Ella’s birthday socks are a tradition that I like to keep up. This year she wanted some ankle socks and since she tends to wear these socks around the house I made them with some Aran sized yarn.
Birthday Socks
size: ankle 7 inches and length 7.75 inches
gauge: 4.5 sts/inch
yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Blacklight -about 125 yds
needles: 4mm and 5mm (just for the cast-on)
With larger needles, loosely cast on 32 sts and divide evenly over 4 needles. Join and make sure not to twist stitches. Work a k2, p2 rib for 5 inches.
Slide needle 1 and 2 onto one needle (16 sts) and work on these stitches only as follows:
row 1: sl 1, k1, across row -make sure to end with k1
row 2: sl 1, purl across
repeat these two rows 8 times, ending with a purl for the next row.
Turn Heel:
set up row: sl 1, p10, p2tog, turn
row 1: sl 1,k6, k2tog, turn
row 2: sl 1, p6, p2tog, turn
Repeat these two rows until all the stitches have been used up.
Gusset:
Pick up and knit the 11 stitches along the left side of heel flap. Knit (or rib) across the instep stitches. Pick up and knit 11 stitches along right side of heel flap and knit to end of round. Separate first needle back to 2 needles again.
Decrease:
row 1 : Knit to 3 sts before the end of needle 1, k 2 tog, k1. Knit across instep (needles 2 and 3). K1, sl 1, k1, psso, knit to end of round.
row 2: Knit one round plain.
Repeat these two rounds until there are 32 sts left (your original cast on number).
Work rounds plain (or rib) until foot measures 7.5 inches or desired length.
Toe Decrease:
row 1: Knit to 3 stitches before end of needle 1, k 2 tog, k 1. K1, sl 1, k1, psso, knit across needle 2. Knit to 3 stitches before end of needle 3, k 2 tog, k 1. K1, sl 1, k1, psso, knit across needle 4.
row 2: Knit one round plain.
Repeat these two rounds until there are 20 sts. left.
Graft stitches together.
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