Knitted Socks Pattern #2276

Size 9

Materials: Chadwick's Red Heart Germantown Zephyr, 3 balls (1 oz. balls). If 30 yd. balls are used, buy three times the amount specified.
A set of 4 double-pointed steel needles No. 10.

Gauge: 7 sts make 1 inch; 9 rnds make 1 inch.

Cuff. Starting at top, cast on 54 sts on 3 needles (18 sts on each needle). Join, being careful not to twist sts. Work in ribbing of k 3, p 3, for 6 inches. Then work in stockinette st (k each rnd), for 2 inches.

Heel. Sl 12 sts of 2nd needle onto 3rd needle (this is heel needle). Then divide equally the remaining sts on other 2 needles. Work back and forth over the heel needle as follows: 1st row: Sl 1 st as if to p, p 1, * k 2, p 2. Repeat from * across, ending with p 2. 2nd row: Sl 1 st as if to k, k 1, * p 2, k 2. Repeat from * across, ending row with k 2. Repeat these last 2 rows alternately until piece measures 2½ inches. Next row: With right side of work toward you, work in pattern across 1st 18 sts, p 2 tog., turn. Following row: K 1, p 2, k 2, p 2, k 2 tog., turn. Next row: P 1, k 2, p 2, k 2, p 2 tog., turn. Repeat these last 2 rows alternately until 8 sts remain on heel needle. Next rnd: K across heel needle, then pick up 12 sts across left side of heel, k across next 2 needles (thus transferring these sts onto one needle), then pick up 12 sts across other side of heel and k 4 of heel needle. Hereafter work in rnds of stockinette st but, every other rnd, dec. 1 st at end of 1st needle, 1 st at both ends of front needle and 1 st at beginning of 3rd needle, until 48 sts remain. Work straight until piece measures 5 inches. If a larger size of socks is desired, add a few more rnds. (Decreasing for toe adds 2 inches.)

Toe. There should be 14 sts on 1st needle, 20 sts on 2nd needle and 14 sts on 3rd needle. Slip 2 sts from 1st and 3rd needles onto 2nd needle. End of rnd is center of sole. * K to within 3 sts from end of 1st needle, k 2 tog., k 1. On 2nd needle k 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., k to within last 3 sts, then k 2 tog., k 1; on 3rd needle, k 1, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o., k to end of rnd. Work 1 rnd straight. Repeat from * until 16 sts remain. Transfer the sts onto 2 needles, having 8 sts on each needle and divided so that sole lies flat. Then k 1 st from each needle together until all sts are worked off.