The Year of the Sock: June

I have continued to knit socks even during hot weather. Socks are actually a great summer knitting project because they are small (not heavy and hot like a big blanket). This month, it was 2 pairs of socks for children.

I have attached the pattern – this pattern would be for children who in Kindergarten to about Grade 3. Younger, school aged children would be able to wear this size…depending on the size of their feet, of course.

Kids size       Gauge:  7 ish sts/inch

Toe and Foot
Using Judy’s magic cast on, cast on 16 sts (8 sts each needle)
Using 2 circular needles (knit half of sts on one needle, then rem sts on 2^nd needle)

Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: K1, m1, knit to last st on first needle, m1, k1, on 2^nd needle, k1, m1, knit to last st on 2nd needle, m1, k1.
Rnd 3: Knit.

Rep Rnds 2 and 3 until there are 44 sts on the needles (22 each needle).
Knit straight until foot from cast-on measures 10.5 cm

Gusset
Rnd 1: K1, m1, knit to last st on first needle, m1, k1, on 2^nd needle, knit across.
Rnd 2: Knit
Rnds 3-16: Repeat Rnds 1 & 2 (there are 38 sts total on needle 1 and 22 still on needle 2)

Turn Heel
Working across 38 sts on needle One.
Row 1: K25, m1, k1, kshst (see special stitches below), turn.
Row 2: P14, m1, p1, pshst (see special stitches below), turn.
Row 3: K12, m1, k1, kshst, turn.
Row 4: P10, m1, p1, pshst, turn.
Row 5: K8, m1, k1, kshst, turn.
Row 6: P6, m1, p1, pshst, turn.
Row 7: Knit all rem sts on Needle One (when you get to a twin stitch, knit both sts together), and 22 sts across Needle Two (if there is an incorrect number of sts on needle 2, simply increase or decrease the necessary number of stitches at random places across the needle).
Row 8: K32 (when you get to a twin stitch, knit both sts together; counts as one st), ssk, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Row 9: WYIF, sl 1 purlwise, k3, p14, k3, p2tog.
Row 10: Sl 1 purlwise wyib, k3, [sl 1 wyib, k1]x7, k3 across to last st before gap, ssk, turn.
Row 11: Rep Row 9.
Row 12: Sl 1 purlwise wyib, k3, [k1, sl 1 wyib]x9, k3 across to last st before gap, ssk, turn.

Rep Rows 9-12 until there are 22 sts on each Needle One and Needle Two ending with an odd-numbered row.

Leg
Knit all 44 stitches until sock from heel measures 9cm.

Cuff
Rnd 1: [K2, p2] around.
Rep Rnd 1 until Cuff measures 4cm.

Bind-off Row: K2, return both sts to left hand needle with LH needle in front, and before removing LH needle, knit 2 sts together through back loops. *[P1, return both sts on RH needle to LH needle and k2tog through back loops]x2; [K1, return both sts on RH needle to LH needle and k2tog through back loops]x2; rep from * around. Fasten off.

Special Stitches
Knit-side shadow stitch (kshst)
Insert RH needle tip into front leg of stitch below next stitch on LH needle and knit up a loop, place loop on LH needle. Turn work leaving these 2 loops emerging from the same stitch (called twin stitches) and remaining stitches unworked. Avoid tugging or stretching needles tips apart when turning.

Purl-side shadow stitch (pshst)
Slip 1, insert LH needle under purl bump below stitch just purled and lift strand onto LH needle, purl under this strand, return both sts recently worked to LH needle, turn work. Avoid tugging or stretching needles tips apart when turning.