Baby Shower Socks

Knit up several little pairs of these cute socks for a great baby shower gift!
Size: 6 -12 months. Needles: Set of 4 double pointed 3mm. Yarn: 50 grams of something soft and machine washable in a DK weight. Instructions: Cast on 34 sts. Divide evenly on 3 needles being careful not to twist. Work K1, P1 ribbing for 15 rnds. Next rnd: K decreasing 4 sts evenly around (30sts). K14 rnds. Heel Shaping: K 17 sts onto 1st needle for heel. Divide remaining sts onto 2 needles to be worked later. Working on the 17 sts of heel only and beginning with a purl row, work 13 rows of stocking st ending with a purl row. Next row: K12, slip next st as if to knit, K1, PSSO, turn. Next row: P8, P2 tog, turn. Next row: K8, Slip 1, K1, PSSO, turn.

Repeat last 2 rows until you have 9 sts left on needle. K9 Pick up and knit 8 sts down right side of heel, K across 13 sts for instep, pick up and knit 8 sts along left side of heel and with same needle K5 sts from heel. Slip remaining 4 sts onto 1st needle. You should now have 12 sts on 1st needle, 13 on 2nd needle, 13 sts on 3rd needle. Shape Gusset: Next rnd: K4, K next 8 sts through the back loop (tbl) (this reinforces the picked-up sts), K13, K next 8 sts tbl, k5. Next rnd: 1st needle: Knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 2nd needle: Knit 3rd needle: K1, Slip 1, K1, PSSO, Knit to end. Next rnd: Knit Repeat last 2 rnds until you have 26 sts (6 on 1st needle, 13 on 2nd needle and 7 on 3rd needle). Knit 16 rnds. Decrease for Toe: 1st rnd: 1st needle: K to last 2 sts, K2tog. 2nd needle: Slip1, K1, PSSO, K to last 2 sts K2tog. 3rd needle: Slip 1, K1, PSSO, K to end. 2nd rnd: Knit Repeat rnd 1 until you have 6 sts left. Cut yarn leaving a 6 inch tail and thread through remaining sts, tighten and darn in ends of yarn.

2011