Saturday, April 22, 2006

Cycling Socks are Ready to Ride!

My cycling socks came off the needles last night, and yes there is a tiny variation in the gusset for some reason. The first sock has been washed and dried--feels great. They fit the same and used the same amount of yarn (24 gm each). I must have made the heel extension a little longer on the second, so it didn't require that the heel flap be as long, and therefore not as many gusset stitches to pick up. Anyway, I have all the details for the second sock.

Yarn: KnitPicks Dancing (Jazz, I think) 50 gm ball (this ball actually weighed in at 47 gm without the label, each sock weighed in at 24 gm, so I had to break into a second ball for just a few rows of the ribbing)
Needle: Addi Turbo 0, Magic Loop one at a time
Gauge: 9.7 stitches per inch (34 stitches = 3.5 inches unstretched)
Pattern: Cobbled together by me. Toe up anklet with heel flap, heel turn, and gusset.

Turkish cast on: 12 stitches per needle, increased every other row until 34 stitches per needle
Stockinette stitch on foot for length of 6.5 inches (from toe to where leg joins top of foot)

I was looking for a traditional looking heel with heel flap, turn, gussets and found one here. The heel described in the pattern in the link is the basis for the one I used in my anklet socks. I adjusted the pattern for the number of stitches I needed for my sock.

Work heel extension on 34 stitches, starting with wrong side row, Row 1: S1, purl across. Row 2: S1, knit across. Repeat these two rows until the back of the heel is reached (approx 2 inches in my case)--finish with a purl row

Heel Turn
Row 1: S1, knit 17, K2tog, K1, turn
Row 2: S1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 3: S1, K6, K2tog, K1, turn
Continue this pattern as established in rows 2 and 3 until all stitches are consumed. Finish with purl row.
Needle 1 (heel turn) has 18 stitches, Needle 2 (instep) has 34 stitches

Back of Heel/Gussets
Row 1: Knit across needle 1, pick up 17 gusset stitches; Needle 2~~knit across instep stitches, pick up 17 gusset stitches.
Row 2 Needle 1: Knit 26 stitches and place marker, knit remaining stitches; Needle 2: knit 34 instep stitches; then knit the gusset stitches onto needle 1 as follows: knit 9 stitches, place marker (34 stitches between marker), between markers S1, K1, knit remaining 9 stitches. Let needle 2 be the start of each row.
Row 3: knit
Row 4: Needle 2: knit; Needle 1: K1, ssk, knit to marker, s1, k1 to next marker, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all gusset stitches are consumed. 34 stitches on each needle.

Ribbing
K1, P1 around for approximately 1 inch of ribbing or until the ribbing is the length desired. Cast off loosely. Weave in ends. Take 'em out for a ride!