Man’s Knitted Socks

Size 10½

For detail see First Stitches, Knitting, pages 12–16

MATERIALS

SUNLIGHT Spanish Knitting Worsted, 3 skeins

5 Steel Knitting Needles, No. 15

INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 80 stitches.

Divide the stitches on 4 needles. Join and work around; knit 2, purl 2 and repeat for the length of 4½ inches.

Knit plain 32 rows.

Next row: Knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, then pass the slipped stitch over the last knitted one. Knit plain to within 3 stitches on the row, knit 2 together, knit last stitch.

Repeat this decreasing in back of sock every 7th row, 4 times more.

Knit 25 rows.

Start the heel above decreasing; take 2 stitches from each needle in front, that will leave 18 stitches on each needle in front and 17 stitches on each needle for heel.

Knit heel back and forth; purl the stitches on wrong side. Always slip 1st stitch for each row, having the yarn to the left side of the stitch when purling the row. Knit 30 rows.

Next row on right side: Knit 1st needle; on 2nd needle knit 1, knit 2 stitches together, purl 1, turn. Slip 1st stitch, knit 4, then from next needle purl 1, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn. Slip 1st stitch, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 1, turn. Slip 1st stitch, purl 5, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn.

Repeat the 2 last rows, adding 1 stitch for every row, until all the stitches on each side are taken up.

Now leave the stitches on needle and pick up 16 stitches on each side of heel. Divide all the stitches for heel on 2 needles. Knit 3 rows around.

Next row: Knit 1, decrease 1; at end of same needle decrease 1. Repeat this on last needle of row.

Knit 3 rows, then make the same decreasing on 1st and last needles. Knit 2 rows.

Next row: Decrease 1 at end of 1st needle and at start of 4th needle and repeat this every 3rd row, 3 times more.

Knit plain for the length of 4¾ inches.

Start decreasing for toe.

1st row: Knit to within 3 stitches on 1st needle, then knit 2 together, knit last stitch. Next needle: Knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, then pass the slipped stitch over the last knitted one.

Make this decreasing on other side of sock, same row.

Repeat 1st row for every 3rd row until there are 20 stitches left. Put the stitches on 2 needles, having the decreasings at the ends of the needles.

Bind off both needles together: Take 1 stitch from each needle and knit as 1; knit another stitch same way, then slip the 1st stitch over the last knitted one.

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