Wren's Garter Bar Slip Stitch Socks
By Karen Hoyle

Garter Bar Slip Stitch Socks
                                                 Karen Hoyle©2001

Materials

Yarn: 3-50gm skeins of fingering weight yarn that will knit to gauge...two skeins of variegated and one skein of solid color. Yarns should be coordinating colors but different enough to contrast.

MC= variegated yarn (main color)
CC= solid color yarn (contrast color)

Needles: size US 1 (2.5mm) set of 5 dpn  (or size needed for gauge)

1 st Marker

Gauge: 9 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
Size: Fits average womans size medium (adjust foot length for different (sizes)

Cast on 72 stitches.
Divide the stitches evenly on 4 (18 sts on each) needles. Join, being careful not to twist stitches.

~tip~My personal favorite way to join is to slip the first CO st unto the end of ndl 4 and the last CO st unto the beg of ndl 1. Simple, efficient and it looks great.

Place marker at beginning of round (between needles one and four) where tail end of CO yarn is. This marker will always be considered the "beginning" of any round. Use a split marker or a little safety pin and move it up every few rounds.

Work K2, P2 (or K1, P1 or K3, P1) ribbing for 1 1/2 inches or desired length.

Leg
Start Simple Slip Stitch pattern (slip all sts as if to purl):
rnds 1-4 (MC): knit even
rnd 5 (CC): *sl 1 (twice), k4* rep
rnd 6 (CC): *sl 1 (twice), p4* rep

~reminder~the slipped stitches will be the MC yarn NOT the CC yarn. The CC yarn will only be used for the k4 and the p4. And of course, the heels and toes.

Work 9 reps of the 6 rnd pattern. End after a round 2.

Heel Flap
The 36 stitches on needles 2 and 3 for instep are not worked. You will be knitting back and forth on the 36 sts on needles one and four only. Knit heel flap in heel stitch, slipping the first st of EACH row.

Knit the heel flap:
Knit to end of needle 1 with MC. Turn work. Cut CC yarn and attach here for colored heel. S1, and purl back the rem stitches on needle 1 and 4. Turn. Start heel stitch with row 1 (right side) of pattern.

Heel Stitch Pattern (CC yarn):
Row 1:(right side) *sl 1,  k 1* rep across
Row 2: sl 1,  p across

Repeat these 2 rows until heel flap is square or about 2 1/2 inches long. If you desire a longer heel just continue until the length you want. Remember, the longer the heel, the more gusset sts you will need to pick up. End after a row 2.

Turn Heel
This is a standard round heel:
Next row: (right side) slip 1, knit to center marker, k2, SSK, k1, turn.

Next row: slip 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1, turn.

*Slip 1, knit to within 1 st away from gap between the sts, SSK, k1, turn.
Slip 1, purl to within 1 st away from gap, p2tog, p1, turn.*

Repeat from * to * until all stitches have been worked, always working together the 2 sts on each side of the gap. End after a purl row. Turn.

Knit to the center of needle one, this is the needle with the heel flap sts on it. Stop, you are now once again at center back of your sock (be sure your marker is between needles 1 and 4) Your sts should be set up as follows:

needle 1: 10 heel sts
needle 2: 18 instep sts
needle 3: 18 instep sts
needle 4: 10 heel sts

Gussets
Pick up for the gussets:
Drop the CC used for the heel. With needle 1 and MC yarn, pick up one stitch through each slip stitch loop on edge of heel flap. This number will depend on how long you knit the heel flap. Use a crochet hook for ease. Slip the picked up st onto needle one with the 10 heel sts. Continue to pick up sts along the heel flap until all edge loops are done. You will have the original 10 sts PLUS the picked up gusset sts on needle one.

Knit across the instep stitches on needles 2 and 3. The foot is knit in plain stockinette stitch.

With needle 5, pick up one stitch through each slip stitch loop on edge of heel flap. When all loops are picked up, knit across the 10 heel sts on needle 4. You will have the original 10 sts PLUS the picked up gusset sts on needle four. You should have equal amount of sts on needles one and four. You are once again at center back of your sock and ready to
start the gusset decreases.

You should have:
1} half the heel stitches and the picked-up gusset stitches on needle 1
2} half the instep stitches on needle 2
3} the second half of the instep stitches on needle 3
4} the second group of gusset stitches and the second half of the heel
stitches on needle 4

Knit 1 round even.

Now decrease for the gussets:
Needle 1: knit to 3 sts from end of needle, k2tog, k1.
Needles 2 & 3: Knit even in stockinette st.
Needle 4: at the beginning of needle, k1, SSK, work to end.

Knit one round (all 4 needles) even. 
Alternate decrease and even rounds until 72 stitches remain, 18 sts on each of 4 needles.

Instep
Knit all rnds in stockinette st. End when the foot length is about where your big toe is attached to your foot or approx 1 3/4 inches shorter than your foot. Stop at the marker between ndl 1 and 4. Change to CC yarn for toe and knit one rnd.

Toe 
This is the standard toe shaping. Start at the beginning of needle one where marker is. See how important that little marker has been?!

Decrease round:
Needle 1: K to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to end.
Needle 3: K to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1.
Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit to end.

Knit one round even. 
Alternate decrease and even rounds until 9 stitches remain on each needle.
Knit decrease round every round until 4 sts remain on each needle.

Place stitches on 2 needles. The 4 sts each from ndls 2 and 3 onto one needle and the 4 sts each from ndls 1 and 4 onto one needle. Graft together. Weave in any loose ends.

Knit another sock to match!

Karen Hoyle© 2001