11/4/23

I just re-organized my closet and got rid of about half of my cloths. some were outdated, some too small, some just plain ugly (what was I thinking!?!?).
And another reason?…hmmm… to make room for more hand knitted items! Of course!

Conclusion:

• I need several pairs of sock in specific colors to go with certain sweaters - rust, blue, purple, green, black, navy, red and beige to name a few.
• need couple of no-nonsense oversized warm cardigans for every day wear,
• need couple of dressy cardigans, perhaps lace
• Need a few loosely fitting light weight pullovers in basic colors.
• need fingerless mittens to go with the more dressy sweaters
• need couple of no-nonsense cowl I can wear for walks with the dog.

…. hmmm…there will be more, but let us start with a pretty pair of socks in warm autumn colors.
The yarn is variegated and as such will show this particular cabled slipped stitch pattern very well.

Making the largest size. Casting on 71 stitches (1 extra for joining in the round) on size 1.5 needles. Used regular long tail cast on. After joining the round switched to size 1 needles and continued with the cable pattern. On the last row of ribbing, that is right before the pattern starts, 10 stitches were increased (as per pattern) to arrive at 80 stitches for the leg.

6 1/4” from the cast on started the heel flap. The flap is preceded by a transition row, which decreases 5 stitches, therefor the flap is done on 35 stitches.
36 rows of heel flap, that is 18 framing ridges.

Heel turn ended with 19 stitches.

Pick up 18+2 on each side of flap.
On the firs all around row decreased only 1 of the 2 extra stitches to have 2 purls on the side of the outermost cables. Thus my count was 42 for the top and 55 for the sole (somehow ended up with an odd number!). 42+55=97 stitches total.

Next decreased the gussets every other row from 55 to 34 stitches on the sole.
1 round plain all around.
Started decreasing top of the foot to match the bottom, which held 42 stitches.
There is 5 slipped cables separated by 2 purls with 2 purls on each side (by the gussets).
First decrease - 2 outermost 2 purls decreased to 1 by purling the 2 stitches together - 40 stitches on top.
2 rows plain.
Second decreases - 2 purl stitches on the outermost sides of the 2 middle cables (not the center). same thing - purl 2 together - 38 stitches on top.
2 rows plain.
Third decrease - same as above on both sides of the center cable - 36 stitches on top.
Now the total stitch count is 36 top/34 bottom = 70 total
- AT THE SAME TIME of executing the third (center) decrease I started eliminating the cables. I started with the outermost cables.
After the last cable cross and the following plain knit row I purled the 1st and the 6th (last) stitch of the column, knitting the remaining 4 center stitches. I did that on both outermost cables.
This was done 3 times with plain row in between. The 3 center cables were worked as normal.
Once the outermost cables were eliminated I worked the entire pattern sequence all around (cabling the 3 remaining columns). After reaching a cable crossing and finishing the following plain row I continued the process of eliminating the 2 middle cables. This was done is the same manner as above.
Once eliminated, I once again knitted a whole pattern sequence all around and then eliminated the last (center) cable column.
At the same time of purling the first set of the knit stitches on the center column (stitch 1 and 6) I started forming a pointed design leading to the toes. This was done by gradually eliminating the purl stitches by knitting them instead. I did that every other row. The very first set of these knit stitches was actually a set of decreases - k2tog and ssk - to bring the count to 34. This is hard to explain. Best look at the photos.
Toes started with 34/34. The point was not finished yet, 2 more transition rounds to go.
Decreases toes every other row till had 20/20.then every row till had 10/10. Grafted on needles.
Used 38 g of yarn for the first sock. 62 g left.

11/13/23
Just turned heel on the second sock. hope to finish it tonight.

11/15/23
Finished! will post more photos tomorrow.