In two of my earlier sock patterns, Non-Euclidian and CPCTC, I explored using triangular gussets and short rows to create a heel that required no picking up of stitches. But I’ve long wanted to combine them in a way that the heel could be knit in either direction, toe up or cuff down, and SOHCATOA is the result, combining the familiar triangular gussets with a short-row heel turn.

This pattern includes instructions for knitting the sock in both directions, so you can choose either method or knit one sock of the pair in each direction. At a glance, it’s truly hard to tell in which direction a given sock was knit.

To knit this pattern, you need to know how to:

• work in the round in knit and purl,
• work directional increases (LLI and RLI),
• work directional increases (k2tog and SSK),
• work short rows, and
• graft live stitches (if knitting cuff down).

Note that the pattern uses wrap and turn (w&t) for the short rows but does not indicate a specific method. You can use any form of short rows you like.

Most pairs of socks will use about one typical skein of sock yarn. If you have very long and/or wide feet, however, you may need more to complete your pair.

Tech editing by TECHsorcist