King Me
By Sharon Fuller
I have a good friend who prides herself on wearing mismatched socks, so I designed these cuff-down "fraternal twins" for her little boy. The socks represent the medieval game of checkers from the tops of their crenellated cuffs to the tips of their pointy gothic toes.
Since buttons may not be appropriate for young children, I have also included instructions for making duplicate stitch checkers.
Size
Infant (1 year) [Toddler (3-4 years), Child (6-7 yrs), Youth (8-9 yrs)]
To fit U.S. child's shoe size: 7[9, 13, youth 3]
Size Shown: Toddler
Note: Infant socks are knit identically to Toddler socks, except that Infant socks are worked on smaller needles. Child socks are knit identically to Youth socks, except that Child socks are worked on smaller needles.
Finished Measurements
Foot Circumference: 53/4[61/4, 7, 8] inches
Foot Length: 51/4[6, 71/8, 83/8] inches
Materials
Knit Picks Palette [100% Peruvian highland wool; 231 yards/210 meters per 1.75 ounce/50 gram ball];
#24252 Cornmeal; 1[1, 2, 2] balls
For duplicate stitch checkers (optional, if not using buttons):
Approximately 6 yards each of two contrasting colors (pictured are Knit Picks Palette in 24239 Bittersweet Heather and 24564 Currant)
Recommended needle sizes
Infant and Child: 32 to 47-inch US #1/2.25 mm circular needle (or 5 dpns)
Toddler and Youth: 32 to 47-inch US #1.5/2.50 mm circular needle (or 5 dpns)
Notions
Stitch markers - 3
Tapestry needle
For button checkers (optional):
5/8 or 3/4 inch buttons in two contrast colors - 12 each (pictured are La Mode Styles 2301 and 3104, both 5/8 inch)
Sewing needle and thread
Small amount of thin knit fabric for backing buttons
Gauge
With smaller needles (Infant and Child):
34 sts and 48 rounds = 4 inches in St st
32 sts and 52 rounds = 4 inches in checkerboard pattern
With larger needles (Toddler and Youth):
32 sts and 44 rounds = 4 inches in St st
28 sts and 48 rounds = 4 inches in checkerboard pattern
Notes: Checkerboard pattern gauge is measured unstretched on the foot of the sock (in a field of St st). On the leg, which is worked entirely in checkerboard pattern, the row gauge will be tighter than on the foot. Row gauge is important for achieving the correct foot length. If your row gauge or desired foot length is different from that specified in the pattern, adjust the number of pattern repeats on the instep accordingly.
Pattern Notes
Knit Cast-On: * K1, leaving original st on left needle. Return new st to left needle by slipping it knit-wise. Repeat from * for specified number of sts.
SKP: Slip next st to right needle as if to knit; knit the following st, pass slipped st back over st just knit. I prefer this left-leaning decrease to the ssk decrease because I find it looks neater and lies flatter. Feel free to use ssk if you prefer.
Checkerboard Pattern (Infant, Toddler)
12 st/26 round repeat
Note: When a yo occurs at the beginning or end of a needle, be careful not to omit or drop it.
Rnd 1: K6, (yo, skp) 3 times.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnd 3: K6, (k2tog, yo) 3 times.
Rnd 4: Knit around.
Rnds 5-13: Repeat Rnds 1-4 two more times, then repeat Rnd 1 once more.
Rnd 14: (yo, skp) 3 times, k6.
Rnd 15: Knit around.
Rnd 16: (K2tog, yo) 3 times, k6.
Rnd 17: Knit around.
Rnds 18-26: Repeat Rnds 14-17 twice, then repeat Rnd 14 once more.
Checkerboard Pattern (Child, Youth)
14 st/30 round repeat
Note: When a yo occurs at the beginning or end of a needle, be careful not to omit or drop it.
Note: the number of sts changes from round to round
Rnd 1: K7, (yo, skp) 3 times, yo, k1: 15 sts
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnd 3: K7, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k2tog: 14 sts
Rnd 4: Knit around.
Rnds 5-15: Repeat Rnds 1-4 two more times, then repeat Rnds 1-3 once more.
Rnd 16: (Yo, skp) 3 times, yo, k8: 15 sts
Rnd 17: Knit around.
Rnd 18: (K2tog, yo) 3 times, k2tog, k7: 14 sts
Rnd 19: Knit around.
Rnds 20-30: Repeat Rnds 16-19 twice, then repeat Rnds 16-18 once more.
Skills Required
Knitting in the round, simple lace, turning a heel, duplicate stitch or sewing on buttons
INSTRUCTIONS
Cuff
Cast on 49[49, 57, 57] sts using picot cast-on as follows:
Cast on 5 sts using the knit cast on; *bind off 2 sts, return st on right needle to left needle, cast on 6 sts using the knit cast on; repeat from * 10[10, 12, 12] times more, bind off 2 sts; return st on right needle to left needle; cast on 2 sts using the knit cast on.
Join sts to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Slip last st onto left needle and purl together with first st, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) to end (twisted rib): 48[48, 56, 56] sts.
Work 10[10, 12, 12] rounds in twisted rib.
Leg
Infant/Toddler
Work Rnds 1-26 of checkerboard pattern one time, then work Rnds 1-13 again (3 ranks of checkerboard squares).
Child/Youth
Work Rnds 1-30 of checkerboard pattern twice (4 ranks of checkerboard squares).
All Sizes
On next round (Rnd 14[14, 1, 1]), knit 6[6, 7, 7], work 12[12, 14, 14] sts in checkerboard pattern as established, knit remaining sts.
Heel Flap
Heel flap is worked over 24[24, 28, 28] sts in eye of partridge stitch with a 2-st garter border.
Turn work and start with Row 1 of eye of partridge pattern on wrong side of sock.
Row 1 (WS): K2, p20[20, 24, 24], k2.
Row 2: K2, (sl 1, k1) across to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 4: K2, (k1, sl 1) across to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-4, 5[5, 6, 6] times, then repeat Rows 1-3 once more for a total of 23[23, 27, 27] rows.
Note: Since infants and toddlers have relatively thick insteps consider creating more room as follows: work an extra 4 rows on the heel flap, pick up 2 additional sts on each side, and work an extra 4 rows of gusset to reduce back to the correct number of sts for the foot.
Heel Turn
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, k14[14, 16, 16], skp, k1, turn
Row 2: Sl 1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 3: Sl 1, k to 1 st before gap, skp, k1, turn
Row 4: Sl 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all sts have been worked: 16[16, 18, 18] sts
Knit 8[8, 9, 9], pm (back of heel and new beginning of rnd).
K8[8, 9, 9], pick up and knit 12[12, 14, 14] sts (one from each garter bump), pick up 2 sts at corner and knit together, pm, k6[6, 7, 7], work 12[12, 14, 14] sts in checkerboard patt as established, k6[6, 7, 7], pm, pick up 2 sts at corner and knit together, pick up and knit 12[12, 14, 14] sts, k8[8, 9, 9]: 66[66, 77, 77] sts. (The larger two sizes are 76 sts, plus the extra st created in Rnd 1 of the checkerboard pattern.)
Gusset
The gusset is worked in St st, except for the 12[12, 14, 14] central instep sts, which continue in checkerboard pattern.
Rnd 1: Knit to 6[6, 7, 7] sts after marker, work 12[12, 14, 14] sts in patt as estab, knit to end of round
Rnd 2: Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker, k6[6, 7, 7], work 12[12, 14, 14] sts in patt as estab, k6[6, 7, 7], slip marker, skp, knit to end of round
Work these 2 rnds 8[8, 9, 9] times until 50[50, 58, 58] sts remain. Arrange sts on needles so there are 24[24, 28, 28] instep sts and 26[26, 30, 30] sole sts (beginning of round is at beginning of instep).
Foot
You should now be at Rnd 6[6, 21, 21] of the checkerboard pattern.
Complete this pattern repeat across the 12[12, 14, 14] central insole sts, working the rest of the sts around the foot in St st.
For Child/Youth only - complete one more full repeat.
You have now completed 3[3, 4, 4] ranks of checkerboard squares from the beginning of the gusset (a total of 6[6, 8, 8] ranks from cuff). The foot is now about 35/8[4, 51/2, 6] inches long from bottom of heel flap.
Toe
Infant/Toddler
The toe for the Infant is about 15/8 inches long, for a total foot length of 51/4 inches.
The toe for the Toddler is about 1¾ inches long, for a total foot length of 53/4 inches.
Rnd 1:
Instep - K1, skp, work in patt as estab to 3 sts before end of instep sts,
k2tog, k1
Sole - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1: 46 sts.
Rnds 2-4: Work in patt as estab.
Rnds 5-8: Repeat Rnds 1-4: 42 sts.
Rnd 9: Repeat Rnd 1: 38 sts.
Rnds 10-11: Work in patt as estab.
Rnd 12: Repeat Rnd 1: 34 sts.
Rnd 13: Work in patt as estab (last round of checkerboard pattern).
Rnd 14:
Instep - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of instep sts, k2tog, k1
Sole - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1: 30 sts.
Rnds 15-19: Repeat Rnd 14 five times: 10 sts
Rnd 20:
Instep - Skp, k2tog
Sole - Skp, k2tog, k2tog.
Break yarn and pull through remaining 5 sts.
Child/Youth
The toe for the Child is about 21/8 inches long, for a total foot length of 71/8 inches.
The toe for the Youth is about 23/8 inches long, for a total foot length of 83/8 inches.
Rnds 1-13: Work as for Infant/Toddler: 42 sts.
Rnd 14: Work in patt as estab.
Rnd 15: (last round of checkerboard pattern)
Instep - K1, skp, work in patt as estab to 3 sts before end of instep sts, k2tog, k1
Sole - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1: 38 sts.
Rnd 16: Knit around.
Rnd 17:
Instep - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of instep sts, k2tog, k1
Sole - K1, skp, knit to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1: 34 sts.
Rnds 18-21: Repeat Rnds 16 and 17 twice: 26 sts.
Rnds 22-25: Repeat Rnd 17 four times: 10 sts
Rnd 26:
Instep - Skp, k2tog
Sole - Skp, k2tog, k2tog
Break yarn and pull through remaining 5 sts.
Second Sock
The second sock is a mirror image of the first sock. Follow the instructions for the first sock, with the following adjustments:
Start leg at Rnd 14[14, 16, 16] of the checkerboard pattern and complete the second half of the repeat.
For Infant/Toddler - work one more full repeat and Rnd 1 one more time.
For Child/Youth - work one and a half more repeats, and Rnd 16 one more time.
Continue with Heel Flap, Heel Turn, and Gusset. At the end of the gusset decreases you should be at Rnd 19[19, 6, 6] of the checkerboard pattern. Complete this repeat, then work through Rnd 13[13, 15, 15] of the next repeat before starting toe decreases.
FINSIHING
Weave in ends. Block if desired, before adding checkers.
Using sewing needle and thread, attach buttons as pictured. For stronger attachment points, place a small circle of thin knit fabric behind each button on the wrong side of the sock, and catch it in your stitches.
OR
Add duplicate stitch checkers as pictured. Each checker requires approximately 18-20 inches of yarn, and is worked from the top down.
If the socks will be worn with high-topped shoes, place all the checkers in the first three ranks of squares.
