• 1 ball Opal Tiger sock yarn
• Set of 5 double pointed needles size 1.5 or size needed to attain gauge.

Size:
Woman's large (9 - 10 shoe size)

Gauge:
15 stitches = 2" in stocking stitch.

Pattern Stitch: "Purl When Ready" Ribbing

Knit 2, Purl 2 BUT if you find yourself purling into a stitch of a different color in the row below, knit it instead of purling it. In other words, your normal pattern sequence is Knit 2, Purl 2, but on some rounds you may have to substitute knits for purls until you arrive at a point when you're purling into a stitch of the same color in the row below.

There may be times when you need to knit one or two needles without purling. Don't fret. Just return to the normal K2, P2, sequence when you can. You will note that "Purl When You Can" ribbing using Opal Tiger yarn produces wider stripes.

Knit Leg:
CO 64 stitches.
Divide stitches so you have 16 stitches on each of four needles. Join to knit in the round. Knit with the 5th needle.
Work "Purl When Ready" ribbing ( see instructions above ) for 6 inches or until the length you wish from the beginning of the sock to the top of the heel.

Knit Heel Flap:
Heel is worked on half the total number of stitches you cast on for your sock. Reposition the stitches so you have 32 stitches on one needle with the starting point for your sock in the middle of the needle. If you don't know where your starting point is, look for the tail of yarn hanging down from your original cast on. You will now be working rows and turning at the end of each row to make the heel flap.

Beginning with a right side row:

Row one: *slip first stitch purlwise, k1. Repeat from * until end of row. Turn.
Row two: slip first stitch purlwise and purl across to end of row.

Repeat these two rows until your heel flap measures about two inches.

Turn Heel:
Row 1: Starting on a right side row, knit to middle of row, then K2, SSK (slip one st knitwise, slip one st purlwise, knit both stitches together through the back loops), K1, turn.

Row 2: S1, P5, P2 together, P1, turn.

Row 3: S1, K across until you come to within 1 stitch of the space or gap in the stitches. SSK as before, K1, turn.

Row 4: S1, P across until you come to within 1 stitch of the space or gap in the stitches. P2 together, P1, turn. Continue in this manner until all the gap stitches have been used up. You should be finishing a purl row. Turn and knit to the middle of the heel.

Knit Gusset :
With a new needle which we'll call needle #1, knit the rest of the heel stitches and then pick up 14 stitches through the back loops of the slipped stitches along the left heel flap. Knit 16 instep stitches with needle #2 and 16 instep stitches with needle #3. With needle #4, pick up 14 stitches through the back loops of the slipped stitches along the right heel flap and finish by knitting to the middle of the heel where needle #1 should be waiting to start the gusset shaping.

Shape Gusset :
Start gusset shaping with needle #1.

Round 1: Knit until you have only three stitches remaining on needle #1. Then K2 stitches together and knit the last stitch on the needle.

Knit the 32 instep stitches on needles 2 & 3 as usual. At the beginning of needle #4 K1, SSK and finish knitting all the stitches on needle #4.

Round 2: Knit all stitches without decreasing.

Alternate these two rounds until you have the same number of stitches you started with - 64 stitches. Then continue knitting around until the sock is about 2 1/4 inches shorter than your desired length from the back of the heel to the toe.

Toe Shaping :
Round one (decrease round): knit around until you have only 3 sts remaining on needle #1, K2 together, K1. At the beginning of needle # 2, K1, SSK. Knit until you have only 3 sts remaining on needle #3. K2 tog, K1. Now K1, SSK at beginning of needle #4 and knit to the end of round.

Round two: Knit around without decreasing.

Alternate these two rounds until you have only 32 stitches remaining. Now repeat round one (decrease round) until you have 16 stitches remaining (four on each needle).

Bind Off Toe:
Reposition the remaining 16 stitches so that you have eight stitches on one needle and eight stitches on another and your working wool is to the right. Ignore the working wool for now.

Working onto a third needle, slip one stitch from front needle as if to knit and slip one stitch from back needle as if to purl. Bind off by sliping first stitch over second stitch. Continue in this manner across row. You should end row with eight stitches on the needle. Now turn and BO again, one st over another.

Make a matching sock and enjoy!

c Jan Zlendich, May 28, 200l.