Ancient Pathways

BASIC SOCK PATTERN
from
Ancient Pathways
559-264-1874 info@ancientpathways.net

Materials:
450 yds fingering weight yarn for most size 8 shoes with 6” high cuff, size 2 needles
400 yds sport weight yarn for most size 8 shoes with 6” high cuff, size 3 needles
350 yds DK weight yarn for most size 8 shoes with 6” high cuff, size 4 needles
200 yds worsted weight yarn for size 8 shoes and smaller with a 4” high cuff , size 5 needles
300 yds worsted weight yarn for size 9 shoes and above or with a longer cuff, size 5 needles
Set of 5 double point needles in size to obtain gauge
Gauge: determined by making a circular gauge swatch. Fingering is approx. 8 sts per inch, sport is 7 per inch, D.K. is 6 per inch, and worsted is 5 per inch.
A circular swatch is made by casting on approx. 24 sts, knit one row, *don’t turn around to knit back, just slide stitches to the right end of needle, carry yarn in a big loop behind the work from the left to the right and knit again*. Repeat from * to * for 4 inches.
Knitting Abbreviations:
Ssk: slip 2 stitches separately as if to knit; insert left-hand needle into the front of both stitches together and knit them off a one.
Ktog: Knit two stitches together as one
Turn: Turn work around in middle of row to work back, keeping on the same two needles.
Cuff:
CO ________stitches loosely. Divide onto 4 needles, join being careful not to twist stitches and KIPl or K2P2 ribbing for as long as you want your cuff to be. Usually 4-6 inches.
Heel:
Slip stitches from needle 4 onto needle 3 and leave the other needles alone. For the heel flap you will be working back and forth on the needle with 1/2 the total stitches.
Heel flap:
With the inside of the sock facing you:
Row 1: sl 1, p across.
Row 2: *sl 1, kl* rep from * to * ending with kl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for approximately 2 1/2 inches.
End with a k row.

Turning the heel:
Begin by counting the number of heel sts. The number of sts for the step below is half the total number plus 2.____________ (fill in your number). Row 1 will be your total minus one stitch for the first slip stitch. Example: 16 total stitches will be Slip 1 sts, purl 15 more.
Row 1: Sl 1, p across ______ sts, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k 1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, look at your sts, between your 7th and 8th sts you will find a hole where you turned last time. P over to one st before the hole and p2tog over the hole, p1 and turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, k to one st before the hole and ssk over the hole, kl and turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you run out of holes and sts.
Continue in this manner increasing the number of sts between first st and the hole until all sts are used. Sometimes you will need to knit across the remaining stitches to get to the correct side of the heel flap.
Write down the number of heel stitches. __________________
Instep:
Pick up and knit an equal number of sts on both sides of heel flap. (Usually 12-15sts) as follows:
With the outside of the heel flap facing you, pick up and knit the left side slipped stitches through the back of the loop, knit across instep sts on needles 2 and 3 and pick up equal number of sts on right side of heel flap.
Knit across half of heel sts and slip onto needle four.
Needle 1 holds half of heel sts and left side of heel flap.
Needle 2 holds half of instep sts.
Needle 3 holds other half of instep sts.
Needle 4 holds right side of heel flap and the remaining heel sts.
Decrease round:
Rnd 1:
Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl.
Needle 2: Knit.
Needle 3: Knit.
Needle 4: Kl, ssk, knit to end.
Rnd 2:
Knit around plain.
Repeat these two rounds until you are back to the original number of sts. (Usually the number of sts on the instep needles is the number you want on each needle.)
Foot:
Continue working around until foot of sock is 2" shorter than your foot, or until it reaches the joint of your big toe. It's better to measure than to try the sock on. You will be more accurate.
Toe decreases:
Rnd 1:
Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl.
Needle 2: Kl, ssk, k to end.
Needle 3: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl.
Needle 4: Kl, ssk, k to end.
Rnd 2:
Knit around.
Repeat these 2 rnds until there are 4 sts on each needle. Slip the sts
from needles 2 onto needle 3. Knit the stitches from needle 1 onto needle 4.

Kitchner stitch:
This will close the toe of the sock.
Break yarn leaving about an 18" tail and thread a large tapestry needle.
Hold needles parallel to each other;
*Sew through first st of front needle as if to knit and sl st off.
Sew through next st on front needle as if to purl, but leave on.
Sew through first st on back needle as if to purl and sl st off.
Sew through next st on back needle as if to knit and leave on.
Repeat from * and weave in ends.

How to Measure a Foot for Socks

Knit a gauge swatch.
Measure around the ball of the foot and the ankle.
Find the average (add the two numbers and divide by 2)
Multiply the average times your gauge.
Round up or down to a number evenly divisible by 4. The usual numbers are 48, 56, 64, and 72.

Gauge: ______________

Ball of Foot:___________

Ankle: ____________

Length of foot: ______________

Average x gauge: ____________

Examples:
Gauge: 6sts = 1”
Ball of foot: 8.5”
Ankle: 9”
Average: 8.75”
Average x gauge: 52.5sts
You can round up to 56 sts. This will give you a sock that measures 9.3” around (56 sts divided by 6sts per inch = 9.3”) or you may round down to 48sts. This will give a sock that measures 8” around. (48 sts divided by 6sts per inch = 8”). In this case you would want to use the measurement that is slightly bigger. The smaller size will be too tight to get over your ankle.