2006-15: ASA #4

Yarn: Approx 4oz (112gm, 315yds) Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Socks That Rock lightweight, Velvet Moon
Needles: Clover 2.25mm bamboo DPNs, & Susan Bates 1.5mm DPNs to pick up heel stitches
Pattern: A Step Above, Knitter's 75 Summer 2004. Back issues may be available at the Stitches Market.

I've seriously considered making these socks a burnt offering to the knitting gods.

For now I'll wash them and wear them and maybe some day we'll be friends. If not, there's always a chance they'll end up in the Weber.

For the record, I like this pattern, I really do. My frustration comes from swatching 4 different patterns with this yarn--none of which I liked. Then starting and almost completing the first sock only to find that I didn't have enough yarn for the pair. But that was all part of the journey that lead to here.

I'll share some of my pattern notes with those of you who might still be interested in knitting this pattern. (I'm sure there's an ASA #5 in my future, but not for a while.) The first set of notes is for the pattern in general, the second set of notes are the overall adjustments to make the socks with less yardage than the pattern calls for.

Regardless of what yarn is used, picking up the heel stitches can be a challenge. Try these mods to make that task easier.

• Before knitting the first row of waste yarn for the heel, put a small safety pin or stitch marker through the stitches at each end of your needle to mark them.
• After knitting the waste yarn for the heel, knit 1 row of st st in the project yarn and mark the stitches at each end of your needle like you did before. Purl one row, then proceed with the instructions. These 2 rows of st st make picking up the heel stitches much easier.
• When you pick up the heel stitches, the safety pins mark the start and end of each half-round. You may need to pick up additional stitches to fill in some gaps. If you pick up additional stitches, decrease on the next round.

Now for the mods to make 2 socks when you have 90yds less than what the pattern calls for. By the way, these socks just fit my feet and I wear a size 8 shoe. If anything they're a wee bit tight over the instep. Your mileage may vary.

Each rectangle is 11sts wide instead of 12sts wide.
The cuff is 2 tiers shorter.
The instep is 1 tier longer.

• Divide the cast-on onto 4 needles, 16sts each.
• After completing 1" of ribbing, decrease 20 sts around as follows: [k2, p2tog, k2, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, k2, p2tog] 4 times. 11sts on each needle, 44sts total.
• Follow the basic directions for the Men's sock, but keep in mind you have 11sts and not 13sts per needle.
• After completing Tier 5, skip to the instructions for Tier 8. You'll have 2 fewer tiers for the cuff.
• After working the T1 triangles, follow these instructions for the Heel Preparation: (RS) *LL, [M1, (LL) 2 times] 5 times* 16sts each needle, 64 sts total.
• After knitting the waste yarn rows and the 2 stockinette rows in the project yarn as described in the first set of notes above, work two (Man's) T2 triangles over the heel stitches, but for row 13 end in P1. 11sts per needle. Work R1 twice.
• Continue with the instructions for Tiers 9-11.
• For the next Tier, follow the instructions for Tier 2.
• Now it's time for the top triangles before the toe. With WS facing, pick up and p11 sts along the edge of first R1 from the previous Tier. Row 1 (RS) Sl 1, k9, ssk. Then, beginning with row 2, complete T3 (see instructions below). [Work T3] 3 times.
• Work the toe preparation in the same manner as the heel preparation described above. 16sts each needle, 64 sts total.
• The stitches will be rearranged in the next round to properly position the toe. Still working in the round, k24sts onto a free needle, [k16sts onto a free needle] 3 times. 16sts on each needle, 64sts total.
• Knit 1 round. Add a lifeline. This allows you to go back to adjust the toe length if needed. Knit 2 more rounds.
• Follow the instructions for the toe decreases as described in the pattern.

T3
Row 1 With RS facing, pick up and k11 sts along next R1, sl last picked-up st to LH needle and ssk.
Row 2 [p1, k1] 5 times, p1.
Row 3 Sl 1, k9, ssk.
Row 4 [p1, k1] 4 times, p2.
Row 5 Sl 1, k8, ssk.
Row 6 [p1, k1] 4 times, p1.
Row 7 Sl 1, k7, ssk.
Row 8 [p1, k1] 3 times, p2.
Row 9 Sl 1, k6, ssk.
Row 10 [p1, k1] 3 times, p1.
Row 11 Sl 1, k5, ssk.
Row 12 [p1, k1] 2 times, p2.
Row 13 Sl 1, k4, ssk.
Row 14 [p1, k1] 2 times, p1.
Row 15 Sl 1, k3, ssk.
Row 16 p1, k1, p2.
Row 17 Sl 1, k2, ssk.
Row 18 p1, k1, p1.
Row 19 Sl 1, k1, ssk.
Row 20 p2.
Row 21 Sl 1, ssk. 11sts

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