by Kate Atherley

It can be tricky to find a non-boring pattern that works well with an interesting hand-dyed yarn. Sometimes the pattern gets lost in the color changes; or the color changes get lost in the pattern. This is a nice balance of the two, I think.

I first clapped eyes on this yarn on a grey, cold day, and the colorway reminded me so very much of a tropical sea on a warm day. Knit these while dreaming of sailing on whitecapped deep green seas, under azure skies, perhaps a drink with an umbrella in it at your side.

The lace is simple enough that if there is a drink with an umbrella in it, you don't need to worry about messing it up.

This is a Knitty sock all over. It uses two Knitty-published, sock-world-changing techniques: Judy's Magic Cast On and Jeny's Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. And as is my wont, this sock features a gusset for best fit.

It's actually a nice and straightforward toe-up sock. If you've not knit toe-up socks before, this pattern is a good place to start.

SIZE
Adult S [M, L, XL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot circumference: 7.25 [8, 8.5, 9] inches
Foot Length: Adjustable to fit
Leg Length: 6.5 inches from cuff to top of heel

MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight [100% superwash wool; 405yd/m per 155g skein]; color: Code Name Regatta; 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

GAUGE

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

DIRECTIONS
Toe
Using Judy's Magic Cast On, CO 18[16, 20, 20] sts, 9[8, 10, 10] each on two needles.

Knit 1 round, distributing sts as you prefer. Note or mark start of round, and center of round.

Increase round: K1, M1R, k to 1 st before center of round, M1L, k1; k1, M1R, k to 1 st before end of round, M1L, k1. 4 sts increased.

Following round: Knit.

Repeat the last 2 rounds 7[9, 9, 10] more times. 50[56, 60, 64] sts.

Foot
Next round, establish foot pattern: K26[24, 28, 32] sts; work Foot Chart across next 24[32, 32, 32] sts, working repeat 2[3, 3, 3] times.

First 26[24, 28, 32] sts form sole, rem 24[32, 32, 32] sts form instep; rearrange sts as you prefer.

Work even in pattern as set until sock measures 3.75[3.75, 4, 4.25] inches short of desired foot length.

Gusset
Gusset increase round: M1R, k to end of sole sts, M1L, work in pattern as set across instep sts. 2 sts increased.

Following round: Work even in pattern as set.

Repeat the last 2 rounds 8[8, 9, 10] more times. 9[9, 10, 11] sts each side outside the markers, 44[42, 48, 54] sole sts.

Heel Turn Step 1:
Row 1 [RS]: K34[32, 37, 42] (to 1 st before gusset sts), w&t.
Row 2 [WS]: P24[22, 26, 30] (to 1 st before gusset sts), w&t.
Row 3 [RS]: K to 1 before previously wrapped st, w&t.
Row 4 [WS]: P to 1 before previously wrapped st, w&t.

Repeat the last 2 rows, until 8[6, 8, 10] sts rem unwrapped in the middle, 9[9, 10, 11] wraps each side.

Heel Turn Step 2:
Row 1 [RS]: K8[6, 8, 10] (to first wrapped st), k the following 8[8, 9, 10] sts together with their wraps (one wrapped st rems), ssk (worked on the following st, its wrap and the first gusset st), turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P17[15, 18, 21] (to first wrapped st on the other side) p the following 8[8, 9, 10] sts together with their wraps (one wrapped st rems), p2tog (worked on the following st, its wrap and the first gusset st), turn.

Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, k24[22, 26, 30], ssk, turn.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, p24[22, 26, 30], p2tog, turn.

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 6[6, 7, 8] times, until 1 gusset st rems each side. 52[58, 62, 66] sts

At this point, take note of the pattern round you're on. You will need to start working the pattern on the back of the leg. You pick up the pattern on the back of the leg on either round 15 or 33, whichever you hit first. Until then, continue, working back of leg in St st, and working instep in pattern as set. Stop when you hit Foot Chart Round 14 or 32.

Leg
Size S only, adjust stitch count for leg: P2tog, p to 2 sts before end of instep, p2tog, p to end of round. 48 sts.

Size L only, adjust stitch count for leg: P4 [p2tog, p4] 4 times, p to end of round. 56 sts.

All sizes: Purl 3[4, 3, 4] rounds.

If you've just completed Foot Chart Round 14, p4 sts into the next round. This is the new start of round.

Next round: Work Leg Chart (starting at R1) 6[7, 7, 8] times around.

Work as set until Leg Chart Round 17 is complete.

Next round: P until 4 sts rem. This is the new start of round.
Next round: Work Leg Chart 6[7, 7, 8] times around.
Work as set until Leg Chart Round 18 is complete.

Setup: P4 sts. This is the new start of round.
Next round: Work Leg Chart (starting at R1)6[7, 7, 8] times around.
Work as set until Leg Chart Round 18 is complete. (Note: If you wish to lengthen the leg, you may do so here, but do retain the 4-st offset between additional repeats.)

Cuff
Ribbing round: [K1, p1] around.
Work Ribbing as set for 1.5 inches.
BO loosely (I recommend Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy BO).

FINISHING
Block and weave in ends.

Kate, Knitty's resident socks-pert, likes knitting socks. She especially likes knitting socks in the winter. But most of all, she enjoys knitting socks in the winter while visiting a warm and sunny exotic location. But if that's not going to happen, a pair of socks that remind her of said warm and sunny exotic location will do nicely.

You can see more of her work at kateatherley.com.