Baby Socks
To Fit Size:
0-3 m (6-12 m, 18-24 m).
Materials: Jeannee DK: 1 ball
Gauge: 28 sts = 4” on a US 4 needle over st st.
Needles: Double pointed needles: size US 4, or size necessary to obtain given gauge.
Note: When slipping stitches, always slip as if to purl, except for the SKP.
CUFF:
With one needle, cast on 24 (28, 32) sts. Divide onto 3 needles. Being careful not to twist the sts, join and work in the round as follows: (k2, p2) around for 3 (3½, 4)”. Knit 2 (3, 3) rounds.
DIVIDE FOR HEEL:
Transfer sts around so that there are 12 (14, 16) sts on the first needle, and 6 (7, 8) sts on each of the other two needles. Work back and forth across the first needle ONLY as follows to work the Eye of Partridge Heel:
Row 1: *(Slip 1, k1), repeat from * across.
Row 2: Slip 1, purl across rest of row.
Row 3: Slip 1 *(slip 1, k1); repeat from * across to last st, end k1.
Row 4: Slip 1, purl across rest of row.
Repeat rows 1-4 for 12 (12, 16) rows total, then work row 1( 1-3, 1) once more. The heel will be 13 (15, 17) rows long.
TURN HEEL:
Row 1: Purl 8 (9, 10) sts, p2tog, p1, TURN.
Row 2: Slip 1, k5, k2tog, k1, TURN.
Row 3: Slip 1, purl to 1 st before the last turn (you’ll see a small gap where the last turn was), p2tog, p1, (no p1 for first & third sizes on last time across), TURN.
Row 4: Slip 1, knit to 1 st before the last turn (look for the gap), k2tog, k1 (no k1for first and third sizes on last time across), TURN.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all sts at the ends are used up, ending with a knit row. There will be 8 (10, 10) sts left.
GUSSET:
Continuing to work on the same needle, pick up and knit 8 (9, 10) sts along the side of the heel (needle 1). Using a new needle, knit across the sts on the next 2 needles (needle 2). Using a new needle, pick up and knit 8 (9, 10) sts along the other side of the heel, and continue knitting to the center of the heel sts [4 (5, 5) sts] (needle 3).
There should now be 12 (14, 15) sts on needles 1 & 3, and 12 (14, 16) sts on needle 2. The center of the heel is the beginning of the round; needle 2 contains the instep sts. Begin decreasing as follows:
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Knit to within 3 sts of the end of the first needle, k2tog, k1. Work across second needle in st st. On third needle, k1, SKP, knit to end. Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 6 (7, 8) sts left on both needles 1 & 3. Needle 2 will remain at 12 (14, 16) sts since no decreases take place there. You will now be back to the original # of sts [24 (28, 32)]. Begin to work even again, until length from back of heel is 3 (3½, 4)”, OR 1 ” less than desired length of finished sock. At this point you can slip the sock on to see the length. Only the toenails should stick out.
TOE SHAPING: Rearrange the sts on the needles, if necessary, so that there are now 6 (7, 8) sts on each of needles 1 & 3, and 12 (14, 16) sts on needle 2. The beginning of the round is still at the center back of heel. Begin decreasing as follows:
Round 1: On needle 1: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On needle 2: K1, SKP, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On needle 3: K1, SKP, knit to end (center of heel).
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 12 (16, 16) sts left [3 (4, 4) sts on needles 1 & 3, and 6 (8, 8) sts on needle 2].
KITCHNER STITCH: Continuing to knit with needle 3, knit to the end of needle 1. There are now only 2 needles in use: 6 (8, 8) sts on each. Cut the yarn, leaving 18”. Thread it onto a blunt needle. Hold the 2 needles parallel, you will now have a front needle and a back needle. Always keep the yarn beneath the needle as you work.
Step 1: Go into the first st on the front needle as if to knit, pull the st off the needle.
Step 2: Go into the second st on the front needle as if to purl, leave st on the needle.
Step 3: Go into the first st on the back needle as if to purl, pull the st off of the needle.
Step 4: Go into the second st on the back needle as if to knit, leave the st on the needle.
Now you have 4 new sts to work with. Repeat steps 1 - 4 until all sts are woven. Anchor on inside, weave in ends.
Make a second sock; counting rows to make sure it is the same length.
©2008 Design by JoAnne Turcotte.
ABBREVIATIONS: K = knit, p = purl, st(s) = stitch(es), RS = right side, WS = wrong side, YO = yarn over, k2tog = knit 2 sts together, skp = slip 1 as if to knit, slip a second st as if to purl, knit them together in that position.