Rockin' Swirl Socks pattern

I was asked to write this up, so here goes. It's more of an idea than a step-by-step pattern, and it's not really for a sock-newbie, though it's not difficult.

Rockin' Swirl Socks

I adore the multicolored sock yarns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, but it can be difficult to match a yarn with high-contrast colors with a pattern that will show them off well. I knitted an Odessa hat recently, and when I decided to try something with this particular sock yarn, the hat's swirling stitch pattern was all I could think about. It works well for scrambling up the colors, but doesn't have a lot of "give", so you will likely have to cast on additional stitches from your usual count.

Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock, mediumweight - I used the Lucy color.

Needles: 2.75mm DPNs/2 circs/magic loop, whatever works for you, use whatever size gives you a comfortable gauge - I knit tightly, and never swatch for socks.

Directions:
CO mult of 10 sts (50, 60, 70 etc), join to knit in the round, place marker for start of round.

(Note 4/25: If the CO# isn't working for you, trying changing the "K6" in the stitch pattern to a "K4", and adjust your cast on number to be a multiple of 8, rather than a multiple of ten.)

Knit 5 rounds plain

6th round: *K2tog, yo* to end of round

Knit 5 rounds plain

Join picot hem, slip marker, K2tog, knit 2 plain rounds.

Begin Swirl stitch pattern: *ssk, k6, yo, k2, rep from * until the end of round. The odd number of stitches means that the swirl pattern will begin one stitch farther into the round each time you get to the marker - this is what makes it actually swirl rather than just be a vertical rib.

Continue knitting Swirl stitch pattern for every round until the leg of the sock is the desired length.

On half your total number of stitches plus one (because you have an odd number of stitches), begin knitting heel flap. I always slip first st as if to knit, K1, Sl1 across to end, then purl the last stitch for the RS row, and for WS row, Sl first st as if to knit, purl across, and purling the last stitch. Continue making the heel flap like this until it is just a it longer than squared, then do short rows to turn - I usually leave about 12-14 stitches un-knit in the center for this. You will need to remember this # of stitches later, so make a note of it!

Pick up gusset stitches, knit plain, and decrease each round until you've got your original CO number of stitches (the even #, before you started the swirling stitch pattern). I don't carry the Swirl pattern onto the foot, as I think it's a bit too bulky, but you could certainly give it a try if you'd like.

Knit sock plain until the length of the foot is about 1.5-2" shorter than your desired foot length. Mark the top-of-foot stitches, and bottom-of-foot stitches - if you're knitting magic loop or on 2 circs, you've probably already got them separated, but if you're on DPNs, make sure you have your needles placed so that the sole stitches are on 2 needles, and the instep stitches are on 1 or 2 needles (depending on if you knit with 4 or 5 DPNs).

Begin decreasing for toe:

Round 1 - K1, SSK, knit to last 3 instep sts, K2tog, K1. (Top of foot)
K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sole sts, K2tog, K1. (Bottom of foot)
Round 2 - Knit all stitches plain.

Continue decrease rounds 1 and 2 for 12 rounds (i.e. knit the 2 rounds 6 times), then knit round 1 until you have the same number of stitches on each needle as you left un-knit for your heel turn. Cut the yarn leaving a 3' tail, kitchener/graft toe stitches closed. Weave all ends in.

Repeat all steps for Sock Number Two :) Message me here or on Ravelry with any questions! I wrote this pattern up from memory, and have not yet (as of 4/19/09) knitted it from these directions.

Wear your socks and enjoy!