This pattern has been written especially for the SWC 2022. It is exclusive to participants of the game until the end of the game sometime in August and will be available to the public after that.

This toe-up sock features flames using Bavarian twisted stitches on the instep and front of the leg, and columns of twisted cables on the back of the leg. The step heel is worked in 5 parts, and has proven to wear very well. Ribbing on the sole and on the faux heel flap give a snug fit and are stretchy at the same time.

The original step heel is a top-down heel construction I found in an old book, the Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont, published in 1884. The instructions are not easy to understand, in my opinion possibly because Ms. Dillmont was Austrian, lived and worked in the Alsace, hence most probably spoke German and French, and wrote the book in English. I translated the pattern into modern day English knitting language, and figured out how to work a toe-up version of that heel with the steps. Easy instructions on when to start the gusset increases are given in the pattern.

“There is not more work in this pattern of heel than in any other; it fits closely and consequently wears well.” (Thérèse de Dillmont, 1884)

Knit and hope for peace!

Links to techniques used in this pattern:

Judy’s Magical Cast-on (JMCO)

A cable needle is used in the instructions/descriptions of the Bavarian twisted cables, but instead of a cable needle or smooth toothpick, you can of course work the crosses without cable needle.
How to work Bavarian twisted stitches without a cable needle

Double chain bind-off