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baudelairelickety splitdancing ladytulip toeslacanauhalfdomemaze
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universal toe-up sock formula
earth faire


by Sivia Harding

Take a trip to the wild side in these beaded cable and lace socks. Not for the faint of heart!

I was inspired to do these socks by some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in an earthy colorway and some platinum beads from Earth Faire. They are knit on 2 circular needles from the top down.

For these lizardy socks, the beads are placed on plain knit rows and left to rest between stitches, a rather easy beading technique. Subtle ribbing between the lace motifs keeps them up nicely.

photos: name

SIZE
Women's Medium
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Leg measures 5.5 inches from top edge to ankle
MATERIALS
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock [80% superwash wool / 20% Nylon; 215yd/197m per 50g skein]; Color: Mineshaft; 2 skeins
Note: Subtle handpainted or solid-colored yarns do well in this design, but self-patterning yarns do not.

2 US #1/2.25 mm circular needles, 24 inches or longer
360 size 8/0 seed beads (180 beads for each sock)
Sample socks used galvanized platinum gold 8/0 beads from Earth Faire (www.earthfaire.com)
Dental floss threader or big-eye beading needle
Safety pin or split ring marker
Cable needle
Tapestry needle
 
GAUGE
36 sts / 46 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st, worked in the round
 
PATTERN NOTES

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

The beading technique used for this project is easy - just slide bead close to right needle, and continue working. The bead will rest between stitches.

When working cable crossing rows, it helps to transfer stitches being held on cable needle back to left needle before working them, as opposed to working them directly from the cable needle. This does add an extra step, but in this case because of the beads that lie between the cable stitches, it greatly decreases the risk of dropping a stitch. Really.

The pattern is presented both in written and charted form.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

An instructional video for working small-circumference pieces on two circular needles can be found here.

Abbreviations
B: Slide a bead as close as possible to right needle, leaving a bead positioned on the running strand between 2 stitches

C3B: Slip next st to cable needle and hold to back of work, k2, slip st from cable needle back to left needle, k1

C3F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, k1, slip sts from cable needle back to left needle, k2

2yo: Yarn over twice

SK2P: Slip next st to right needle as if to knit, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over (k2tog).
DIRECTIONS

Sock [make 2]
Thread 180 size 8/0 seed beads onto yarn with dental floss threader or big-eye beading needle. CO 66 sts onto one circular needle and distribute them so that 33 sts are on each of 2 circular needles. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Place safety pin or split ring marker in work after first round, to indicate beginning of round; move this marker up as work progresses.

Work Rounds 1-39 of large chart above (or written directions below).
Proceed to * .

Rounds 1-3: [(K1, p1) 7 times, k1, B, k3, B, k1, (p1, k1) 7 times] twice.

Round 4: [(K1, p1) 3 times, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, (p1, k1) 3 times] twice.

Round 5: [(K1, p1) 3 times, k8, B, k5, B, k8, (p1, k1) 3 times] twice.

Round 6: [(K1, p1) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k3, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k1, (p1, k1) twice] twice.

Round 7: [(K1, p1) twice, k9, B, k7, B, k9, (p1, k1) twice] twice.

Round 8: [(K1, p1) twice, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, (p1, k1) twice] twice.

Round 9: [(K1, p1) twice, k8, B, k9, B, k8, (p1, k1) twice] twice.

Round 10: [K1, p1, k1, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k1, p1, k1] twice.

Round 11: [K1, p1, k9, B, k11, B, k9, p1, k1] twice.

Round 12: [K1, p1, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, p1, k1] twice.

Round 13: [K1, p1, k8, B, k13, B, k8, p1, k1] twice.

Round 14: [K1, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k1] twice.

Round 15: [K9, B, k15, B, k9] twice.

Pattern Repeat Rounds:
Round 16: K2, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, (k2tog, yo, k1) twice, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, C3B, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k2] twice.

Round 17: [K10, B, k13, B, k10] twice.

Round 18: [K3, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, k1, k2tog, 2yo, SK2P, 2yo, ssk, k1, C3B, (yo, k2tog) 3 times, k3] twice.
Round 19: [K11, B, k3, (k1, p1) in (2yo) from previous round, k1, (k1, p1) in (2yo) from previous round, k3, B, k11] twice.
Round 20: [K4, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, k2, yo, SK2P, yo, k2, C3B, (yo, k2tog) 3 times, k4] twice.
Round 21: [K12, B, k9, B, k12] twice.
Round 22: [K5, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, k5, C3B, (yo, k2tog) 3 times, k5] twice.
Round 23: [K13, B, k7, B, k13] twice.
Round 24: [K6, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, k3, C3B, (yo, k2tog) 3 times, k6] twice.
Round 25: [K14, B, k5, B, k14] twice.
Round 26: [K7, (yo, ssk) 3 times, C3F, k1, C3B, (yo, k2tog) 3 times, k7] twice.
Round 27: [K15, B, k3, B, k15] twice.
Round 28: [K6, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k6] twice.
Round 29: [k14, B, k5, B, k14] twice.
Round 30: [K5, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k3, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k5] twice.
Round 31: [K13, B, k7, B, k13] twice.
Round 32: [K4, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k4] twice.
Round 33: [K12, B, k9, B, k12] twice.
Round 34: [K3, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k3] twice.
Round 35: [K11, B, k11, B, k11] twice.
Round 36: [K2, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k2] twice.
Round 37: [K10, B, k13, B, k10] twice.
Round 38: [K1, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k1] twice.
Round 39: [K9, B, k15, B, k9] twice.
* Repeat Rounds 16-39 once more.

Repeat Rounds 16-27 once.

Heel Flap:
Work Heel Flap back and forth over next 33 sts only.
Row 1 [RS]: [Sl 1, k1] to last 3 sts, sl 1, k2tog. 32 sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 3 [RS]: [Sl 1, k1] to end.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 14 times more, then work Row 2 once more.

Turn Heel:
Row 1 [RS]: K18, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, k6, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, p7, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 5 [RS]: Sl 1, k8, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl 1, p9, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 7 [RS]: Sl 1, k10, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 8 [WS]: Sl 1, p11, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl 1, k12, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 10 [WS]: Sl 1, p13, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 11 [RS]: Sl 1, k14, ssk, k1. Turn work.
Row 12 [WS]: Sl 1, p15, p2tog, p1. Turn work.
Row 13 [RS]: Sl 1, k16, ssk. Turn work.
Row 14 [WS]: Sl 1, p16, p2tog. Turn work. 18 sts remain.

K all sts; with same needle, pick up and k 16 sts along edge of heel flap (1 st in each slipped st along edge), pick up and k 1 st in space between heel flap and sts on next needle.

With other needle, work sts on top of foot as follows:
[K6, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, C3B, k1, C3F, k1, (yo, ssk) 3 times, k6] (Round 28 of lace chart) With Needle 1, pick up and k 1 st in space between these sts and top of heel flap, pick up and k 16 sts along remaining edge of heel flap k to the end of this needle. 33 sts on top needle (Needle 1), 52 sts on lower needle (Needle 2).

Gusset
Note: Directions for lace pattern and gusset shaping are worked at the same time. Read ahead before proceeding.

Gusset Shaping
Round 1: Work next round of lace pattern over sts on Needle 1 only; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Round 2: Work next round of lace pattern over sts on Needle 1 only; k all sts on Needle 2.
Repeat these 2 rounds 9 times more. 32 sts remain on Needle 2.
AT THE SAME TIME work lace pattern as follows:
Continue working lace pattern over sts on Needle 1 only, working to Round 39, then repeating Rounds 16-27.

Work Rounds 1-16 of Instep Lace Ending Rows chart over sts on Needle 1 only (written directions follow), k all sts on Needle 2. 32 sts remain. Proceed to **.

Round 1: K8, [yo, ssk] 3 times, k5, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k8.
Even-numbered Rounds 2-14: K all sts.
Round 3: K9, [yo, ssk] 3 times, k3, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k9.
Round 5: K10, [yo, ssk] 3 times, k1, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k10.
Round 7: K11, [yo, ssk] twice, yo, SK2P, yo, [k2tog, yo] twice, k11.
Round 9: K12, [yo, ssk] twice, k1, [k2tog, yo] twice, k12.
Round 11: K13, yo, ssk, yo, SK2P, yo, k2tog, yo, k13.
Round 13: K14, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k14.
Round 15: K15, yo, SK2P, yo, k15.
Round 16: K16, k2tog, k15. 32 sts remain on Needle 1.

** Work in stockinette st until work measures 1.5 inches less than desired length to end of toe.

Toe
Round 1: [K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts on needle, ssk, k1] twice. 4 sts decreased.
Round 2: K all sts.
Repeat these 2 rounds 8 times more. 28 sts remain (14 sts on each needle).
FINISHING

Here is a trick that helps avoid those pesky little "dog ears" at the corners of your toe openings: pass the last stitch over the next to last stitch, at both sides of the front and back stitches. You now have 2 fewer stitches on each needle. Cut your yarn, leaving 10-12 inches of tail with which to close the toe.

To Graft or Not to Graft
I like to graft my toes closed because it is a seamless, invisible closure. If grafting daunts you, however, turn your sock inside out and work a Three-Needle Bind Off.
Weave in your yarn ends securely.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Sivia Harding is obsessed with knitting and beads. Three years ago she started a line of knitted and beaded designs available in stores and from her website. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and cat, Mooshie, who achieved fame as the cat model on the cover of Cat Bordhi's "Second Treasury of Magical Knitting."

You can see more of her work here.

Pattern & images © 2006 Sivia Harding. Contact Sivia