B, p1, T4R, p1, C4B, p1, T4L, p1, C4B, p1, T4R, p1, k3, skpo, k13 [70 sts] Round 8 k12, k2tog, k1, (k2, p2, k3, p1, k4, p1, k3, p2, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k12 [68 sts] Round 9 k11, k2tog, k1, (k2, p2, T4L, k4, T4R, p2, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k11 [66 sts] Round 10 k10, k2tog, k1, (k2, p3, k10, p3, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k10 [64 sts] Round 11 k9, k2tog, k3, p3, k10, p3, C4B, p3, k10, p3, k3, skpo, k9 [62 sts] Round 12 k8, k2tog, k1, (k2, p3, k10, p3, k2) twice, k1, skpo, k8 [60 sts]

Foot Starting with Round 13 as set with pattern for leg and foot, continue without shaping, working 20 sts of sole in st st and 40 sts of cable panel, for 24 more rounds (you will finish with Round 12 of pattern). At this point the sole should measure approximately 20cm (77/ 8") from back of heel. If you want a longer sock, continue until sock is 4cm (15/ ") shorter than desired finished 8 length, ending with an even round.

Prepare toe Next row k15, k3tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k3tog, k3, skpo, k2tog, k3, k3tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k3tog, k15 [48 sts] Slip 2 sts from second needle onto first needle, and slip 2 sts from second needle onto third needle. You should now have 12 sts on first needle, 24 sts on second needle and 12 sts on third needle.

Shape toe Round 1 (k9, k2tog, k2, skpo, k9) twice [44 sts] Round 2 k Round 3 (k8, k2tog, k2, skpo, k8) twice [40 sts] Round 4 k Round 5 (k7, k2tog, k2, skpo, k7) twice [36 sts] Round 6 k Round 7 (k6, k2tog, k2, skpo, k6) twice [32 sts] Round 8 k Round 9 (k5, k2tog, k2, skpo, k5) twice [28 sts] Round 10 k Round 11 (k4, k2tog, k2, skpo, k4) twice [24 sts] Next round Using the same needle, k6

Graft toe You should now have two parallel needles, each holding 12 sts. Break yarn, leaving a long length, and hold the work so the two needles are parallel and the long length of yarn is hanging from the back sts at the right. Thread the yarn through a tapestry needle. Graft toes together as follows: Put sewing needle purlwise into 1st st on front needle and pull yarn through. Put sewing needle knitwise into 1st st on back needle and pull yarn through. Next, put sewing needle knitwise into 1st st on front needle, pull yarn through and slip st off needle. Put sewing needle purlwise into next st on front needle and pull yarn through. Put sewing needle purlwise into 1st st on back needle, pull yarn through and slip st off needle. Put sewing needle knitwise into next st on back needle and pull yarn through. Repeat Steps 1 to 4 until all sts have been grafted. Take up any slack in the graft by pulling the yarn gently. Fasten off.

Finishing Using a yarn needle, weave in any loose ends on both socks.