Cable pattern: (p1, k8, p1)for 3 rows; (p1, c4b, c4f, p1)for 1 row

Sock shaping: Judy’s Magic Cast-on 28 sts; (k across round; next round k1, m1r, k to last st, m1l, k1)repeat until there are 52 sts; k straight until heel-shaping begins; k heel as per Fish Lips Kiss Heel; k in pattern until calf-shaping begins; inc. made by placing marker in centre of back of leg (12 sts to either side initially), work to 1 st before marker, m1l, k2, m1r (I inc. to 48 sts at back of leg, 72 sts in total); k in pattern to just below knee; work k2, p2 rib w/ (k2, p8, k2)centred to cable panel for 3 rounds; reversing direction backwards c.o. onto locking stitch marker, work sts as they lay until reaching place of cable panel (which will be oriented to face you when working backwards), now work cables as c4f, c4b, on last st, inc. the backwards c.o. st made @ beginning of round to resume working in the round; work to desired length of ribbing; lace b.o.

Gauge: 27 sts, 38 rows/4”

Apr 9/14: I’ve had a project like this in mind for months and months now and am just now getting around to working on it. I hope to be able to use up the Ranco I have in my stash and end up with knee-highs. I’m going to have to look up a generic formula for a toe-up gusset heel, otherwise this is well underway.

Apr 12/14: I took a day off to devote all my attention to Kara yesterday. I’m going to have to get Matt to trace my foot tonight to adhere to the principles in the Fish Lips Kiss Heel pattern, then it’s back on-project. I’m excited to try this heel; I’ve heard so many good things about it.

Apr 13/14: my footprint is now preserved for posterity. I might even be able to resume knitting tonight.

Apr 14/14: I worked one measly row last night. There’s a lot going on around here this week, so I might end up posting similar results for the next several days.

Apr 15/14: both heels turned tonight. It’s official, the Fish Lips Kiss Heel was worth the purchase. Given my relatively loose gauge, I might decide that starting a few rows earlier is to my advantage, but this heel is undeniably the easiest I’ve worked.

Apr 18/14: discovered via Misadventures article on socks that my usual sock bind off is called the lace bind off, so that’s one mystery solved. The socks are coming along nicely. I should need to start increases for the calves soon.

Apr 22/14: I was able to power through a solid chunk of the project yesterday and am working on the ribbed section which is the prelude to the bind off. Yay! I worked in the sun for a bit yesterday and am in love with the way this yarn looks in daylight -- the emerald really comes to the fore. I’m surprised at how little of the Ranco I’ve used up -- I was near the top of the stockinette before I had used up the smaller cake of yarn I started with. I’m now working from both ends of what started out as the full cake. Update: blocking now.

Nov 20/14: despite the fact that these skeins were listed as superwash, this yarn has fulled considerably (after multiple machine washings). I suspect I won’t be able to wear them after another trip or two through regular laundry cycles.