Circinus socks : Deep Fall 2013

by Rich Ensor

I've always had a weakness for cables. I'm fascinated how this technique can transform a ribbed object from something basic to something extraordinary. There is one cable motif in particular that I favor. I don't know if it has a name. It's the one that involves 4 stitches that have been knit through the back loop separated by purls, where these stitches cross over each other twice to form little spirals. To me, they look like little galaxies spinning around. I've seen this motif used in several patterns, but never named. I've taken to calling it Circinus after a nearby spiraling galaxy.

I thought it would be fun to use these Circinus cables to transform a ribbed sock into something out of the ordinary. I created a larger cable motif that allows the Circinus spirals to emerge out of the wider ribbing. In keeping with the spiraling theme, I thought it would be interesting to stagger the repeats around the leg. Each repeat or instance of the cable, starts 18 rounds after the beginning of the previous cable. On the foot, the Circinus cables are used to transition from the k2, p2 ribbing to a k1 tbl, p1 ribbing. All this spiraling makes a single sock a bit asymmetrical, so I mirrored the pattern on the other foot. When done, what starts as a basic ribbed sock turns out to be something not so ordinary.

photos: Rich Ensor


SIZE Adult S[M, L] shown in size S in purple, L in blue-grey

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot Circumference: 7[8, 9] inches
Foot Length: 7[8.5, 10] inches, or knit to desired length
Leg Length: 8[8, 8.5] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue-grey pair:
Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock [80% Wool, 20% Nylon; 425yds per 4oz skein]; color: Slate; 1 skein

Bright purple pair:

Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock [80% Wool, 20% Nylon; 425yds per 4oz skein]; color: Boysenberry, 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below-- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1.5/2.5mm needles for working in the round

Notions
Yarn needle
stitch markers
cable needle (optional)

GAUGE

28 sts/36 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
26 sts/36 rounds = 4 inches in pattern stitch slightly stretched

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Working the Cables with a cable needle
LPT: Sl next st to cn and hold in front of work; p1, then k1 tbl from cn.
RPT: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, then p1 from cn.
C2/1L: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front of work; k1, then k2 from cn.
C2/1PL: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front of work; p1, then k2 from cn.
TC2/1L: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front of work; k1 tbl, then k2 from cn.
C2/1R: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k2, then k1 from cn.
C2/1PR: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k2, then p1 from cn.
TC2/1R: Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k2, then k1 tbl from cn.
C4L: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front of work; k2, then k2 from cn.
C4R: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in back of work; k2, then k2 from cn.
3/3 LTC: Sl next 3 sts to cn and hold in front of work; k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, then k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl from cn.
3/3 RTC: Sl next 3 sts to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, then k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl from cn.

Working the Cables without a cable needle
LPT: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the second stitch. Drop both of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped knit stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Purl the first stitch, then knit the second stitch through the back loop.	RPT: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second stitch purlwise. Drop both of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit the first stitch though the back loop, then purl the second stitch.
C2/1L: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first 2 stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the third stitch. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first 2 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit all three of the stitches.	C2/1R: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second and third stitches purlwise. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. Knit all three stitches.
C2/1PL: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first 2 stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the third stitch. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first 2 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Purl the first stitch, then knit the second and third stitches.	C2/1PR: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second and third stitches purlwise. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. Knit the first two stitches, then purl the third stitch.
TC2/1L: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first 2 stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the third stitch. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first 2 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitch back onto the left needle. Knit through the back loop the first stitch, then knit the second and third stitches.	TC2/1R: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first stitch on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the second and third stitches purlwise. Drop all three of the stitches off of the left needle. The first stitch will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitch, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. Knit the first two stitches, then knit through the back loop the third stitch.
C4L: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first 2 stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the third and fourth stitches. Drop all four of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first 2 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. Knit all four stitches.	C4R: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first two stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the third and fourth stitches purlwise. Drop all four of the stitches off of the left needle. The first 2 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. Knit all four stitches.
3/3 LTC: With the right-hand needle in back of the work, skip the first three stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the back leg of the fourth, fifth, and sixth stitches. Drop all six of the stitches off of the left-hand needle. The first 3 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. [Knit through the back loop, purl, knit through the back loop] twice.	3/3 RTC: With the right-hand needle in front of the work, skip the first three stitches on the left-hand needle and insert the tip of the needle into the fourth, fifth, and sixth stitches purlwise. Drop all six of the stitches off of the left needle. The first 3 stitches will fall free. Insert the left needle into the dropped stitches, then slide the other stitches back onto the left needle. [Knit through the back loop, purl, knit through the back loop] twice.

Charts
The charts for this pattern are very large. Each fits on a letter-sized page.
Click below and print each resulting page.

leg charts | foot charts

DIRECTIONS
LEFT SOCK
Cuff
Using the long-tail method, CO 56[64, 72] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round being careful not to twist.

Ribbing round: [K2, p2] around.
Work ribbing as set for 1 inch.

Leg
The Left Leg Chart is worked four times on the leg in a staggered formation. 18 rows of the Left Leg Chart are worked before the next instance of the chart is initiated. The third and fourth instances of the Left Leg Chart are not completed on the leg.

Rounds 1-18: [K2, p2] 10[12, 14] times; work the Left Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2.

Rounds 19-36: [K2, p2] 6[8, 10] times; work the Left Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Left Leg Chart as set across next 14 sts, p2.

Rounds 37-46: [K2, p2] 2[4, 6] times; work the Left Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Left Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Left Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2.

The first instance of the Left Leg Chart is complete; work that group of sts in [k2, p2] ribbing as set.

Round 47, Small Size Only: Work pattern as set until 8 sts before end of round. This is the new start of round.

Round 47, Medium and Large Sizes: Work pattern as set for entire round.

Rounds 48-54: [K2, p2] 4[4, 6] times; continue even in pattern as set; working Rows 12 to 18 on the third instance of the Left Leg Chart; p2; work Rows 30 to 36 on the second instance of the Left Leg Chart, work [k2, p2] ribbing to end of round.

Rounds 55-64: [K2, p2] 0[0, 2] times, work the Left Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts, p2, continue the Left Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Left Leg Chart across next 14 sts; [p2, k2] 2[4, 4] times, p2.

The second instance of the Left Leg Chart is complete; work that group of sts in [k2, p2] ribbing as set.

Continue even in pattern as set; work Rows 11 to 16 on the fourth instance of the Left Leg Chart, work Rows 29 to 34 on the third instance of the Left Leg Chart, work [k2, p2] ribbing to end of round.

Heel Flap
Large Size Only: [K2, p2] 2 times.

The heel flap is worked on the 26[30, 34] sts just worked. Turn so that WS is facing.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, p25[29, 33], turn.
Row 2 [RS]: [Sl 1, k1] 13[15, 17] times, turn.
Rep these 2 rows 12[14, 16] more times for a total of 26[30, 34] rows in the heel flap.

Turn the Heel:
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, p14[16, 18], p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5 [WS]: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6 [RS]: Sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7 [WS]: Sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8 [RS]: Sl 1, k11, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 9 [WS]: Sl 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 10 [RS]: Sl 1, k13, ssk, k1, turn.
Small Size Only: 16 sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 11 [WS]: Sl 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 12 [RS]: Sl 1, k15, ssk, k1, turn.
Medium Size Only: 18 sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Row 13 [WS]: Sl 1, p16, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 14 [RS]: Sl 1, k17, ssk, k1, turn.
Large Size Only: 20 sts rem. Proceed to Gusset.

Gusset
From here, the Left Foot Chart will be worked on the first part of the instep sts; the third instance of the Left Leg Chart will continue on the second part of the instep sts. When Row 46 of the third instance of the Left Leg Chart is complete, continue on those sts in ribbing pattern as set.

Gusset setup round: With RS facing, pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the first side of the heel flap; C2/1PR; work 11 sts (beg at column 5 of row 1 of the Left Foot Chart, p2, work the Left Leg Chart as set across next 14 sts, [p2, k2] 0[1, 2] times; pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the second side of the heel flap, knit across heel sts and first set of gusset sts. This is the new start of round. 72[82, 92] sts.

Gusset round 1: K2, p1; work the Left Foot Chart as set, p2, work the Left Leg Chart as set, [p2, k2] 0[1, 2] times; k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Gusset round 2: Work across instep in patt as set; k to end of round.

Rep Gusset rounds 1 and 2 8[9, 10] times, until 26[30, 34] sts rem on the sole. At the completion of round 12 of the gusset, the third instance of the Left Leg Chart is complete. Continue on those sts in ribbing pattern as set.

Foot
Continue even in pattern as set until Row 24 of the Left Foot Chart is complete.

Next round: K2, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] 2 times. The Left Foot Chart begs in column 1, [p2, k2] 2(3, 4) times; k to end of round.

Work even in pattern as set until row 24 of this repeat of the Left Foot Chart is complete.

Size Medium only:
Next round: K2, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] 6 times. The Left Foot Chart begs in column 1, [p2, k2] 1 time; k to end of round.
Work even in pattern as set until row 12 of this repeat of the Left Foot Chart is complete.

Size Large only:
Next round: K2, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] 6 times. The Left Foot Chart begs in column 1, [p2, k2] 2 times; k to end of round.
Work even in pattern as set until row 24 of this repeat of the Left Foot Chart is complete.

All Sizes:
Next round: K2, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] 6[8, 10] times; work the Left Foot Chart round 25; k to end of round.
Next round: K2, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] 6[8, 10] times; work the Left Foot Chart round 26; k to end of round.
Repeat this last round until foot is 1.5 [1.5, 1.75] inches short of full foot length. 56[64, 72] sts rem; 30[34, 38] sts are on the instep, and 26[30, 34] sts are on the sole.

Toe
Set up: K1. This is the new start of round.
Round 1: K1, ssk, k22[26, 30], k2tog, k1; this is the new end of instep; k1, ssk, k22[26, 30], k2tog, k1.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k1; k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1.
Rep Rounds 2 and 3 until 28[32, 36] total sts rem. Rep Round 3 until 16[20, 24] total sts rem.

RIGHT SOCK
Cuff
Work as for Left Sock

Leg
The Right Leg Chart is worked four times on the leg in a staggered formation. 18 rows of the Right Leg Chart are worked before the next instance of the chart is initiated. The third and fourth instances of the Right Leg Chart are not completed on the leg.

Rounds 1-18: Work the Right Leg Chart across next 14 sts; [p2, k2] 10[12, 14] times, p2.

Rounds 19-36: Continue the Right Leg Chart as set across next 14 sts, p2, work the Right Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts; [p2, k2] 6[8, 10] times, p2.

Rounds 37-46: Continue the Right Leg Chart as set across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Right Leg Chart as set across next 14 sts, p2; work the Right Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts; [p2, k2] 2(4, 6) times, p2.

The first instance of the Right Leg Chart is complete; work that group of sts in [k2, p2] ribbing as set.

Setup for next section: [K2, p2] 4 times. This is new start of the round.

Rounds 47-54: Continue even in pattern as set; work Rows 29 to 36 on the second instance of the Right Leg Chart; p2; work Rows 11 to 18 on the third instance of the Right Leg Chart, work [k2, p2] ribbing to end of round.

Rounds 55-64: Continue the Right Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2; continue the Right Leg Chart across next 14 sts, p2; work the Right Leg Chart (starting at R1) across next 14 sts; [p2, k2] 2[4, 6] times, p2.

The second instance of the Right Leg Chart is complete; work that group of sts in [k2, p2] ribbing as set.

Continue even in pattern as set; work [k2, p2] ribbing at beginning of round, work Rows 29 to 34 on the third instance of the Right Leg Chart; p2; work Rows 11 to 16 on the fourth instance of the Right Leg Chart, work [k2, p2] ribbing to end of round.

Heel Flap
Set Up: [K2, p2] 4[3, 2] times.
The heel flap is worked on the 26[30, 34] sts just worked.
Turn so that WS is facing.

Work as for Left Sock.

Turn the Heel:
Work as for Left Sock.

Gusset
From here, the third instance of the Right Leg Chart will continue on the first part of the instep sts; the Right Foot Chart will be worked on the last part of the instep sts. When Row 46 of the third instance of the Right Leg Chart is complete, continue on those sts in ribbing pattern as set.

Gusset setup round: With RS facing, pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the first side of the heel flap; [k2, p2] 0[1, 2] times, work the Right Leg Chart set across next 14 sts, work 11 sts (beg at column 9 of row 1 of the Right Foot Chart), C2/1PL; pick up and knit 13[15, 17] sts along the second side of the heel flap, knit across heel sts and first set of gusset sts. This is the new start of round. The needles hold a total of 72[82, 92] sts.

Gusset round 1: [K2, p2] 0[1, 2] times; work the Right Leg Chart as set, p2; work the Right Foot Chart as set, p1, k3, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Gusset round 2: Work across instep in patt as set; k to end of round.

Rep Gusset rounds 1 and 2 8[9, 10] times, until 26[30, 34] sts rem on the sole. At the completion of round 12 of the gusset, the third instance of the Right Leg Chart is complete. Continue on those sts in ribbing pattern as set.

Foot
Continue even in pattern as set until Row 24 of the Right Foot Chart is complete.

Next round: [K2, p2] 2[3, 4] times. Work the Right Foot Chart beg in column 9; [p1, k1 tbl] 2 times; p1; k to end of round.

Work even in pattern as set until row 24 of this repeat of the Right Foot Chart is complete.

Size Medium only: K2, p2; work the Right Foot Chart beg in column 9; [p1, k1 tbl] 4 times, p1; k to end of round.

Work even in pattern as set until row 12 of this repeat of the Right Foot Chart is complete.

Size Large only: [K2, p2] 2 times; work the Right Foot Chart beg in column 9; [p1, k1 tbl] 4 times, p1; k to end of round.

Work even in pattern as set until row 24 of this repeat of the Right Foot Chart is complete.

All Sizes:
Next round: Work the Right Foot Chart round 25; [p1, k1 tbl] 6[8, 10] times, p1; k to end of round.

Next round: Work the Right Foot Chart round 26; [p1, k1 tbl] 6[8, 10] times, p1; k to end of round.

Repeat this last round until foot is 1.5[1.5, 1.75] inches short of full foot length. At this point, 56[64, 72] sts rem; 30[34, 38] sts are on the instep, and 26[30, 34] sts are on the sole.

Toe
Work as for Left Sock.

FINISHING
Cut the yarn leaving a 6 inch tail and graft the rem sts together. Weave in all ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Rich started knitting as a way to relieve stress. His first two projects were sweaters, since there was no one to tell him that perhaps a scarf would be a better starting point. At some point, Rich got it into his shiny, bald head that knitting socks might be a good idea.

Rich lives in Northern Virginia with four cats who think that stitch markers solely exist to entertain them. He can be found online here, and on Ravelry.