Jasper Socks

Jasper socks are made with a bulky thick and thin yarn and are so named because I knitted one on the way from Lake Louise to Jasper, and the other on the way back. They're perfect for winter sports, or curling up by the fire with a book- or a bag of marshmallows. They take less than three hours per sock, from gauge swatch to weaving in the last little tail.

I have not actually made the men's size in this yarn but I have made the same proportions in other yarns so I believe it will work. If the feet which will be wearing these are smaller (or larger) than ladies shoe size 7-9 or men's shoe size 9-11, consider decreasing (or increasing) the length of the sole by about a quarter inch for each size change.

This pattern is for personal use only. Please share this pattern by directing your friends to my site.

Sizes:
Ladies' and Mens' (changes for Men's in brackets)

Materials:
Napier by Sean Sheep, 2 (3) balls in wine.
5mm (size 8) double pointed needles or size needed for gauge
stitch holder
tapestry needle

Gauge:
17 sts and 21 rows = 4" in stocking stitch

Abbreviations used:
k2tog: knit next two stitches together
p2tog: purl next two stitches together
ssk: slip next two stitches knitwise, insert left-hand needle, knit them together.

Cuff:
Cast on 32(36) stitches with 10(12) on 1st needle, 10(12) on 2nd needle, and 12(12) on 3rd needle. Place a marker on your 1st needle. Working in the round, k1,p1 for 10 rounds. Knit 11 more rounds. (If you want a cuff longer than 4", you may need an extra ball of yarn). Break yarn, leaving a 6" tail.

Heel Shaping:
With marker for first needle facing you, slip 8(9) sts from 1st needle onto one needle, and 8(9) sts from 3rd needle on the same needle. Place 16(18) stitches onto a holder. Your marker should be in the middle of the needle. With wrong side facing you, work next section back and forth:
Row 1: Sl 1, purl to end of needle
Row 2: Sl 1, knit to end of needle
Repeat these two rows until you have 2"(2.25") Wrong side facing for next row.
Row 1: Sl 1, p8(9), p2tog, p1, turn
Row 2: sl 1, k3, ssk, k1, turn
Row 3: Sl 1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 4: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn
Row 5: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 6: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1(2)

You should now have 10(12) sts on your needle and the right side of your work facing you.

Instep:
You will go back to working in the round.
With 1st needle, pick up and knit 8(10) sts up the edge of the heel. With 2nd needle, knit across 16(18) sts on the holder. With 3rd needle, pick up and knit 8(10)sts down the the heel and 5(6) sts from the next needle. Slip the other 5(6) sts from this needle onto your 1st needle. You now have 13 (16) sts on your 1st needle, 16(18) sts on your second needle and 13(16)sts on your third needle. 42(48) sts in total.

Round 1: needle 1: knit to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog, k1. needle 2: knit. needle 3: k1, ssk, knit to end.
Round 2: knit.
Repeat these two rounds 5(7) times in total for a remainder of 8(9) sts on 1st needle, 16(18) sts on 2nd needle and 8(9)sts on 3rd needle. 32(36) sts in total.

Knit even in rounds until work measures 5.5" (6.5" )from the picked up stitches. Note: If you happen to have the intended foot handy, the actual length should be the distance (in a straight line, not the diagonal) from the middle of the anklebone to between the knuckles of the big toe.

Toe shaping:
Round 1: needle 1: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 3: k1, ssk, k to end.
Round 2: knit.
Repeat these 2 rounds 4(5) times for a remainder of 16 sts. 4 on 1st needle, 8 on 2nd needle, 4 on 3rd needle. Knit the 4 sts from the first needle onto the third needle. Break the yarn leaving a long tail and use this to graft the toe together.

Copyright 2007, Rachel Abrams.


These are the men's socks, made with SWS by Patons. (Totally different gauge; don't substitute.) I put a slip stitch rib on the heels, just for a change.