This free pattern originally published in the Botany College Hand Knits, Volume II, in 1958.
Size 8 ½ to 10 ½.
MATERIALS: BOTANY SAXATONES, 5-1 oz. skeins.
BUCILLA NYLON "HEEL 'n TOE" YARN, 1 card.
KNITTING NEEDLES: 1 set "Boye" Aluminum Sock Needles, Size -OR SIZE YOU REQUIRE TO KNIT TO GAUGE GIVEN BELOW.
GAUGE: 9 sts = 1 inch 13 rounds = 1 inch
CUFF - Cast on 88 sts loosely. Divide on 3 needles. Join, work k 1, p1 ribbing for 2 ins. increasing 8 sts evenly spaced on last round; 96 sts. Mark end of round.
LEG - Cable Pattern - Round 1 - K 3, * p 2, k 6; repeat from * around, end last repeat k 3.
Repeat round 1 twice.
Cable Twist Round - K 3, * p 2, slip next 3 sts to extra needle and hold in front of work, k 3, k 3 sts from extra needle, p 2, k 6; repeat from * around, end last repeat k 3.
Repeat round 1, 7 times.
Repeat last 8 rounds for pat. Work even in pat. until 4 ½ ins. above cuff, end at marker.
Dec. round - K 2 tog., work to within 2 sts of end of round, slip, k and pass. Continuing pat. repeat dec. round every 4th round 15 times, working p 2 tog. on each side of marker when decreasing in p ribs; 64 sts. Work even until 12 ½ ins. above ribbing, end at center back. Work first 16 sts of round, slip last 32 sts worked to 1 needle for heel; slip remaining 32 sts to 2 needles for instep. Join Nylon "Heel 'n Toe" Yarn and work with both strands. Turn, working on heel sts, slip 1 st as to p, p across decreasing 1 st in center of each cable rib; 30 sts.
HEEL - Row 1 - right side - * Holding both strands in back of work, slip 1 as to p, k 1; repeat from * to end.
Row 2 - Slip first st as to p, p to end. Repeat last 2 rows until there are 31 rows, end with row 1.
Turn heel as follows: Wrong side - Slip 1, p 16, p 2 tog., p 1, turn. Slip 1, k 5, slip, k and pass, k 1, turn. Slip 1, p 6, p 2 tog., p 1, turn. Slip 1, k 7, slip, k and pass, k 1, turn. Slip 1, p 8, p 2 tog., p 1 , turn. Continue to work toward sides of heel, having 1 st more before dec. on each tow until 18 sts remain. Fasten off "Heel 'n Toe" Yarn.
GUSSETS AND FOOT - With same needle, pick up and k 16 sts on side edge of heel; work pat. across 32 sts of instep to 1 needle; with free needle, pick up and k 16 sts on other side of heel, k 9 heel sts to same needle. Mark for center of sale; there will be 25 sts on each of first and 3rd needles; 32 sts on instep needle. Work 1 round.
Next round - K to within 3 sts of end of first needle, k 2 tog., k 1; work pat. across instep; on 3rd needle, k 1, slip, k and pass, k to end. Repeat last 2 rounds until 62 sts remain, having 15 sts on each of first and 3rd needles and 32 sts on instep needle. Continuing pat. on instep needle, work even until foot measures 2 ins. less than desired finished length from tip of heel, allowing these 2 ins. for toe. Work 1 round decreasing 1 st at center of each cable rib; 60 sts. Join "Heel 'n Toe" Yarn and work toe with both strands.
TOE - Round 1 - Beg. at center of sole, k to within 3 sts of end of first needle, k 2 tog., k 1; on 2nd needle, k 1, slip, k and pass, k to within 3 sts of end, k 2 tog., k 1; on 3rd needle, k 1, slip, k and pass, k to end. K 1 round even. Repeat last 2 rounds until 16 sts remain. K 4 sts of first needle and slip to 3rd needle.
Weave sole and instep sts tog. Steam.
Other great knit patterns from Botany College Hand Knits.