DIY Network

How to Knit a Sock This shockingly simple sock, knit from a recipe, demystifies the previously confusing technique of sock knitting. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-812

Knitting humor writer Stephanie Pearl-McPhee shows how to knit a sock from a "recipe" as opposed to a pattern.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Note: This standard pair of socks will fit an average woman. They are knit out of sock yarn, using 2.5 mm needles at a gauge of 7.5 stitches to the inch in stockinette stitch.

Note: An ssk is a way to k2 together slanting to the left (the opposite way than usual). To work it, sl1, sl1, then put the left needle in the front of these two and knit them together.

CO 64 stitches and join in a round without twisting (figure A). K for 2" in k2p2 ribbing. Then change to plain st st and work until the sock leg measures 7" (figure B).

Heel Flap

Place half the stitches (32) on one needle and continue as follows:

Right side: *Sl1, k1: repeat from * to the end.
Wrong side: Sl1, p to the end.

Repeat these 2 rows 14 times until the heel flap is a square. End by working a wrong-side row and have the right side facing you.

"Recipe" sock

Heel

With right side facing, sl1, k17, ssk (see box above), k1, turn. Sl1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn. Sl1, k6, ssk, k1, turn. Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.

Continue in this fashion, slipping the first st, working to one st before the gap, working 2 sts together over the gap, then k1 (or p1) until you finish all the heel sts (18 sts remain).

Needle 1: K heel sts, pick up 16 sts up side of heel.
Needle 2: K32 for top of foot.
Needle 3: Pick up 16 sts down side of heel, k first 9 heel sts (82 sts in all).

Round 1:
Needle 1: K to 3 sts before the end of needle, k2tog, k to end.
Needle 2: K plain to end of needle.
Needle 3: K1, ssk, k to end.

Round 2:
K plain all the way around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you have 64 sts (divided 16, 32, 16).

	Figure C
	Figure D

Decreasing and Grafting

Continue knitting plain, around and around, until the sock measures 5" from the picked-up stitches (figure C) (figure D).

Round 1:
Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 3: K1, ssk, k to end of needle.

Round 2:
K to end of round.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 16 sts remain.
Graft two sets of 8.

RESOURCES :

Knitting Rules
Storey Publishing, 2006
Website: www.storey.com

Fleece Artist handpainted sock yarn
Website: www.fleeceartist.com

GUESTS :

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Website: www.yarnharlot.ca