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FADED SHORTY SOCKS RECIPE
SIZES
The numbers below refer to the circumference of the ball of the foot, not the finished sock.
Kid (5 -6” / 13 – 15 cm) S (7” / 18 cm) M (8” / 20 cm) L (9” / 23 cm) XL ( 10” / 25 cm)
MATERIALS
Yarn
Approximately (123) 147 (164, 189, 211) yards / (112) 134 (150, 173, 193) meters TOTAL of fingering weight sock yarn in a variety of speckled and/or variegated colors. I typically use either 3 or 4 colors for a faded shorty sock.
Needles
US size 1 (2.25 mm)
Notions
Tapestry needle, stitch markers, snips, measuring tape
FADING TIPS
When to Switch Yarns
When working a standard 3-color fade on shorty socks, I finish my gusset decreases and then work 3 rnds before blending in my second color. I start blending the third color about 2” / 5cm before working the toe decreases. Ultimately, use your eye! It’s not an exact science, and you can begin blending a new color when you think the time is right!
How to fade/blend the yarns
When you are ready to start blending in a new color, you can follow this pattern to achieve a more random striping of the old yarn (color A), and the new yarn (color B)
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
Cut A and cont working with B only.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cuff
With US size 1 (2.25 mm) needles and your first color (color A), CO (48) 57 (63, 72, 81) sts and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist your sts. Est 2 x 1 ribbing: [k2, p1] to end.
Cont working the ribbing until your cuff measures ¾” (2 cm), or your desired length. On the last rnd of the ribbing, some of you need to adjust your stitch counts. If you are working the Kid size, or L, move on to the leg instructions. The rest of you, make the following increase or decrease according to your size:
S: Work in rib pattern to the last 3 sts, k2tog, p1. 56 sts.
M: Work in rib pattern to the last 3 sts, kfb, k1, p1. 64 sts.
XL: Work in rib pattern to the last 3 sts, k2tog, p1. 80 sts.
Leg
Work 13 rnds even in stockinette, or until the leg, including cuff, is your desired length! The legs on my sample socks measure 2.75” / 7 cm.
Heel Flap
K across the first (24) 28 (32, 36, 40) sts, then begin working the heel flap back and forth across the remaining (24) 28 (32, 36, 40) sts as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K2, [sl 1wyib, k1] to end. Turn work.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, p to end. Turn work.
Row 3: [Sl 1 wyib, k1] to end. Turn work.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until Heel Flap measures (1.75) 2 (2, 2.25, 2.5)” / (4.5) 5 (5, 5, 6) cm. End after you have worked row 3.
Heel Turn
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, p (12) 14 (16, 18, 20), p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1 wyib, k3, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1 wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1 wyib, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
You have now established the following pattern for your heel turn: sl 1, knit or purl to 1 st before the gap created by turning on the previous row, ssk or p2tog, k1 or p1, turn. Cont in this pattern until all your heel sts have been working, ending on a RS row. You should now have (14) 16 (18, 20, 22) heel sts.
Gusset
With the right side of your work facing, pick up and k (10) 12 (14, 16, 18) sts along the left side of the heel flap. Next, K across the first (24) 28 (32, 36, 40) sts that we’ve left undisturbed on our needles while working the heel flap. Pm, and pick up (10) 12 (14, 16, 18) sts on the right side of the heel flap. K across the heel sts, then k down the first set of new sts you picked up on the left side. You’ve reached the end of the rnd, and all your sts have now been picked up. You should now have (58) 68 (78, 88, 98) sts on your needles.
Gusset Decreases
Rnd 1: K across (24) 28 (32, 36, 40) sts, sl marker, k1, ssk, k around to 3 sts before the end of rnd, k2tog, k1.
Rnd 2: Work even with no decreases.
Repeat these two rnds until you have (48) 56 (64, 72, 80) sts on your needles.
Foot
Cont knitting in stockinette until your foot reaches just to the tip of your pinky toe.
Toe
Rnd 1: K1, ssk, k (18) 22 (26, 30, 34) sts, k2tog, k1, pm, k1, ssk, k (18) 22 (26, 30, 34) sts, k2tog, k1.
Rnd 2: K.
Rnd 3: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before next marker, k2tog, k1, sl m, k1, ssk, k around to 3 sts before end of rnd, k2tog, k1.
Repeat rnds 2 and 3 until (20) 24 (28, 32, 36) sts remain.
Use kitchener stitch to close the toe.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block your socks!
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