Baba's Bed Socks
Image Courtesy Maggie Dicey
Image Courtesy Maggie Dicey
(Baba is Cantonese for Daddy.)
These socks have a short K2, P2 cuff, and the rib continues down the instep.
I like to make my socks cuffs with four needles, and the foot with five. Call me nutty.
Materials:
2 3.5 ounce balls WoolEase
5 size 8 US DPN
Gauge: 4 st/in
Cuff:
Using 2 strands of yarn, CO 32 sts. K2 P2 the first round of sts, dividing
onto 3 needles, 12-12-8. Join sts in a circle, and continue K2 P2 pattern
for 16 rounds. On 16th round, slip last st of round to next needle, so
instep will begin and end with purl 1.
Heel Flap:
Row 1: SL 1 as if to purl, K1, repeat across 16 sts. Turn.
Row 2: SL 1 as if to purl, purl across row.
Repeat these two rows until 16 rows have been worked, and there are
8 chain loops on each side of the heel flap. You will end with a wrong
side row. Turn.
Turning the Heel:
Row 1: SL 1, K8, K2 tog, K1, turn
Row 2: SL 1, P3, P2 tog through the back loops, P1, turn
Row 3: SL 1, K4, K2 tog, K1, turn
Row 4: SL 1, P5, P 2 tog through the back loops, P1, turn
Row 5: SL 1, K6, K2 tog, K1, turn
Row 6: SL 1, P7, P2 tog through the back loops, P1, turn
10 sts remain.
Knit across the 10 sts of the heel flap. With the same needle, pick
up and knit (through the back loop) 9 sts along the side of the heel flap.
(There were 8 chain loops, plus one more made when the heel was turned.)
With new needle, work across 8 sts of instep, keeping rib
pattern. (Pattern begins P1, K2, P2, and ends with P1) With third needle,
work remaining 8 sts of the instep. With fourth needle, pick up and knit
9 sts along the remaining side of the heel flap, and then knit 5 sts of
the heel flap from the first needle. You now have 14 sts on needle 1, 8
sts on needle 2, 8 sts on needle 3, and 14 sts on needle 4. Round begins
and ends at center of heel.
Gusset:
Round 1: K to within last 3 sts of needle 1, K2 tog, K1. Keeping in
rib pattern, work across instep. Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit remaining sts
on needle 4.
Round 2: Work even, keeping instep in rib pattern.
Alternate these two rows until 32 sts remain.
Foot:
Work even until sock measures two inches less than desired sock length.
Toe:
Toe is worked in knit stitches only, rib pattern ends.
Round 1: K to within last 3 sts of needle 1, K2 tog, K1. Needle 2:
K1, SSK, knit remaining sts. Needle 3: K to within last 3 sts of needle,
K2 tog, K1. Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit remaining sts.
Round 2: Knit around.
Repeat these two rows until 8 sts remain. Break off yarn, draw yarn through remaining loops. Fasten off. Make another sock!
Variation:
Make a baby cable twist, every fourth row. Instead of K2, Knit through
the two stitches together, don't slide off needle, knit through first stitch,
slide both off needle. End cuff with second row
after fourth twist (18 rows).
This pattern may be freely shared with other knitters, as long the copyright notice is included. It may not be sold. This pattern may also be posted in the KnitList holiday pattern collection.