Santa Ana Socks

Megan M. Brown

These socks are knit from thetoe up with a gusset heel and apicot edge hem. The SantaAnas were a blowin’ when Imade these.Size: 9” circumference aroundfoot.* See note.Gauge: 10 stitches/1” (Nowonder it takes me forever tomake socks!)Needles: 2 US size 0. I usedKnit Picks needles in length16”.Yarn: Any fingering weightyarn. Pictured is Claudia HandPainted Yarns, FingeringWeight 100% Merino Wool incolor Chocolate Cherry. 50g/180 yds.*

Note

: The socks as writtenmeasure 6.5” around the footand 6.75” around the leg andstretch to fit my 9” foot.

Abbreviations

:K: KnitP: PurlM1: Make oneS1: Slip onePSSO: Pass slipped stitch overYO: yarn overK2tog: knit two togetherP2tog: purl two togetherSSK: slip slip knit

Toe: Using your preferred toe-up sock cast on, cast on 32 stitches with 2 circular needles, 16stitches on each needle. I prefer the magic cast on that can be found on Knitty.com, simplybecause it does not require a provisional cast on. *Knit 1 round. Next round: K1, M1, knit to lasttwo stitches on needle, M1, K1, repeat on second needle. Repeat from * until you have 62stitches total, 31 on each needle.The stitches on one needle will become the bottom of your foot, the other the instep. All stitcheson the bottom foot will be knit in stockinette; that is, knitted every round. The pattern for theinstep is knitted over a multiple of 6 stitches + 1. The pattern goes as:Round 1: * S1, K1, psso, K2, yo, K2; repeat from * to last stitch, K1.Round 2: Knit.Round 3: Repeat round 1.Round 4: Knit.Round 5: K1, *K2, yo, K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end.Round 6: Knit.Round 7: Repeat round 5.Round 8: Knit.Continue in pattern, repeating these 8 rounds until sock is two inches shorter than the length of your foot.Gusset Increases: Continue pattern on instep, increasing two stitches on bottom of foot asfollows: K1, M1, knit to last two stitches, M1, K1. Continue gusset increases until you have 59stitches on the needle containing the foot stitches.Heel Decreases: You will now only work the stitches on the heel back and forth, ignoring theinstep stitches.Round 1: K32, ssk, k1, turn.Round 2: S1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn.Round 3: S1, Knit to last stitch before decrease, SSK, K1, turn.Round 4: S1, Purl to last stitch before decrease, P2tog, P1, turn.Continue decreasing in this fashion until you have 31 stitches left.Leg: Rejoin the heel stitches to the instep stitches to begin working in the round again. At thispoint you should have 62 stitches on both needles. I usually pick up one stitch in betweenneedles on both ends to prevent a hole being formed. This brings you to 64 stitches. The patternon the leg is worked over a multiple of 6 stitches, you will need to increase two more stitches. Iworked one row in pattern on the instep stitches, then knit the heel stitches, increasing one stitcheach end. Once you have 66 stitches (or a multiple of 6) begin working instep pattern on allstitches. It may be helpful to place a marker to keep track of the beginning and end of the round.Because some decreases may fall over two needles, it may be necessary to adjust your stitchesoccasionally. Continue working leg until desired length.