Utopia Men’s Socks

Men’s Socks

MATERIALS

1 hank Gray Utopia Scotch Knitting Yarn. No. 10 Steel Knitting Needles.

DIRECTIONS

Cast on 64 sts. on 3 needles: 20–24–20. K. 2, p. 2 for 4 inches, k. plain for 4 inches.

Narrow for ankle as follows: * K. 1 on first needle, to be called “middle back” st. K. next 2 sts. together (called “narrowing”). K. plain to last 2 sts. of third needle, slip 1, k. 1, slip the slipped st., k. 6 rows plain.*

Do this from * to * 4 times.

You now have 56 sts. on needles and are ready for the heel.

Divide all sts. on 2 needles, to be called “front” and “heel” needles respectively.

Have “middle back” st. in middle of “heel” needle.

You are now to k. back and forth on “heel” needle only, as follows:

Semi-double heel—* Slip 1, k. 1, slip 1, k. 1 to end of “heel” needle, always slipping first st. (If correct, last st. is knitted.) Turn, slip first st. and purl all sts. to beginning of “heel” needle.*

Turn, and repeat from * to * until “heel” piece measures 2½ inches in length. You have 13 or 14 loops.

K. 1 more than half of “heel” sts., slip 1, k. 1, slip the slipped st. over the knitted one, k. 1 more and turn. P. until you have one more than half the original number of “heel” sts. on right-hand needle. Slip 1, p. 1, slip the slipped st. over, p. 1 more, and turn, always slipping first st.

* K. to the st. before the “hole.” Slip that st., k. 1, slip slipped st. over, k. 1, and turn.*

Repeat from * to * until all stitches are taken up.

Divide sts. on “heel” needle on 2 needles designated right and left.

Pick up all sts. on right and left sides of heel piece, always picking up loop on wrong side of sock, usually 14 sts. on each side, and k. once around to center of heel.

On “heel” needles narrow every other row on ends of needles next to “front” needle, as follows:

On “left” needle k. plain to last 3 sts. K. the 2 together.

On the first end of “right” needle slip 1, k. 1, slip the slipped st. over, and complete row to middle of heel.

K. 1 row plain, and continue, alternating 1 narrowed row and 1 plain row until the sts. on “heel” needles equal the number on “front” needle, 56 in all. (The same number always as the number after narrowing for ankle.) K. plain until the foot measures 8 or 9 inches from tip of “heel” by rule.

Narrow the toe as follows: K. 2 together, k. 5, k. 2 together, k. 5, continue once around. Then k. 5 rows without narrowing. Then a row of narrowing with interval of 4 sts. and 4 plain rows; 3 sts. and 3 plain rows, and 2 sts. and 2 plain rows, until you have only 24 sts. left. After last narrowing k. 2 rows plain, and then divide sts. on 2 needles, 12 on “front” needle, 12 on “heel” needle. Break off wool thread length and use darning needle.

Holding the knitting needles together with “front” needle next to you, wool at right end of “heel” needle, we are now ready to finish the “Kitchener toe.”

With wool always under knitting needles and at right of darning needle, slip darning needle through the first “front” st. in the 95position of “knitting” and slip st. off the knitting needle.

Slip darning needle through second “front” st. in the position of “purling” and leave st. on the knitting needle, making a “prepared” st. Draw wool close as in knitting.

Slip darning needle trough first “heel” st., as in “purling.” and slip st. off knitting needle. Slip darning needle through second “heel” st. as in “knitting,” and leave st. on knitting needle as a “prepared” st. Now slip darning needle through second “front” st. in position of “knitting” and slip st. off knitting needle. Slip darning needle through third “front” st. in position of “purling” to “prepare.”

Purl second “heel” st., slip it off knitting needle, and knit third “heel” st. to prepare.

Continue until all sts. are slipped off, and then weave thread lengthwise through the sock for 4 inches. Also thread the 4-inch length of wool at beginning of sock and weave it into the leg lengthwise.