Alpaca Cable Socks

Yarn
Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette 50g x 2 col:750
Needles
* 3mm DPNs; sml cable ndle (cn)




* recommended ndle size is 3.25mm;
gauge = 25sts/33rows over 10cm in St st.
I absentmindedly picked up a 3mm circ and by the time I realised it was too late!

My tension 6.5 sts and 10 rows = 1" (St st in the rnd)

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS
C4F (produces a cable that crosses to the left)
Work to beg of cable, sl 2 sts onto cn and leave at front of work. Working behind cn, K the next 2 sts from LH ndle, then the 2 sts from cn.

* Important: ensure the cable panel is facing in opposite directions - RH side for right sock and LH side for left sock. You'll need to sort this out when you divide the instep and heel flap sts.
* Directions are for both socks unless stated otherwise.
* Cable stops at the leg before heel (does not cont onto foot)

Twisted rib
P1, *K1 tbl, P1*

Socks
CO 56 sts and work in twisted rib for 10 rnds.

Leg
Rnd 1 K24, P2, K4, P2, K24
Rnd 2 rep rnd 1
Rnd 3 K24, P2, C4F, P2, K24
Rnd 4 rep rnd 1
Rep these 4 rnds 14 times for a total of 56 rnds (you can adjust length here)

Right sock only - divide for heel (cable will be on right hand side)
K 24, turn and P across 28 heel sts. Place rem 28 sts on holder.

Left sock only - divide for heel (cable will be on left hand side)
K 4, turn and P across 28 heel sts. Place rem 28 sts on holder.

Heel flap
Work back and forth on 28 sts as folls:
Row 1 (RS) Sl 1 purlwise with yarn in back, K to end
Row 2 Sl 1 purlwise with yarn in front, P to end
Rep rows 1 and 2 until heel flap meas 6cm (or desired length)

Turn heel
Row 1 (RS) K16, SSK, K1, turn
Row 2 Sl 1 purlwise, P5, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 3 Sl 1 purlwise, K to 1 st before gap, SSK, K1, turn
Row 4 Sl 1 purlwise, P to 1 st before gap, P2tog, P1, turn
Rep rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked ending with a WS row and ending P2tog... 16 sts rem

Heel gusset
K across all heel sts and with same needle (N1) pick up 14 sts along heel flap selvedge. With another DPN (N2) K across instep sts. With a 3rd DPN (N3) pick up 14 sts along other side of heel and K across half of heel sts... 72 sts.
Rnd now begins at centre of back heel.

Rnd 1 N1 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1; N2 K; N3 K1, SSK, K to end
Rnd 2 K
Rep rnds 1 and 2 until 56 sts rem

Foot
K in rounds until piece meas 5cm less than desired length

Toe
I find the foll method produces a rounder toe than decreasing every alternate row (you can substitute your own toe method here)
Rnd 1 N1 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1; N2 K1, SSK, K to last
3 sts, K2tog, K1; N3 K1, SSK, K to end
Rnds 2 - 4 K
Rnd 5 rep rnd 1
Rnds 6 and 7 K
Rnd 8 rep rnd 1
Rnds 9 and 10 K
Rnd 11 rep rnd 1
Rnd 12 K
Rnd 13 rep rnd 1
Rnd 14 K
Rnd 15 rep rnd 1
Rnd 16 K
Rep rnd 1 only until 10 sts rem

Finishing Graft toe sts tog and weave in ends. Steam lightly to block.

more pictures/info at http://black-dog-knits.blogspot.com