Fences

Fences
Originally uploaded by virginiasaccurso@yahoo.com

This past weekend my husband and I went out for a drive in the country. While we were driving down the country roads, we saw a lot of different styles of fences.

This gave me an idea to try out on a new pair of socks. So I set to work trying to write up a pattern for a new pair of socks. First I pulled out some graph paper and a pencil and started filling in the squares that would be purls and leaving the knit squares blank. I knew that I would be using 60 sts in these socks, so wanted the pattern to be a 15 stitch pattern. I found it a little hard at first to get the design that I wanted and was glad for using a pencil so that I could erase my mistakes. After a while I finally came up with a nice pattern, that sort of resembles a basket weave, but not quite.

Once I had my pattern drawn out on the graph paper, I began knitting on my first sock. I finished the leg of the sock and wasn't exactly sure if I wanted to continue the pattern on the top of the foot, and figured I'd decide that after I'd finished the heel flap and heel turn. When I finished these two areas, I had decided that "yes" I'd continue the pattern onto the top of the foot. So I picked up with the next row in the pattern, from where I'd stopped on the leg and continued knitting the gusset and foot of the sock. When I had knitted the length of the foot I needed, I then started working on the toe of the sock. Once I had the first sock finished and the information all written out in my book, I then started knitting on the mate.

Cuff: Cast on 60 sts being careful not to twist. Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 10 rows or 7/8 inches.

Leg:
Row 1 & 2 -- *p1, k2, p12 repeat around.
Row 3 & 4 -- *p1, k2, p1, k11 repeat around.
Row 5 & 6 -- *p1, k2, p12 repeat around.
Row 7 - 10 -- *p1, k2, p1, k3, p1, k2, p1, k4 repeat round.
Row 11 & 12 -- *p8, k2, p5 repeat around.
Row 13 & 14 -- *k7, p1, k2, p1, k4 repeat around.
Row 15 & 16 -- *p8, k2, p5 repeat around.
Row 17 - 20 -- *p1, k2, p1, k3, p1, k2, p1, k4 repeat around.

(Repeat these 20 rows until you have 6 1/4 inches or desired length)

Heel Flap:
Row 1: k3, p27 turn
Row 2: p3, sl 1, k1 to last 3 sts k3 turn

(repeat these 2 rows until you have 2 1/8 inches or desired length)

Heel turn:
Row 1: Sl 1, p16, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, k5, k2tog tbl, k1 turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, k7, k2tog tbl, k1 turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, k9, k2tog tbl, k1 turn.
Row 7: Sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 8: Sl 1, k11, k2tog tbl, k1 turn.
Row 9: Sl 1, p12, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 10: Sl 1, k13, k2tog tbl, k1 turn.
Row 11: Sl 1, p14, p2tog, p1 turn.
Row 12: Sl 1, k15, k2tog tbl, k1

Heel Gusset: Pick up and knit 17 sts, down right side of heel flap. Then knit according to pattern across instep. Pick up and knit 17 sts up left side of heel flap then knit first 9 sts from heel turn.

Row 1:
Needle # 1 -- knit across until 2 sts remain ssk.
Needle # 2 -- knit across top of foot according to pattern.
Needle # 3 -- k2tog tbl, knit to end of needle.

Row 2:
Needle # 1 -- knit across until 3 sts remain k2tog, k1.
Needle # 2 -- knit across top of foot according to pattern.
Needle # 3 -- k1, ssk, knit to end of needle.

Row 3:
Needle # 1 -- knit to end of needle.
Needle # 2 -- knit across top of foot according to pattern.
Needle # 3 -- knit to end of needle.

Continue repeating rows 2 & 3 until there are 15 sts on each needle # 1 & 3.

Continue working pattern across the top of the foot until, foot measures 7 1/4 inches or desired length.

Toe:
Row 1:
Needle # 1 -- k12, k2tog, k1
Needle # 2 -- k1, ssk, k24, k2tog, k1
Needle # 3 -- k1, ssk, k12

Row 2: knit across all needles.

Rpeat these 2 rows until toe measures 1 3/4 inches or desired length. Finish off with kitchener stitch. Repeat for second sock.