Image courtesy Erica Raspberry
This is a toe up, short row pattern that uses a provisional cast on. The yarn is Mimosa superwash wool by Valuruguai. The skein is 300 m and one knee sock takes well over 3/4 of the skein.
Gauge:
24 rows = 2 in. and 17 sts = 2 in. on Inox 2 1/2 mm needles (between
a US#1 and US#2)
Pattern:
Cast on 34 sts using a provisional cast on. K 1 row using yarn &
wooly nylon (I used red/green/yellow/blue variegated, and it made a neat
contrast to the red wool).
Row 2: P 33, wrap 34th st. Row 3: K 32, wrap next.
Continue with short rows until you're down to 17 sts. Start back up.
1st pick up row: k or p 17, p or k next st AND WRAP together, turn.
2nd pick up row: k or p 18, p or k next st and wrap together, turn
3rd pick up row: k or p 18, find "used" wrap, and p or k st together with wrap again, p or k next st and wrap together, turn.
Continue to repeat row 3 until all sts are picked up. By knitting the wrap into the fabric twice, you eliminate holes.
When you've got 34 sts again, and have just finished a knit row, undo the provisional cast on and pick up 33 sts. Do whatever you like to prevent holes here, so long as you finish with a total of 67 sts. Spread the stitches over the number of needles desired.
Knit in rounds until the foot is 2 in. shorter than desired. I knit 1/2 of every row with wooly nylon. In order to feel I was making progress, I pulled the nylon across the sock middle and only cut every 6 rows. I am letting the nylon mat inside the sock (what the heck, I don't do steeks).
Use short row method to make the heel on the bottom 33 sts. This time, short row down to 11 sts. Pick up by knitting wraps twice as for toe. Knit 3 rounds after heel is finished, still with wooly nylon for 1/2. Cut nylon. Begin pattern
Pattern stitch
Rows 1 & 2: *k2, p4; repeat, end k1
Rows 3 & 4: *k2, p1; repeat, end k1
Repeat in pattern until time to begin increases (6" on the sock I've made).
Increase 1 st after the 1st K and 1 at the end of the row every 5 rows until you have 109 sts. Add pattern repetitions as appropriate. The sock is now 14" long.
Knit in k1, p1 ribbing with adjustments to allow for the odd number of sts, and for the fact that after 1/2 in. you are going to decrease 8 sts evenly. After decreases, continue in k1, p1 ribbing for another 1 1/2 inches. Cast off. All done!