“Hello, gorgeous,” Brad greets me, wheeling his cart with an expert hand. “How are you this beautiful afternoon?”
I smile back. Fine, I tell him. Better than fine. Happy and very much in love with him and with life in the shop on Blossom Street.
Peter’s Socks by Nancy Bush
Materials—Bearfoot from Mountain Colors (60% superwash wool, 25% mohair and 15% nylon) 350 yds, (320 metres) in 100 g 1 skein “Moose Creek”. Set of 5 #1 (2.5 mm) double point needles or size to give gauge.
Gauge—5 sts and 20 rnds = 2” over stocking stitch before blocking.
Finished measurements after blocking—length of leg from cast-on edge to top of heel flap 8.5” (21.5 cm); length of foot from back of heel to tip of toe 10.5” (28.5 cm).
Leg
Cast on 65 sts. Divide sts onto four needles. Join, being careful not to twist. Begin patt–p1,* k3, p2, rep from * ending k3, p1. Work this ribbing as est for 7 more rnds. Work 1 rnd p. Rep these 9 rnds 2 more times. Cont in ribbing as est until leg measures 8.5” long. End ready to begin next rnd.
Heel Flap
K16, turn. Sl 1, p31. These 32 sts form the heel flap. The remaining 33 sts will be held for instep. Next row: *Sl 1, k1, rep from * to end, turn. Sl 1, p all across row. Rep these 2 rows until you have worked 32 rows total and have 16 chain sts down edge of flap. End having completed a WS row.
Turn Heel
Slip 1, k17, ssk, k1, turn. Sl 1, p5, p2 tog, p1, turn. *Sl 1, k to within 1 st from gap, ssk, k1, turn. Sl 1, p to within 1 st from gap, p2 tog, p1, turn. Rep from * until 1 st remains outside gap at each end. Sl 1, k16, ssk, turn. Sl 1, p16, p2 tog, turn (18 sts remain).
Gussets
K across the 18 heel sts. On the same needle, pick up and knit 16 sts down right side of heel flap. With a new needle, patt as est across instep. Pick up and knit 16 sts down left side of heel flap and knit 9 sts from heel. You will have 25 sts on first needle, 33 sts on instep, divided onto two needles, and 25 sts on last needle = 83 sts total.
Begin shaping the gussets. Rnds begin centre of heel. K to 3 away from end of first needle, k2 tog, k1. Work across instep in patt as est. At beg of last needle, k1, ssk, k to end. Work one rnd even, keeping instep sts in patt. Cont in this manner, decreasing at the end of needle #1 and the beginning of needle #4 every other rnd and keeping patt as est on instep needle until back sts are decreased to 16 sts on each needle and you have 65 sts total.
Cont without decreasing until foot measures 3” less than desired finished length.
Toe
Work 3 rnds in St st.
Begin shaping toe:
Rnd 1—*K6, k2 tog, rep from * to 3 away from end of rnd, k 3 tog.
K 5 rnds even.
Rnd 7—*K5, k2 tog, rep from * to end. K 5 rnds even.
Rnd 13—*K4, k2 tog, rep from * to end. K 4 rnds even.
Rnd 18—*K3, k2 tog, rep from * to end. K 3 rnds even.
Rnd 22—*K2, k2 tog, rep from * to end. K 2 rnds even.
Rnd 25—*K1, k2 tog, rep from * to end. K 1 rnds even.
Rnd 27—*k2 tog, rep from * to end.
You will have 8 sts remaining.
Break yarn, and with a tapestry needle, draw yarn through the remaining sts and pull up snugly to close end of toe. Weave in ends and block socks on sock blockers or under a damp towel.
Abbreviations
Cont—continue
Cm—centimetre
Est—established
G—grams
K—knit
K2 tog—knit two together
Mm—millimetre
P—purl
P2 tog—purl 2 together
Patt—pattern
Sl 1—slip one (as to purl)
Ssk—slip, slip, knit: slip one stitch as to knit, slip the next stitch as to knit, knit these two slipped stitches together.
St(s)—stitch(es)
St st—stocking stitch
Rnd(s)—round(s)
WS—wrong side
Yds—yards
Peter’s Socks by Nancy Bush Translated for two circular needles by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon, 100 g/ 350 yds), 1 skein in colourway “Moose Creek.”
Needles: two size 1 (2.5 mm) circular needles 16”–24” length, or size to give gauge.