This is the tenth pattern from A Year of Techniques - a collection of 12 patterns to teach you new knitting skills.

Knitted from the toe up, these twisted stitch socks are good for honing your Judy’s Magic Cast On and cable skills, as well as learning to make an afterthought heel.

KNITALONG
The thread for all questions queries about these socks can be found here: December KAL

SIZES
Small (Medium, Large, XL)
To fit foot circumference: 20.5 (23, 25.5, 28) cm [8 (9, 10, 11) in]
Actual foot circumference of sock (unstretched): 16 (18, 21, 24) cm [6¼ (7, 8¼, 9½) in]
Length of leg to top of heel: 17cm [6¾in]
Foot length is fully adjustable within the pattern. Finished sock measures 0.5cm [¼in] less than actual foot length to ensure a good fit.

YARN
Schoppel Wolle Admiral 6ply (sport weight (between 4ply and DK); 75% wool, 25% polyamide; 400m per 150g ball)
Mars Green / Marsgrün (6601); 1 x 150g ball

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
2 sets 2.75mm US 2 circular needles for Judy’s Magic Cast On
1 set 2.75mm US 2 double-pointed needles or your preferred needles for working small circumferences in the round, or size needed to match tension
Stitch marker; Cable needle

TENSION
32 sts and 42 rounds to 10cm 4in over stocking stitch in the round, after washing and blocking
28 sts of cable panel measures 6.5cm 2½in unstretched

TECHNIQUES
Refer back to August’s tutorial for how to work Judy’s Magic Cast On for the closed base of a tube.

PATTERN NOTES
These socks are cast on at the toe using Judy’s Magic Cast On, before increases are worked to reach the required foot circumference. The foot is then worked with a twisted stitch pattern on the instep and stocking stitch on the sole, before adding a section of waste yarn stitches for the heel. The leg is then worked in the same way as the foot, before a rib cuff is knitted and the stitches are cast off using a stretchy method.
The pattern instructions are provided in both charted and written formats, allowing you to practise reading charted cable symbols if you desire.

VIDEO TUTORIAL
A video tutorial to walk you through the afterthought heel will be available at Mason-Dixon Knitting from 6th December 2017.