Canola Socks

I wanted a pair of socks with a simple stitch pattern to showcase a nice plain yarn. So I created the Canola Socks: women socks with, on the front of the foot, a pattern created by mini cables of two stitches (if you have never done cables before, it’s a good project to start, since the more stitches in a cable, the harder it is to do).

If you don’t want to knit cables, just make knit stitches instead of cable stitches.

Also, I kept some ribbing each side of the ankle, to give a better fit. If you don’t want them, just work knit stitches instead.

Size

Women foot, about 19 cm (8 1/2″) around the largest part of foot. The foot length is about 22 cm (9″), but you may easily make it longer or shorter.

Material

Yarn : One skein of sock yarn. Here I used La Bobineuse sock yarn (95% wool 5% nylon, 290 meters/100 grams)
Needles : 5 double point needles 2,25 mm (US 1), or needle size to obtain gauge
Gauge : 17 stitches x 22 rounds = 5 cm (2 « ) in stockinette stitch

How to knit a mini cable

The mini cables used in this pattern are 1-1 cables leaning right. I explain here how to knit it with a cable needle (or an extra double point needle if you don’t have a cable needle) :

1. Slip 1 stitch on the cable needle and hold it behind work.
2. Knit next stitch.
3. Put held stitch back on your left needle.
4. Knit this stitch.

Instructions

Cast on 64 stitches and divide on 4 needles = 16 stitches on each needle. Join in round making sure you don’t twist stitches.
Work in ribbing 1-1 (*knit 1, purl 1* repeat from * to *), for 3,5 cm (1 1/2″).

Ankle

Now, each round will be knitted this way : 6 stitches in ribbing as established, knit 20, 6 stitches in ribbing as established (that’s half your stitches), work mini cables pattern on next 32 stitches.

Mini cable pattern :

Rounds 1-2-3 : knit

Round 4 : knit 1, (1 mini cable, knit 6)×3, 1 mini cable, knit 5

Rounds 5-6-7 : knit

Round 8 : knit 5, (1 mini cable, knit 6)×3, 1 mini cable, knit 1

Work the ankle this way for 36 rounds. You should end with a round 4 of the mini cable pattern.

Heel flap

The heel is knitted flat on half the stitches.

Row 1 : knit 2 first needles as established (32 stitches). Turn work.

Row 2 : slip the first stitch as if to purl, purl 31. Turn work.

Row 3 : *slip 1 stitch as if to purl, knit 1* Repeat from * to * to the end (total = 32 stitches). Turn work.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for 6 cm (2 1/2″). End with row 2.

Turning the heel

Row 1 : Knit 19. Turn work.

Row 2 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 4, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 3 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 5, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 4 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 6, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 5 :Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 7, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 6 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 8, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 7 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 9, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 8 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 10, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 9 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 11, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 10 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 12, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 11 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 13, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 12 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 14, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 13 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 15, ssk, knit 1. Turn work.

Row 14 : Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl 16, purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn work.

Row 15 : Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 16, ssk.

Don’t turn work.

Picking up stitches

Divide your heel stitches on 2 needles. The beginning of round is now in he middle of the heel.

Pick up and knit stitches on each side of the heel flap this way :

Insert needle under the V on the side of the heel flap, then knit it. Repeat to the end of the heel flap (about 20 stitches are picked).

Work the two needles with your held stitches for the front of the foot (You should know work round 5 of the mini cable pattern), pick up and knit stitches on the other side of the heel flap, and end knitting half the stitches of the heel flap to reach the end of round.

Heel decreases

Round 1 (decrease round) :
Needle 1 : knit to 3 stitches from end, knit 2 together, knit 1.
Needles 2 and 3 : work the mini cables pattern.
Needle 4 : knit 1, ssk, knit to the end.
Round 2 : Knit all stitches of needles 1 and 4, work needles 2 and 3 in mini cable pattern.

Continue, working rounds 1 and 2 until you have 16 stitches left on each needles (total of 64 stitches).

Then, continue working only round 2 until the foot is about 18 cm (7,5″) long, or desired length minus 4 cm (1,5″).

Toes

Round 1 (decrease round) :

Needle 1 : knit to 3 stitches from end, knit 2 together, knit 1.

Needle 2 : knit 1, ssk, work mini cable pattern to the end.

Needle 3 : work mini cable pattern to 3 stitches from end, knit 2 together, knit 1.

Needle 4 : knit 1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2 : knit without decreases, as established.

Round 3 : work a decrease round (like round 1).

Round 4 : knit without decreases, as established.

Round 5 : work a decrease round (like round 1).

Round 6 : knit without decreases, as established.

Round 7 : work a decrease round (like round 1).

Round 8 : knit without decreases, as established.

Round 9 : work a decrease round (like round 1).

Round 10 : knit without decreases, as established.

Rounds 11-12-13 : work a decrease round (like round 1).

End the toes with a grafting : slip all stitches from needles 1 and 4 on one needle, then all stitches from needles 2 and 3 on one needle.

Sew both sides together with grafting (Kitchener stitch).

Weave in ends, block if you want to (I always want to wear my socks before I block them… just because I can’t wait to try them on!)

I hope you liked this pattern. If you have any question please write it in comment (or read already posted comments) I will answer it as fast as I can.