Started these socks to have something to do while commuting. This is a very unusual super stretchy yarn which is perfect for socks. It’s almost like knitting with elastic thread. I always need black socks for concerts to wear with pants. I’d like to buy more of this yarn in the colors Rose, Perle (Light Gray) and Blanc (White) because the stitch definition is fantastic.

Used my basic top-down sock pattern. Instructions below are for my size 8.5 woman (medium) foot. However, you can easily make adjustments for your size with these guidelines. Note that I knit my socks using 2 circular needles. Sometimes I use a short circular needle for the cuff and/or after the heel is complete, but quite often, I just stay with the 2 longer circular needles for the entire sock.

CUFF

Cast on 65 sts. Eyelet Mock Cable Rib stitch pattern must be a multiple of 5 sts for knitting in the round. Put 30 sts on 1st needle and 35 sts on the 2nd needle to start.

Did (P2, K3) rib for 12 rounds which is a bit over one inch. Then started the Eyelet Mock Cable Rib stitch rounds. The vertical repeat is every 5 rounds:

Rnd 1: ^(P2, SL 1 knitwise, K2, pass the SL stitch over the 2 knitted stitches). Repeat from ^ around

Rnd 2: ^(P2, K1, YO, K1). Repeat from ^ around

Rnds 3 - 5: ^(P2, K3). Repeat from ^ around.

……..

I did 13 vertical repeats of the above stitch pattern. This measures about 6.5 inches for the cuff. Before the last round, remove the first 2 sts from Needle 2 and place them at the end of Needle 1. Needle 1 will then have a total of 32 sts with 2 purl stitches at each end. Needle 1 will become the instep/top of the foot, (continuing the Mock Cable stitch pattern until shortly after the start of the toe decreases).

HEEL FLAP

Needle 1: Knit the last round of the cuff
Needle 2: Begin heel flap (RS) row as follows. But on the 1st row, decrease 1 st in the middle of the row by doing a K2tog. This is only done on the 1st row of the heel flap to get a total of 32 sts (even number) for the heel flap. Bottom of the foot will all be done in stockinette.

Row 1: ^(Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, K1). Repeat from ^ to end of the needle.

Row 2: Slip 1 stitch as if to purl. Purl to end of row.

Repeat the above 2 rows 15 more times (16 times total). Then repeat Row 1 one more time.

TURN HEEL AND CREATE GUSSET

Turn the heel and create the gusset in the classic way. (Susan B. Anderson’s “How I Make My Socks” is a good free pattern.) I pick up 16 sts along each side using a tiny crochet hook. Prior to the gusset decrease rounds, I have 50 sts on Needle 2 (heel) and 32 sts on Needle 1.

GUSSET DECREASING

Continue your decrease rounds for the gusset per your favorite classic top-down sock pattern, continuing the Mock Cable stitch pattern on Needle 1 only. There will be 9 rounds of gusset decreasing, alternating with non-decreasing rounds. When you have 32 sts on both needles, there will be no more decreasing until you get to the toe area.

FOOT SECTION

The instep/top of foot (Needle 1) will be worked in Mock Cable Rib stitch and the bottom of the foot (Needle 1) will be worked in stockinette. I did this for 8 more vertical repeats of the Mock Cable Stitch pattern (40 rounds). Then I started tapering the stitch pattern to a “V” shape on the top of the foot. I created a little chart to aid in this. Next time I knit this design, I think I’ll start the “V” taper 15 rounds earlier I think it would be better to complete that part BEFORE starting the toe decreasing.

Such a pretty little stitch pattern and so simple. I’m sure I’ll be making more socks using this improvised pattern.

1/9/19 - I just happened upon this pullover design which matches my socks!