Stout and Short WoolEase Socks
By Dawn Adcock

Knit for my DH's feet that are shoe size men's 7½ EE

WoolEase (or light worsted weight yarn), 2 skeins
Size 4 double pointed needles, set of 4
Length: about  9¼" foot, heel to toe

Cast on 48 sts and divide on three needles (I use the double-needle cast-on from Principles of Knitting to insure a stretchy enough top to fit a wide calf.)
K2, P2 rib for about 8", about 56 rounds, or until desired leg length
Do Heel: K 12 sts, place remaining sts on instep needle, turn
        Sl 1, P23, place remaining sts with instep sts, turn
        Divide instep sts on two needles
        Sl 1, K1, to end
        Sl 1, purl to end
        Repeat last two rows 13 times more, for a total of 14 big "V" sts for the heel
        Heel flap is about 3" long
Turn Heel: Sl 1, K13, ssk, K1, turn (7 sts left)
        Sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn (7 sts left)
        Sl 1, K6, ssk, K1, turn (5 sts left)
        Sl 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn (5 sts left)
        Sl 1, K8, ssk, K1, turn (3 sts left)
        Sl 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn (3 sts left)
        Sl 1, K10, ssk, K1, turn (1 st left)
        Sl 1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn (1 st left)
        Sl 1, K12, ssk, turn (0 st left)
        Sl 1, P12, P2tog, (0 st left)
        14 heel sts left on needle
Gusset: Pick up 16 sts on side of heel flap (needle 1)
        Knit across instep sts, placing all 24 on one needle (needle 2)
        Pick up 16 sts on side of heel, and also knit 7 sts from heel (needle 3)
        (middle of heel is beginning of round) (70 sts total)
        Knit two rounds even
Decrease Round: Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1
        Needle 2: Knit across
        Needle 3: K1, ssk, K to end
        Knit two more rounds even
        Do decrease round
        Knit one round even
        Do decrease round
        Continue to knit one round even, then do decrease round, until 13 gusset sts remain on each side,
        50 sts total remain now
Foot: Knit 18 rounds even, or until about 7" long. Knit to end of needle 1
Toe Decrease: (first rearrange sts so that the top and bottom of halves have equal amounts of stitches:           Needle 1-13 sts, needle 2-25 sts, needle 3-12 sts)
        Needle 2: K1, ssk, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1
        Needle 3: K1 ssk, K to end of needle
        Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1
        Knit one round even
        Repeat decrease round every OTHER round until 22 sts left
        Then immediately do one more decrease round, 18 sts left
        Kitchener stitch remaining sts (9 top and 9 bottom) to finish.

Copyright: Dawn Adcock, June 29, 1999