Love Heart Socks

By Just call me Ruby

Materials

Natural Dye Studio Alpaca/Silk 4ply sock yarn 100gm/280 yards approx
100gm skein shade Iris

Set of 3.25mm (US #3) DPN's

Abbreviations

M1 - make 1 by picking up loop lying between stitches
C4B - hold next 2 sts at back of work, K2, K 2 sts being held
C4F - hold next 2 sts at front of work, K2, K2 sts being held
Sl1 - slip stitch from left needle to right
SSK - slip next 2 sts onto right hand needle knitwise, then knit into back of both sts
K2tog - Knit 2 together
P2tog - Purl 2 together
DPN - Double pointed needle
Orange Text - Indicates an amendment to the pattern has been made since first published.

Chart

Pattern (Make two!)

(knitted from the top down using 4 DPNs)

Using 3.25mm (US #3) dpns cast on 64sts. Divide stitches between 3 needles. Join into round. Placing marker at beginning of round.
Work 8 rounds in K2, P2 rib.

Set up round (taking the beginning of the round as centre back): K16 (on needle 1), P2, K4, P2, K8, M1, K8, P2, K4, P2 (on needle 2), K16 (on needle 3).

Round 2: K16, P2, K4, P2, K17, P2, K4, P2, K16.
Round 3: K16, P2, C4B, P3, K17, P2, C4F, P2, K16.
Round 4: K16, P2, K4, P2, work 33 sts from row 1 of chart, P2, K4, P2, K16.

Continue working 12 rounds from chart twice and at same time work cables as set on every 4th row,
BUT ON LAST ROUND of second chart repeat, work last 16sts as folls:

*Sl1, K1, rep from * to end of round.
Work 16sts from beginning of next round in same way, turn. Working on these 32 sts only and in rows, work reinforced heel as follows:

Row 1: *Sl1, P1, rep from * to end of row, turn.
Row 2: *Sl1, K1, rep from * to end of row, turn.
Row 3: As row 1.
Repeat rows 2 & 3 13 times. (28 rows for heel)

Turn heel

Row 1: Sl1, K5, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 2: Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1, K7, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 4: Sl1, P8, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 5: Sl1, K9, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 6: Sl1, P10, P2tog, P1, turn.
Continue as set increasing number of stitches before decreasing on each row until 18 sts.

Gussets

With spare DPN K9, K9 with second DPN then pick up 15sts down heel flap.
Continue in pattern from chart across next 33 sts, pick up 15sts up heel flap, k9 (81sts).

Round 1: K to last 3sts on first DPN, K2tog, K1, patt 33, K1 SSK, K to end.
Round 2: Work without decreasing.

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 63sts rem.

Continue without further decreasing until foot of sock measures 1.5 inches less than required length.

Toe

Ensure 16 stitches on needles 1 and 3, with 33 sts from centre panel on needle 2.
Next round: K31, K2tog, K30. (62 sts)
Round 1: K to last 3 sts on first needle, K2tog, K1; on second needle K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1; on third needle K1, SSK, k to end of round.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 38 sts rem.
Repeat Round 1 only until 22 sts rem.

Divide 11sts of front and back evenly onto two needles. Graft stitches together. Weave in end on inside of sock. Darn in any ends.

Just call me Ruby is the design name of Susan Crawford, co-author of A Stitch in Time, Vintage Knitting and Crochet patterns 1920-1949 : Vol.1 and Vintage Gifts to Knit. You can read more at www.justcallmeruby.com