Women's Sock Pattern No. 531 | Sizes 8½ to 11

What You Need:

BEEHIVE NON-SHRINK SOCK WOOL (1 oz. skeins), or

BEEHIVE NON-SHRINK MOORLAND, 3 Ply (1 oz. skeins).

2 skeins for each size.

Royal Society Plastic Sock Needles No. 1.

GAUGE: 11 rnds make 1 inch.

Sizes 8½-9 (9½-10, 10½-11).

Cast on very loosely 60 sts (66 sts, 72 sts).

Divide sts on 3 needles, join, being careful not to twist sts, and work in ribbing of p 3, k 3, for 5 inches. With 4th needle knit (not in pattern) across 27 sts (33 sts, 33 sts) for heel (4th needle is now 1st needle).

Divide between 2nd and 3rd needles for instep the remaining 33 sts (33 sts, 39 sts) and work in rib pattern across those sts.

Next rnd: Drop sock yarn, then with a different color thread (for heel marker) knit across 1st needle. Drop different color thread, go back and pick up sock yarn and, starting with 1st needle, work straight (keeping sole sts in stockinette st and instep sts in rib pattern) Until piece meas­ures from heel marker 4" (5", 6").

Discontinue rib pattern and work around in stockinette st for ½ inch. On sizes 8½-9 and 10½-11 only, slip 2 sts from beginning of 2nd needle onto end of 1st needle and 1 st from end of 2nd needle onto beginning of 3rd needle.

To Shape Toe: 1st rnd: On 1st needle, k 1, slip 1 as if to knit, k 1, pass slipped st over knit st, continue to knit to last 3 sts on 1st needle, 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 end. On 3rd needle, work to within last 3 sts, k 2 together, k 1. 2nd rnd: Knit around. Repeat these 2 rnds alternately until there remain 20 sts (22 sts, 24 sts).

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

HEEL … Pull out strand of dif­ferent color thread. Pick up sole sts on 1st needle. There are on 1st needle 27 sts (33 sts, 33 sts).

Divide remaining sts between 2nd and 3rd needles. There are on 2nd and 3rd needles 26 sts (32 sts, 32 sts).

Knit 1 rnd, picking up 2 sts between 1st and 2nd needles (1 st on each needle) and 2 sts between 3rd and 1st needles, in same way. There are on needles 57 sts (69 sts, 69 sts).

Knit 2 rnds, then shape heel as for Toe Shaping until there remain 21 sts (25 sts, 25 sts).

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