Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 08:39:03 -0500 From: Ruth Gerstner To: Multiple recipients of list SOCK PATTERN, SORT OF A few weeks ago, I promised to write up my ...ahem... award-winning sock pattern. These did take third place at the Ohio State Fair, where apparently the field consisted of six entries. See, much easier to win there than in the Knitters magazine contest! I got $6, which has already been squandered several times over at the local temptation emporium (aka knit shop). These are very ordinary top-down socks, and you can use any pattern you already like as the basis. Mine were based on the "Basic Socks" in Nancy Bush's "Folk Socks". I used her "Rounded Toe" and avoided the dreaded kitchener stitch. Joan's Socks (see FAQ) could also be easily adapted. The unusual part is the stitch pattern on the leg. It makes a smocked effect, which is very stretchy and attractive. And EASY. GAUGE: Make swatches with your yarn and needles until you get a fabric that pleases YOU. Measure around your leg at the appropriate spot and figure out how many stitches you'll need with your yarn, your needles and your legs. Adjust the number as necessary so that you have a multiple of 4. This is quite stretchy, so you'll want to deduct at least 10 percent so your socks fit snugly. I had good success with 68 stitches on size 2 needles (2.25 mm) and Socka cotton, and with 48 stitches in WoolEase on size 4 (3.5mm) needles. Stitch pattern Cast on stitches in a number that is a multiple of 4, divide onto dp needles. Rounds 1, 2 & 3: K1, P1 rib all around Round 4: *Insert RH needle between 3rd & 4th stitch on LH needle Wrap yarn as to knit around the RH needle Pull RH needle through to front and bring the loop of yarn to the tip of the LH needle and slip it on LH needle next to first stitch Knit this loop and the first stitch together (just like K2tog) P1, K1, Pl** Repeat from * to ** all around Round 5,6 & 7: K1, P1 all around. Round 8: K1, P1, then repeat from * to ** The change in starting point on Round 8 offsets the wraps so you get a nice smocked effect. Leave your marker in the same place all the time, just start the wrap stitch 2 stitches into the round on alternate smocking rounds. If you are having trouble visualizing the wrap stitch, it is just like "knitting between the stitches" on a cable cast on. After about 7 inches of this pattern, I did one inch of plain K1, P1 ribbing and then followed the directions for the basic socks. [...] Ruth Gerstner gerstner.2@osu.edu Ruth Gerstner Director, News Services The Ohio State University 1125 Kinnear Road Columbus, OH 43212 (614) 292-8424 phone (614) 292-0154 fax gerstner.2@osu.edu --- This pattern downloaded from Wool Works: the online knitting compendium http://www.woolworks.org/