Women's Sock Pattern No. 534 | Sizes 8½ to 11

What You Need:

BEEHIVE SCOTCH FINGERING, 3 Ply (1 oz. skeins).

2 skeins of main color for each size and 1 skein of contrasting color for diamond and 8 yards of another contrasting color for overplaid.

Royal Society Plastic Sock Needles No. 1.

Note: Colors will be referred to as follows: Main color—M, Diamond color—A, Overplaid color—B. Wind M into 2 balls and A into 3 balls. Take 4 long strands of B (about 2 yards each).

GAUGE: 8 sts make 1 inch; 10 rows make 1 inch.

Sizes 8½-9 (9½-10, 10½-11).

With M, cast on 64 sts very loosely. Using only 2 needles (as a pair), work back and forth in k 2, p 2 ribbing for 1½ inches, decreasing evenly across last row to 59 sts. Start pattern as fol­lows: 1st row: Attach a ball of A, k 1 A, k 13 M, attach a strand of B, k 2 B, k 13 M, attach another ball of A, k 1 A, attach another ball of M, k 13 M, attach a strand of B, k 2 B, k 13 M, attach another ball of A, k 1 A. 2nd row: Always twist yarns around each other once, when chang­ing colors, to prevent making a hole. P 2 A, 11 M, 1 B, 2 M, attach an­other strand of B and p 1 B, 11 M, 3 A, 11 M, 1 B, 2 M, attach another strand of B and p 1 B, 11 M, 2 A.
   3rd row: K 3 A, 9 M, 1 B, 4 M, 1 B, 9 M, 5 A, 9 M, 1 B, 4 M, 1 B, 9 M, 3 A. Continue in this way, working 1 more st on each diamond and moving the 1st and 4th diagonals 1 st toward the outside and the 2nd and 3rd di­agonals 1 st toward the center on each row until sts are on needle as follows: 7 A, 1 M, 1 B, 12 M, 1 B, 1 M, 13 A, 1 M, 1 B, 12 M, 1 B, 1 M, 7 A. On next row work first cross of diagonals with diamonds as follows: Work 7 A, 1 B, 14 M, 1 B, 13 A, 1 B, 14 M, 1 B, 7 A. Following row: Work 6 A, 1 B, 2 A, 12 M, 2 A, 1 B, 11 A, 1 B, 2 A, 12 M, 2 A, 1 B, 6 A. Work in pattern to center of diamonds when sts are on needle as follows: 1 A, 1 B, 12 A, 2 M, 12 A, 1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 12 A, 2 M, 12 A, 1 B, 1 A. Next row: 1 B, 28 A, 1 B, 28 A, 1 B. Fol­lowing row: 1 A, * 1 B, 12 A, 2 M, 12 A, 1 B, 1 A. Repeat from * once more. Continue in this way, decreas­ing diamonds and moving 1st and 4th diagonals 1 st toward the center and 2nd and 3rd diagonals 1 st to­ward the outside on each row until sts are on needle as follows: 6 A, 1 B, 2 A, 12 M, 2 A, 1 B, 11 A, 1 B, 2 A, 12 M, 2 A, 1 B, 6 A. On next row work second cross of diagonals with diamonds as follows: Work 7 A, 1 B, 14 M, 1 B, 13 A, 1 B, 14 M, 1 B, 7 A. Following row: Work 7 A, 1 M, 1 B, 12 M, 1 B, 1 M, 13 A, 1 M, 1 B, 12 M, 1 B, 1 M, 7 A.
   Continue in this manner until dia­monds are completed and diagonals meet. Sts are on needle as follows: 1 A, 13 M, 2 B, 13 M, 1 A, 13 M, 2 B, 13 M, 1 A. Next row: P 15 M, 1 B, 13 M, 1 A, 13 M, 1 B, 15 M.

HEEL … Break off all balls of yarn except the 1st ball of M, work back and forth in stockinette st with M over the first 15 sts for one-half of heel for 26 rows, ending with a purl row. To turn this half of heel, k 2 sts, slip 1 st, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, k 1, turn. Slip 1 st, p 3, turn. Knit 3 sts, slip 1 st, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, k 1, turn. Slip 1 st, p 4, turn. Knit 4 sts, slip 1 st, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, k 1, turn. Con­tinue in this manner until all sts have been worked and 9 sts remain on needle, ending with a knit row. With M pick up 13 sts along side of heel, then slip next 29 instep sts onto same needle. Attach a 2nd ball of M for other half of heel and work last 15 sts in stockinette st with M for 25 rows, ending with a knit row. To turn this half of heel, p 2, p 2 to­gether, p 1, turn. Slip 1 st, k 3, turn. P 3, p 2 together, p 1, turn. Slip 1 st, k 4, turn. Continue in this way until all sts have been worked and 9 sts re­main on needle, ending with a purl row. Break yarn. Slip 29 instep sts back onto this needle, turn and, at­taching yarn as necessary, work across instep sts as follows: Knit 1 M, 1 B, 11 M, 3 A, 11 M, 1 B, 1 M, attach another ball of M and pick up 13 sts along side of heel, then knit last 9 sts with M. There are 73 sts on needle. Following row: Purl 22 sts, place a marker on needle, p 2 M, 1 B, 9 M, 5 A, 9 M, 1 B, 2 M, place another marker on needle, purl 22.

To Shape Instep: 1st row: With M, knit across to 2 sts before marker, then k 2 together, slip marker, work in pattern across next 29 sts, slip marker, with M slip 1, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, knit to end of row. 2nd row: Purl across to marker with M, slip marker, work in pattern across 29 instep sts, slip marker, with M purl to end of row. Repeat these 2 rows alternately until 59 sts remain. Work in pattern with sts at outside of markers in M until diamond is complete, then start a new diamond as before and continue in pattern un­til sts between markers are on needle as follows: 7 M, 1 B, 13 A, 1 B, 7 M. Break off strands of B and continue working until the A-diamond is com­plete. Break off all but 1st ball of M. Divide sts on 3 needles, having the center 29 sts of instep on one (2nd) needle and dividing remaining sts on 2 needles for sole (1st and 3rd nee­dles). Join and work around in stock­inette st (knit each rnd) until piece measures from back of heel 6½" (7½", 8½" ).

To Shape Toe: 1st rnd: Starting at center of sole, knit to 2 sts from end of 1st needle, then k 2 together. On 2nd needle, k 2 together, knit across to last 2 sts, then k 2 together. On 3rd needle, k 2 together, knit to end. 2nd rnd: Knit around. Repeat these 2 rnds alternately until 23 sts remain.

Weave sts together or bind off, fold and sew. Sew back seam.