Christmas Socks Are A Thing

In my family, Christmas socks are pretty much a requirement at Christmas. Once I showed up in insufficiently festive socks and was given socks to wear. So, for the last couple of Christmases I’ve been thinking I should make some Christmas socks. Despite being pretty well acquainted with how long knitting takes and when Christmas is scheduled, I always run out of time.

Not this year.

I am ON IT. Oh wait, I think it’s customary to have two socks.

It’s okay, I’ve got time.

Want to knit with me? I’m doing my own pattern here, which can pretty much be summed up as “Slap this chart on a 72 stitch sock” but I know some people like more explicit directions, so in the spirit of the season I have endeavored to write some.

Christmas Party Socks

Yarn: MC: 1 skein Lang Jawool Color Aktion (Wool/Nylon; 420m, 100g) CC: partial skein white sock yarn (I think mine is Regia? You will need about 15g)

Needles: set 2.0 mm DPNs (you may want to go up a size or two for the charted part if stranding tightens your gauge

Size: About 8″ circumference and as long as you want them to be

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 2″

Leg:

CO 72 sts and distribute evenly over needles. Join and work 1″ k2p2 rib in the round.

Knit 2 rounds, then switch to larger needles if using; join CC and work rounds 1-49 of chart. Break CC (Edited Nov.10/14 to correct # chart rounds.)

Switch back to smaller needles if necessary and knit 10 rounds or desired length until heel

Heel Flap:

Turn work; slip 1, p35. Heel is worked back and forth on these 36 sts; set aside remaining 36 sts for instep

Row 1: (slip 1, k1) 18 times
Row 2: slip 1, p35

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 18 times more

Turn Heel:

Slip 1, K19, ssk, k1, turn
Slip 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 1: slip 1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn
Row 2: slip 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until all sts have been worked. 20sts remain.

Gusset:

Knit across 20 heel sts. Pick up and knit 20sts along side of heel; k36 instep sts; pick up and knit 20sts along other side of heel; k10 heel sts; mark beginning of round. 96 sts total.

Round 1: k to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k1, k 36 instep sts, k1, ssk, k to end of rnd
Round 2: k all sts

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 11 more times. 72 sts remain.

Foot:

Work even until foot measures about 2″ less than desired length.

Toe:

Round 1: K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k2, ssk, k to last 3 sts of instep, k2tog, k2, ssk, k to end of round
Round 2: k all sts

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 10 more times. 28 sts remain
Graft toe.

Finishing:

Weave in ends. Block socks. (I don’t usually block my socks but, like lace, I think stranding really benefits from a good blocking.)

Chart:

(NB: this looks upside-down because I’m making cuff-down socks.  If you want to make toe-up socks or anything bottom-up, flip it around.)