You will need:
DPNs size 3 mm (or size to match gauge)
A 4 mm needle for caston.
Yarn - sportweight
Gauge around 28 sts to 4 inches (or 26 to 4 inches for a bigger sock)
I unvented a cast-on - well I guess it exists somewhere already, but not sure what it is called. It is almost like a channel island cast on (try google that) , but instead of using a double strand to wrap around the thumb just use a single strand like when you are doing ordinary long tail cast on. Casting on this way is not as complicated as a real double strand channel island cast on, but much more stretchy than an ordinaly long tail cast on.
How to do Single Strand Channel Island cast on.
Line up for ordinary long tail cast on, but make sure the tail of yarn is twice as long as you would normally make it. Use a size 4 mm needle to make the cast on loose and stretchy.
Now first cast on one ordinary longtail stitch so you have the original loop + one ordinary cast on stitch = 2 stitches.
You must change the direction the yarn is wrapped around the left thumb.
In a usual long tail cast-on it will go from the needle and then counterclockwise around the thumb (from needle to inside of thumb, over the back to the outside of thumb)
In a single strand channel island cast on you *wrap the yarn the other way - clockwise - around the thumb (from the needle to the outer side of the thumb). And then you wrap it around again so you have the yarn twice around the thumb.
Slip the needle under the yarn that goes from the needle to the index finger - like a yarn over. This yarn over is the first of your stitches. You can keep it in place with your right index finger.
Then insert the tip of the needle up through the double loop on your thumb and pick up a stitch from the yarn on the indexfinger like you would in ordinary long tail cast on. Once the stitch is picked up you release the loops from the thumb and tighten the yarn. Now you have cast on 2 more stitches - the yarn over and the picked up stitch you just did. The released loops of yarn form a small lump on the needle.
Go back to * and do it again until you have cast on 36 stitches.
Cabled newborn socks pattern:
Terms used:
C2F: Slip 1 stitch purlwise to the right needle, knit 1, insert tip of left needle in the second stitch (the slipped one) on the right needle and let this and the first stitch on the right needle slide off the needle. Now one of these stitches is on the left needle and the other one is not on any needle. Insert the right needle in the "needle-less" stitch and knit the stitch on the left needle like normal. You should now have a tiny cable..
C4F: Transfer 2 sts to cable or spare needle, hold to front of work. Knit next two sts, then knit the two sts from the cable needle and you have made a leftleaning cable.
Cuff
Pick up a 4 mm needle and cast on 36 stitches using long tail or single strand channel island cast on. Transfer the stitches to 4 dpns size 3 mm (or needle size to give you gauge). Divide evenly so you have 9 stitches on each needle.
Round 1-3: K2, P2 around
Round 4: C2F, P2 around
Repeat rounds 1-4 3 more times.
The heel flap
Knit across the first 18 stitches (the two first needles - the sts on the last two needles rest for now) and turn.
*Slip first stitch and purl the next 17 stitches. Turn.
Slip first stitch and knit 17. Turn
Repeat from * 7 more times and then do one more purl row in the same way. Turn.
Turn the heel
Knit 11, k2tog, turn.
Slip one stitch, p4, p2tog, turn.
Slip one stitch, k4, k2tog, turn.
Slip one stitch, p4, p2tog, turn.
Continue like this till all the stitches are used up and the heel is turned. Ending in a knit row.
Foot
Using the same needle - now called needle 1 - pick up 8 stitches (one in each of the loong slipped stitches on the side of the heel flap).
Pick up an empty needle (needle 2 - the instep stitches will be on this needle) and work across the 18 resting stitches in p2,k2 rib. This will bring you to the other side of the heel flap.
Use an empty needle - needle 3 - to pick up 8 stitches on this side too and knit across half of the heel stitches so you end up with 11 stitches on this needle and 11 stitches on the next needle too. The instep needle holds 18 stitches.
To sum up: Now you have 11 stitches on needle 1, 18 stitches on needle 2 (the instep needle) and 11 stitches on needle 3. From now on the beginning of each round is between needle 1 and 3.
The instep cables
Round 1:
Needle 1: k11
Needle 2: *p2, put the next two sts on a cableneedle, (or use a spare DPN) hold to the front of work and purl the next stitch. Knit the sts on the cableneedle.
Put the next stitch on the cableneedle and hold to back of work, k2, purl the stitch on the cableneedle, p2. Repeat from *
Needle 3: k11
Round 2:
Needle 1: Knit to the last 3 sts on needle one, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: p3, c4f, p4, c4f, p3
Needle 3: k1,ssk, k8
Round 3:
Needle 1: knit 10
Needle 2: p3, k4, p4, k4, p3
Needle 3: knit 10
Round 4:
Needle 1: Knit to the last 3 sts on needle one, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: p3, k4, p4, k4, p3
Needle 3: k1,ssk, k7
Round 5:
Needle 1: knit
Needle 2: p3, k4, p4, k4, p3
Needle 3: knit
Round 6:
Needle 1: knit
Needle 2: p3, c4f, p4, c4f, p3
Needle 3: knit
Round 7-9:
Same as round 5
Round 10:
Same as round 6
Repeat round 7-10 once or twice more depending how long you want the socks.
Toe
When the foot is desired length you start knitting all rounds while decreasing like this.
Round 1:
Needle 1: knit to the last three stitches, ssk, k1
Needle 2: (the instep needle) k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1
Needle 3: k1, k2tog, k the rest of the stitches on needle.
Round 2:
Knit all stitches.
Repeat these two rounds till you have 18 stitches left. Graft inseam stitches with the sole stitches. Weave in ends and repeat the lot for the second sock and you are done!
If you like you can twist a strand of yarn and double it to get a twisted cord to tie the socks in place. You simply use a darning needle to strand it right through the knitting around the cuff.
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This was my first attempt at writing a pattern of my own - if you try it out and find anything not adding up will you please let me know. It should be ok though..
I am knitting socks for my friends kids. I am enjoying these small projects as they give me the chance to dive into my sockyarn stash without comitting to a full pair of adult socks.
