From Knitty.com: When I first started knitting, one of my favorite sweaters sported a “whale tail” motif formed by wandering 4-stitch cables. I asked myself why this couldn’t make the perfect nautical sock. Many, many swatches later, fed up with the yarn requirements and massive stitch count required for a true cabled sock to fit over my ankle, I arrived at a stitch pattern that you’d swear is cabled. The upside? The pattern is created entirely from strategically-placed increases and decreases, features less bulk at the ankles than true cables would, and you won’t be cursing as you attempt to fish your wayward cable needle out from the couch cushions.

Toe-up socks still not your thang? Turn the graph upside down and apply it to any cuff-down pattern in your chosen stitch count.

Size Information:

• S [M, L]
• Finished Length: To fit (Sock shown measures 10.5 inches; fits a woman’s size 11 foot)
• Leg circumference: 7 [7.5, 8] inches; will stretch to comfortably fit up to 10.5 [11, 11.5] inches
• Foot circumference: 6.5 [7, 7.5] inches; will stretch to comfortably fit up to 9 [9.5, 10] inches