I love stripes and have always been an admirer of Helix knitting for jogless joins. I love vintage patterns and seeing how folks knit way back in history. So, I started reading some sock history and variations in sock heel/toe construction. And finally, I came across cecelia-campochiaro’s Sequence knitting and found it to be absolutely fascinating. This pattern combines these interests.

1. It is based on the Beehive Men’s Sock Pattern No. 514, originally published in Handknits by Beehive, Book 127, by Patons & Baldwins, Inc. in 1944.
2. The Beehive pattern is a sequence of 8 sts - p2, k6, worked in the round in alternate color spirals. I am learning a ton of useful and interesting information from Cecelia Campochairo’s amazing book on Sequence Knitting.
3. I am using the technique of Helix knitting for continuous spirals and a jogless join at the color change. Here is Jen Arnall-Culliford’s take on the topic. And, here is Chilly Dog’s really useful video explaining the technique. Not to forget Techknitter’s amazingly useful article on Jogless Joins.
4. The sock uses a Peasant Heel. I have always wondered about the difference between a Peasant Heel and an Afterthought Heel. Here is an Interweave article on Peasant Heel vs. Afterthought Heel by Karen Frisa.

Construction: Cuff down; Helix stripes; Peasant heel; Sequence Knitting p2, k6; Modified Wedge Toe (aka Rounded Barn Toe).

June 17, 2021: Making a Women’s US size 8 sock.
German Twisted Cast on 64 sts on US #2.5 and knit k2p2 ribbing for 1.5”. I used this method to close the gap at the join.

Change to US #2 (2.75mm) needles. Knit one round of knits in red and then a row of knits in black (MC). Join white (CC) and start the k6,p2 sequence alternating MC and CC. Knit for 5.5” ending with black (MC).

When setting aside sts for the heel, I knit 14 sts from the 1st needle and transferred 16 sts of the previous row from the 3rd needle to the 1st needle. That way the instep has a 2-purl st column running on either side of the sole stitches and has a pleasing symmetry.

The heel is worked in Black (MC) only. I followed the decrease instructions for the heel except that I decreased until 24 sts remained, then used Kitchener stitch to close the heel.

After the row of red sts at the beginning of the Peasant heel, revert to the Helix stripes. I started with a row of black and knit 43 stripe rows, ending with a black row.

After the heel, the instep is knit in the p2k6 Sequence pattern but the sole is worked in plain stockinette.

The toe is knit in plain black also. Before starting the toe decreases, I knit one extra row (44th row) of black, a row of red, and 4 more rows in black (49th row).

Started toe decreases from the 50th row when the sock measured 7.75” from the farthest end of the heel. The toe decreases added just under 2” to the sock.

Roxanne Richardson’s video on How to Knit and Modify a Wedge Toe, and How to Choose the Right Sock Toe by Sarah Winsper provide amazingly useful info about toes and how to make them fit right.

The original pattern called for a Wedge Toe. However, for my sock, I knit a Modified Wedge Toe. I have also seen it being called a Rounded Barn Toe for a cuff down sock in this article by Knitgrammer.

Row 1: k1, ssk, knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: knit.
Work alternate row decreases until there are half the number of sts (64/2 = 32) sts remaining.
Then work decreases on every row until half of the remaining sts (32/2 =16) remain.

Used Kitchener stitch to close the toe. I learned how to do a Kitchener close without ears from this Suzanne Bryan video.

Patons Kroy socks are almost sport weight. I like the relaxed fabric on a US #2 but the sock is a bit loose in terms of fit. So, for next time I will knit on a US #1.5 instead. The fabric will be a bit stiff though.

Measurements unblocked
Leg - cuff to beginning of heel: 5”
Foot - back of the heel to the tip of the toe: 9.25”
Toe decreases: 2.75”
Leg width in ribbing pattern: 3.1”
Foot width in ribbing and stockinette: 3.4”