Aquaphobia Socks
I designed this pattern to help with hand-dyed yarns that tend to pool. The slipped stitches help to break-up the visual lines and swirls and create a firm fabric. Baby cables up each side of the foot help add elasticity to the slipped-stitch pattern while the bottom of the sock is worked plain to reduce bulk on the sole of the foot. Please keep in mind that this pattern may use more yardage than others due to the nature of the slipped stitch pattern. I started with 395 yards of yarn and still had plenty left-over, however I have a size 7 foot so mileage may vary.
This pattern has not been written for those who are new to sock knitting. I am assuming people who would knit these socks are familiar with basic sock construction and knitting terminology. These may frustrate a beginning sock knitter or beginning pattern reader. That being said, I don’t think anything in here is that difficult or ground breaking, so feel free to dive right in!
Yarn: Hello Yarn “Sock” in “Worry Doll”
Needles: Size 1US, 2.25mm
Fibre Content: Superwash Merino Wool
Gauge: 10 sts per inch in slip-stich pattern unstretched.
Leg: Cast on 68 sts. Join, work in k1 p1 ribbing for 10 rounds.
Increase Round: (k8, m1) 8 times, k4. (76 sts on needles).
How to do the cables:
C1R: sl 1 st to cn hold in back, k next stitch, k stitch from cable needle.
C1L: sl 1 st to cn hold in front, k next stitch, k stitch from cable needle.
Stitch Pattern:
Round 1: p2, c1l, p2, (k1, sl1) x12, k1, p2, c1r, p2, (k1, sl1) x19, k1
Round 2: p all p sts, k all k sts and sl sts
Round 3: p2, k2, p2, (sl1, k1) x12, sl1, p2, k2, p2, (sl1, k1) x19, sl1
Round 4: same as row 2
Repeat these four rows 20 times or until sock is length desired to ankle bone, end with round 4.
Heel Shaping: Turn work. Heel flap will now be worked on the 39 sts which comprise the back of the foot. The 37 front sts should be on hold for the top of the foot.
Heel Flap Pattern:
Round 1: sl2, (p1, sl1) x18, p1
Round 2: sl1, k to end of flap
Round 3: sl1, (p1, sl1) x18, p2
Round 4: same as row 2
Repeat the heel flap pattern 9 times or until you have 18 slipped stitches along each side of flap, end with round 3.
Short Rows:
Row 1: sl1, k21, ssk, sl1wyif, turn
Row 2: sl1, p6, p2tog, sl1wyif, turn
Row 3: sl1, k7, ssk, sl1 wyif, turn
Row 4: sl1, p8, p2tog, sl1wyif, turn
Continue in this manner until all stitches on flap have been worked into the short rows, ending with a p row. Turn. (23 sts across flap).
Next Row: sl1, k11, start a new needle (this is now the beginning of your round), k 11 sts w/ new needle. You should now have 11 sts on needle 1, 37 sts on needle 2 and 12 sts on needle 3.
P/U 18 sts from side of flap onto needle 1. (29 sts on needle 1). Work across needle 2 in pattern as established starting with Round 1. P/U 18 sts from side of heel flap onto needle 3 and knit next 12 sts onto same needle. (30 sts on needle 3).
Gusset Decreases:
Round 1: k26, ssk, k1, work needle 2 in pattern as established, k1, k2tog, k27.
Round 2: k all sts on needle 1, work needle 2 in pattern as established, k all sts on needle 3.
Continue working these two rounds until you have 16 sts on needle 1 and 17 sts on needle 3. Continue working needles 1 and 3 plain and keeping the pattern as established on needle 2 until foot is length desired to toe shaping (two inches to end of foot) ending with Round 2 of first stitch pattern.
Decrease Round: k16, p2tog, k2, p2tog, k25, p2tog, k2, p2tog, k17. (66 sts left on needles). Work one round plain.
Toe Shaping:
Round 1: Work to three stitches from end of needle 1, k2tog, k1. k1, ssk at beginning of needle two, work to three stitches from end of needle 2, k2tog, k1. k1, ssk at beginning of needle 3.
Round 2: Next round: Work plain.
Note: My toes are the type that end abruptly, so I happen to never work this plain round when decreasing for the toe, rather I decrease every round. You may want to try this version for your own socks, I find that they fit better and I don’t get a weird elf-toe happening. If you want to try this, knit an extra inch or so into the foot length while keeping in pattern stitch before starting the toe decreases, then leave out the plain round in between decrease rounds.
Continue working these two rounds (or only decrease rounds) until 14 sts remain. Cut yarn, graft toe closed and secure.
Well, what are you waiting for? Put them on!