This is the December / January GPY sock club sock. Its a toe up sock with a gusset, so I’m converting the pattern into a top down sock. My goal is to maintain as much of the original design aesthetic as possible.

Summary

• Starting weight: 115 grams; ending weight: 33 grams.

• I’m using 2 circular needles, starting with a US 1.5 (2.5 mm) needles, changing to US 1.0 (2.25 mm) needles at the heel flap.

• This pattern is effectively 12 stitches smaller than what is cast on. There are 3 long slipped stitches which aren’t knit for 3 rows, effectively reducing the sock’s circumference; the 64 stitch fits fine with my cuff knit on US 1.5 (2.5 mm) and my foot on US 1.0 (2.25 mm).

• I’m not rating this pattern, since I didn’t actually use the pattern directions for this sock.

• Top down construction:

  • Cast on 64 using German Twisted Cast on
  • Knit 1x1 twisted rib - 10 rows
  • Transition: knit 1 row stockinette, setting markers if desired as follows: K5, PM, k9, PM, K4, PM, K9, PM, k 10, PM, K9, PM, k4, PM, K9, PM, K5.
  • Leg: K5, sm, knit row of chart, sm, k4, sm, knit row of chart, k10, sm, knit row of chart, sm, k4, sm, knit row of chart, sm, k5. Knit 3 chart repeats. Its important to stop the pattern after after a couple of knit rows before starting the heel flap.
  • Heel flap: Turn work, starting heel flap on WS. Knit as follows:
    Row 1 & 3 (WS): SL 1, P to end, turn;
    Row 2 (RS): * SL 1, K1 ; repeat from to * until end of row, turn.
    Row 4 (RS): SL 1, * SL 1, K1 , repeat from to * until 1 stitch before end; K1; turn.
    Repeat rows 1-4 for a total of 8 times and then repeat rows 1-3 one additional time for a total of 35 rows, ending with a WS row.
  • The heel was turned as follows:
    Row 1(RS): Sl 1 wyib, K 18, SSK, K1, turn;
    Row 2(WS): SL 1 wyif, P7, P2tog, P1, turn;
    Row 3(WS): SL 1 wyib, K to 1 stitch before gap greated by turn on previous row, SSK (1 stitch before and after gap), K1, turn;
    Row 4(RS): SL1 wyif, P to 1 stitch before gap created by turn on previous row, P2tog (1 stitch before and after the gap), P1, turn. Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all stitches have been worked. 20 stitches remain.
    
  • Pick up gusset stitches as follows: turn work. SL 1 wyib, K19, PU & K tbl 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap, pick up & knit a stitch in the gap, Knit the first row of the chart (or the next row after where you left off), PU & knit a stitch in the gap, PU & K 18 stitches along the gusset. I set my start of round at the beginning of the heel.
  • The gusset proceeds in the typical manner. Round 1: decrease round; Round 2: knit round; knitting a row of the chart across the instep for each round. Rounds 1 & 2 are repeated a total of 12 times, then repeat round 1 once. There should be 32 sole stitches (adjust the number of gusset decreases as appropriate to get the correct stitch count). Knit sole stitches and reset start of round at beginning of instep.
  • I knit the foot to the desired length and stopped with row 18 of the chart. The pattern can be extended into the toe without too much trouble. There are 5 stitches on each side of the pattern columns, allowing for decreases to begin (You would need to skip the YO k2tog round in the foot and just knit instead). In my case I was able to complete the final motif within the foot and didn’t need to begin my decreases while finishing up the pattern.
  • My toe: Round 1: K1 (YO, K2tog) * , YO, K1, K, M1, K2. Round 2: K1, SSK, K, K2tog, K2, SSK, K, K2tog, K1. Round 3: K. Repeat rounds 2 & 3, 8 times, then repeat round 2, 5 times. 7 stitches remain.

Journal

2013-12-01: Cast on 64 stitches using German Twisted Cast on. Knit 10 rows twisted rib.

2013-12-02: Complete left leg. Cast on and complete right cuff.

2013-12-04: Complete right leg. Started heel flap. I’m using eye of partridge for the flap. I ran into my second knot.

2013-12-05: Complete right gusset.

2013-12-06: Complete right foot. I ended the foot with row 17 of the chart. Move back to left sock and complete heel flap & turn.

2013-12-07: Complete left gusset.

2013-12-10: Complete left sock. Weave in ends and block