by [1] Monica

This sock has cable pattern on the sides and a simple rib pattern on the front. The cable pattern adds a little interest to a basic sock.

Materials
2 skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport, 200 yards each skein, sock on pattern knit with Tickled Pink color
1 set US #2/3 mm double-point needles OR circular needle(s)
NOTE: Adjust needle size to get the correct gauge.
Stitch marker
Tapestry Needle

Gauge
7 ½” stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Abbreviations
K=Knit
P=Purl
SSK=Slip 2 stitches as if to knit then knit those 2 stitches together
K2 Tog=Knit 2 stitches together
TBL=through back loop
C4F=Cable 4 Front: Slip next 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work, k2 from left needle, and k2 from cable needle.
C4B=Cable 2 Back: Slip next 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work, k2 from left needle, and k2 from cable needle.

Pattern
Row 1 and 2: K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 3: C4F, C4B, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, C4F, C4B, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 4, 5, and 6: K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 7: C4F, C4B, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, C4F, C4B, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times Row 8, 9, and 10: K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 11: C4B, C4F, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, C4F, C4B, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 12, 13, and 14: K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 15: C4B, C4F, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, C4B, C4F, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times
Row 16: K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times, K8, P2, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 4 times

Instructions:

Leg
Cast on 60 stitches.
Put 15 stitches on Needle 1, 15 stitches on Needle 2, 15 stitches on Needle 3 and 15 stitches on Needle 4. Join in the round and add a stitch marker to indicate beginning of round. Make sure you do not twist your join.
Work K3, P2 ribbing for 1 inch. Follow pattern until your sock is 6 inches long or desired length. Adjust stitches for the heel. Move 4 stitches from Needle 4 to Needle 1 and move 4 stitches from Needle 2 to Needle 3.

Heel Flap

The heel is worked back and forth on 30 stitches using Needles 3 and 4 as follows:
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 stitch, purl to end.
Row 2 (right side): [slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch] to end

Repeat these 2 rows until heel measures 2 inches ending with Row 2 just completed.

Turn Heel
Row 1: Purl 17 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 stitch, knit 5 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch and turn.
Row 3: Slip 1 stitch, purl 6 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 stitch, knit 7 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch and turn.
Row 5: Slip 1 stitch, purl 8 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 6: Slip 1 stitch, knit 9 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch and turn.
Row 7: Slip 1 stitch, purl 10 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 8: Slip 1 stitch, knit 11 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch and turn.
Row 9: Slip 1 stitch, purl 12 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 10: Slip 1 stitch, knit 13 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch and turn.
Row 11: Slip 1 stitch, purl 14 stitches, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch and turn.
Row 12: Slip 1 stitch, knit 15 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, and knit 1 stitch.

You should have 18 stitches left on your needle.

Gusset
On left side of heel flap, pick up and knit 15 stitches with one needle.
With another needle P1, K3, (*P2, K3) repeat from * to the last 4 stitches and end with K3, P1 on Needles 2 and 3.
With the next needle, pick up and knit 15 stitches along the ride side of the heel flap. Knit 9 stitches of the heel stitches with the same needle. Slip the other half of the heel stitches onto first needle that contains the stitches you picked up for the left side of the heel flap. You should have 48 stitches on the heel stitches and 30 stitches of the foot for a total of 78 stitches on all needles.

Gusset Decreases
Round 1: On Needle 1, K9, K12 TBL, K2 Tog TBL, K1 TBL; on Needles 2 and 3, P1, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 5 times and on the last 4 stitches K3, P1; and on Needle 4, K1 TBL, SSK, K12 TBL, K9. You should be at center back heel.
Round 2: Knit all stitches on Needle 1 P1, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 5 times and on the last 4 stitches K3, P1; and knit all stitches on Needle 4.
Round 3: On Needle 1, K to the last 3 stitches, K2 Tog, K1; On Needles 2 and 3, Knit Row 4 of foot pattern, K1, SSK, and knit to end of needle.

Following rounds 2 and 3 continue decreasing in this manner, every other round until you have 30 stitches remaining on the heel, 9 sets of decreases worked on each side.

Next round: On Needle 1, knit all stitches; P1, (*K3, P2) repeat from * 5 times and on the last 4 stitches K3, P1; and on Needle 4, knit all stitches.

Continue knitting in this manner until 1 ½ inches less than desired length of foot.

Toe
Distribute stitches evenly on your needles so that you have 15 stitches on each needle before you start your toe decreases.
Round 1: On Needle 1, knit to last 3 stitches, K1, SSK; on Needle 2, K2 Tog, K1, knit to end of needle; on Needle 3, knit to last 3 stitches, K1, SSK and on Needle 4, K2 Tog, K1, knit to end of needle.
Round 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat these 2 rounds 9 more times until you have 5 stitches left on each needle for a total of 20 stitches. Using Needle 4, knit to last stitch of Needle 1 so that you have 10 stitches on Needle 4.
Move stitches on Needle 3 onto Needle 2 so that you have 10 stitches on Needle 2.
Break yarn, leaving 12-inch tail.
Graft stitches on Needle 2 to stitches on Needle 3.

Grafting the toe of the sock:
Draw the 12-inch tail through the eye of the tapestry needle.
Hold Needles 2 and 3 together with right sides of the sock facing.
Step 1: Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave the stitch on the needle.
Step 2: Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit and leave the stitch on the needle.
Step 3: Draw the yarn through the first stitch of the front needle as if to knit and remove the stitch from the needle.
Step 4: Draw the yarn through the next stitch on the front stitch as if to purl and leave stitch on needle.
Step 5: Draw the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl and remove the stitch from the needle.
Step 6: Draw the yarn through the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit and leave the stitch on the needle.

Repeat steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 until you do not have any stitches left on both needles.

Weave in Ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Monica lives in southern CA where she battles the heat and snakes and giant spiders by staying indoors and knitting.