The Quest for the Perfect Socks #1: Sailor Socks

Brainstorming (my favourite way of knitting socks):
Must have stripes; short-row heel is prettier than heel flap; knitting cuff-down is more fun than knitting toe-up (because of the tiny figure eight cast-on); DPNs are more fun than circulars. Oh, and the toe should end with a regular bind-off rather than kitchener stitch.

Instructions:
CO 60
Cuff (10 R): k1 through the back loop, p1 (repeat)
Leg: knit stripes in stockinette stitch: 4 R in MC, 4 R in CC
make 15 stripes, beginning and ending with CC
Heel: k 2 R of MC over all 4 needles, do a short-row heel, then k 2 more R of MC over all 4 needles.
Foot: k 11 more stripes, beginning and ending with CC.
Toe: change back to MC
R1 (decrease round):
Sole: K1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Instep: K1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: k all (no decreases)
Repeat these two rows until there are 36 st left.
Work decrease round only until there are only 2 st left on each of the 4 needles, k2tog until there are a total of 4 st left on 2 needles, cut and pull tail through remaining 4 stitches. Weave in loose ends.

Don’t despair if you end up getting these small holes where the widest part of the heel joins the edges of the instep part. Sometimes you just can’t get rid of them. But you can easily sew them shut from the inside when the socks are done, using a bit of your MC yarn, and nobody will ever notice. :)