TWITTERPATED

A simple four row repeat of the Gulls and Garters stitch from the Vogue Stitchionary creates this comfortable pair of socks. The pattern may seem complicated at first, but it's easy to memorize and works up rather quickly.

Yarn: Fingering/ sock weight yarn – approximately 380 yards
Yarn used: Knitpicks Essential Solid (75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon; 231 yards/ 50 grams) 2 balls
Needles: Set of 5 dpns – Size 2 (2.75 mm)
Stitch Markers, darning needle.

Gauge: 8 sts = 1” on #2 needles for Pattern Stitch
7.5 sts = 1" in stocking stitch

Leg Pattern Stitch
Rnd 1: *K5, p3, repeat from * 7 more times.
Rnd 2: *WYIF of stitches, sl 5 st purlwise, take yarn back and k3; repeat from * 7 more times.
Rnd 3: Repeat Rnd 1.
Rnd 4: K2, *insert RH needle under loose strand then knit the next stitch on the LH needle drawing loop through st on needle and under loose strand in one motion, k7; Repeat from * 6 more times. On 7th repeat, end with K5.

Instep Pattern Stitch
Rnd 1: p2, *k5, p3, repeat from * 3 more times, ending with P2 at last repeat.
Rnd 2: k2, *WYIF of sts, sl 5 st purlwise, take yarn back and k3; repeat from * 3 more times, ending with k2 at last repeat.
Rnd 3: Repeat Rnd 1.
Rnd 4: K4, *insert RH needle under loose strand then knit the next stitch on the LH needle drawing loop through st on needle and under loose strand in one motion, k7; Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with k2 at last repeat


Leg

Cast on 64 stitches using long tail method. Divide stitches evenly over 4 dpn’s, 16 stitches per needle. Join being careful not to twist stitches, place marker if you need to, and begin knitting in the round.

K1, P1 for eight rows or desired length of ribbing.

Work Rounds 1-4 of Leg Pattern Stitch 15 times (or to desired length).

Next Round:
Needle 1 – k5, p3, twice.
Needle 2 – k5, p3, k5, p2, slip last st onto Needle 3.
Needle 3 – p1 , k5, p3, twice. Continue knitting from Needle 4 onto Needle 3 as follows: k5, p3, k5, p1; slip last 2 sts onto Needle 1.

You should have a total of 33 sts on Needles 1 & 2 (to be worked later for instep) and 31 sts on Needle 3 (for heel flap).

Heel Flap

Row 1: Start with WS facing, wyif, sl 1 pwise, p30.
Row 2: (RS) * wyib, sl 1 pwise, k1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 3: (WS) * wyif, sl 1 pwise, purl to end.
Repeast rows 2 & 3 thirteen more times, then work Row 1 once more. 30 rows total. The flap should measure appx 2 1/2”.

Shape Heel

Work short rows as follows:
Row 1: (WS) Sl 1, p16, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2: (RS) Sl 1, k4, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1, purl to within 1 st of gap, p2tog (1 st on either side of gap), p1, turn
Row 4: Sl1, knit to within 1 st of gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all sts on needles are worked. End with a RS (knit) row. You should have 17 sts on the heel flap needle.

Gusset

Pick up 16 sts from side of heel flap and continue working in the rnd as follows:
Rnd 1: Knit 16 sts along edge of heel flap onto Needle 1. Work Rnd 2 of Instep Pattern Stitch on Needles 2 & 3. Pick up 16 sts from side of heel flap, knit onto 4th needle. Knit across 8 sts of heel flap onto Needle 4. The beginning of round should now be at the center of heel flap.

At this point, combine needles 2 & 3 and renumber needles, for ease in knitting instep pattern. Needle 1 stays the same, combine stitches on Needles 2 & 3 – this becomes Needle 2, Needle 4 becomes Needle 3.

Stitches should be on needles as follows:
Needle 1: 25 sts
Needle 2: 33 sts (Instep)
Needle 3: 24 sts


Gusset Decrease

Round 1:
Needle 1: Knit to last 2 sts, ssk.
Needle 2: Work Rnd 3 of Instep Pattern Stitch.
Needle 3: k2tog, knit to end.

Round 2:
Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: Knit Rnd 4 of Instep Pattern Stitch
Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end of round

Round 3:
Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2: Work Rnd 1 of Instep Pattern Stitch
Needle 3: Knit

Round 4:
Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: Knit Rnd 2 of Instep Pattern Stitch
Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end of round

Round 5:
Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2: Work Rnd 3 of Instep Pattern Stitch
Needle 3: Knit

Repeat Rnds 2 -5 until a total of 64 sts remain on needles.

Next Round:
Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2: Work Rnd 4 of Instep Pattern Stitch.
Needle 3: Knit

Continue st st on Needles 1 & 3 and 14 more repeats of Rnds 1-4 of established Instep Pattern Stitch on Needle 2 (a total of 34 repeats from ribbing to toe) or to desired heel to toe length.

Next, knit sts on Needle 1, work Rnd 1 of Instep Pattern st on Needle 2, knit 7 sts from Needle 3.

Now begin rearranging needles for the toe among 4 needles. There should be 16 sts per needle. (I like to arrange the needles so there are 16 sts each on the top & bottom needles of the toe and 16 sts on each side needle of the toe, so decreases will be toward the sides of the instep and sole.)


Toe

Rnd 1: *Knit to last 2 sts on needle, K2tog. Rep from *. (Place marker at end of rnd)
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Repeat Rnds 1 & 2 until 32 total sts remain (8 per needle).
Repeat Rnd 1 only until 8 total sts remain. Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail. With darning needle, thread tail through the 8 rem sts and pull snug. Weave in on inside of sock.


Abbreviations:
Wyif = with yarn in front – bring knitting yarn to front of stitches
Wyib – with yarn in back – take knitting yarn behind stitches
Ssk = slip, slip, knit - slip 1 stitch, then slip the next; insert left needle into front loops of the slipped stitches, then knit them together.
K2tog = knit 2 together
P2tog = purl 2 together
WS = Wrong Side
RS = Right Side

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If you have any questions or find any mistakes, please feel free to email me.

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