Women's Sock Pattern No. 532 | Sizes 8½ to 11

What You Need:

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

2 skeins for each size.

Royal Society Plastic Sock Needles No. 2.

GAUGE: 10 sts make 1 inch; 11 rnds make 1 inch.

Pattern Stitch (a multiple of 7 sts) … 1st to 5th rnds incl: * P 3, k 4. Re­peat from * around. 6th rnd: * P 3, cable over next 4 sts—to make a cable, slip next 2 sts onto a 5th needle, hold in back of work, knit the next 2 sts, knit the sts from the 5th needle. Re­peat from * around. Repeat these 6 rnds for pattern.

Sizes 8½-9 (9½-10, 10½-11).

Cast on very loosely 60 sts (64 sts, 68 sts).

Divide sts on 3 needles, join, being careful not to twist sts and work in k 2, p 2 ribbing for 3 inches, increas­ing to 77 sts on last rnd. Work in Pattern Stitch until piece measures 5½ inches in all, ending with the 4th rnd of pattern. P 3 sts from be­ginning of 1st needle onto end of 3rd needle.

HEEL … With spare needle knit (not in pattern) across 39 sts. This is now heel needle. Divide remaining 38 sts on 2 needles and work in pat­tern across (for instep). Next rnd: Knit (not in pattern) across heel nee­dle, decreasing 9 sts evenly across. Turn and work back and forth in stockinette st (purl 1 row, knit 1 row) over heel needle only—always slip the first st and knit the last st on each row—for 27 rows, ending with a purl row.

To Turn Heel: Knit 17 sts, then k 2 together, k 1, turn. Slip 1 st, p 5, p 2 together, p 1, turn. Slip 1 st, k 6, k 2 together, k 1, turn. Slip 1 st, p 7, p 2 together, p 1, turn. Continue in this manner, always working 1 st more on each row, until 18 sts remain. Knit 1 row. With another needle pick up 14 sts along left side of heel. With 1 needle, work in pattern across the in­step sts (this is 2nd needle). With a 3rd needle, pick up 14 sts along other side of heel. With same needle, knit across half of the heel sts. Slip the remaining heel sts onto the 1st nee­dle. There are now 23 sts on each heel needle.

To Shape Instep: 1st rnd: On 1st nee­dle, knit to 3 sts from end, then k 2 together, k 1. On 2nd needle, work in pattern across. On 3rd needle, k 1, slip 1 as if to knit, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, knit to end. 2nd rnd: Knit around. Repeat these 2 rnds al­ternately until 15 sts remain on each heel needle. Work around over 68 sts (keeping instep sts in pattern) until piece measures from back of heel 6" (7", 8").

Next rnd: Knit across 1st needle, knit (not in pattern) across 2nd needle, decreasing 8 sts evenly across. Knit across 3rd needle. Now work straight in stockinette st (knit each rnd) over the remaining 60 sts for ½ inch.

To Shape Toe: 1st rnd: On 1st nee­dle, knit to 3 sts from end, then k 2 together, k 1. On 2nd needle, k 1, slip 1 as if to knit, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, knit to 3 sts from end, k 2 together, k 1. On 3rd needle, k 1, slip 1 as if to knit, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, knit to end. 2nd rnd: Knit around. Repeat these 2 rnds al­ternately until 24 sts remain.

Weave sts together; or bind off, fold and sew.