I love rililie’s Edarach and I’m going to make myself a pair. I’m going to knit these toe-up instead of cuff-down as the pattern prescribes. I’m also trying out DPNs for the first time. Here goes! So excited!

30 st st (in the round) = 4 inch

Due to the different gauge with sport weight yarn, I’m altering the pattern slightly.

TOE
CO 32 sts using Judy’s Magic Cast On (video) with contrast color.

Row 1: Knit 16, knit 16 through the back loops.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Knit 1, m1, knit until the last stitch, m1, knit 1 (4 sts increased, 2 per side).
Row 4: Knit.

Repeat Rows 3-4 (4) more times (52 sts).

Rows 13-16: Knit.

FOOT
Switch to the main color.

Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: (sl1 purlwise, k1, yo, psso, k2) until the last two instep sts, sl1 purlwise, k1, yo, psso. Knit all sole sts.

Repeat Rows 1-2 (30) more times. Then knit the 26 instep sts for one row only. Drop main color. Do not cut the yarn.

GUSSET AREA
No gusset in this pattern.

HEEL (Part 1)
With contrast color, you will be working back and forth on the sole sts only now. (Note to self: I accidentally knit the first row and started the first short row on the purl row. Do this again to make the socks match!)

Row 1: Knit until last st, turn the work leaving that last st unworked.
Row 2: Sl1 purlwise, purl until last st, turn the work leaving that last st unworked.

You now have two “held” sts, 1 on each side. I find it helpful to put these sts on additional dpns so that I remember to stop right before them.

Row 3: Sl1 purlwise, knit until one st before held sts, turn the work. Pass the last st to the extra dpn on this side of the work.
Row 4: Sl1 purlwise, purl until one st before held sts, turn the work. Pass the last st to the extra dpn on this side of the work.

Continue in this method until 8 sts remain in the middle. You’ll have 9 held sts on each side of the middle sts (9|8|9).

HEEL (Part 2)
Now you’ll add the held sts back in.

Row 1: Sl1 purlwise, knit across until last middle st remains, knit this last st and the first held st together using ssk improved, m1L, turn.

Row 2: Sl1 purlwise, purl across until last middle st remains, purl this last st and the first held st together using p2tog, m1R (purl through front rather than knit as video shows), turn.

Repeat until all the held sts are added back in.

Next row: Sl1 purlwise, knit across sole sts back to where the main color is waiting.

LEG
Knit across heel with main color (finishing last row, which was Row 1 as for foot). Pick up sts and k2tog to eliminate holes between instep and sole sts.

Repeat Rows 1-2 as for foot around the entire leg (27) times with main color starting with Row 2.

CUFF
Rows 1-15: Purl 2 (to align with herringbone pattern), knit 2. Repeat to end of row.

BO using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.