The Toe Sock Pattern

Here is the toe sock pattern. I heartily apologize for taking so long to get it on here.

Downtown's Toe Socks

Size: These socks were knit for women's size 8 1/2 feet. However, the sock stretches a fair amount, so to adjust to other foot sizes, simply knit more or fewer rows in the foot.

Finished measurements: Foot circumference of 9". Leg length of 6.5".

Materials:
- 2 skeins, Claudia Hand Painted in "Carousel" (socks use almost all yarn, a third skein may be required for larger sizes)
- Waste yarn of similar weight
- set of 5 US size 1 double pointed (or what size gives proper gauge) needles
- tapestry needle

Gauge:
22 st. x 33 r = 3" in stockinette

Pattern:
Leg and Heel Flap:

CO 68 st. Work 2-Knit, 2-Purl rib in the round until work measures 3 in. (For me, this was 34 rows.) Then work in stockinette until stockinette work also measures 3 in. For the heel flap, knit first 34 stiches onto a single straight needle. Place remaining 34 stiches on a spare needle, waste yarn or stich holder, whatever floats your boat. Turn work, slip 1 stitch purlwise, and purl 33. Turn work and begin row 1.

Row 1: Slip 1 pw, k33.
Row 2: Slip 1 pw, p33.

After working these two rows, repeat rows 1 & 2 another 15 times. At this point you should have a lovely little heel flap extending from your sock tube, 34 rows long and 34 stiches wide. If you think you're ready for it, it's time to turn the heel.

Turning the Heel:

Row 1: Slip 1 pw, k18, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 pw, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1 pw, k6, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 pw, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5: Slip 1 pw, k8, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 6: Slip 1 pw, p9, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 7: Slip 1 pw, k10, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 8: Slip 1 pw, p11, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 9: Slip 1 pw, k12, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 10: Slip 1 pw, p13, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 11: Slip 1 pw, k14, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 12: Slip 1 pw, p15, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 13: Slip 1 pw, k16, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 14: Slip 1 pw, p17, p2tog, p1, turn.

At this point, assuming I'm not a complete failure at writing patterns, all the stiches should now be on one needle. If that is the case, congratulations, you have turned the heel! I know, you've probably turned dozens of heels, but I can't help finding that exciting. Anyway, onward and outward; to the gusset!

Gusset and Foot:

Knit 10 stitches, and place first stich marker. Through the gusset and the foot, this will mark the beginning of the round. Using either the circular needle or your first double pointed needle (depending on whether you are knitting the gusset and foot on a circular needle or on DPN's). Knit the 10 remaining stitches. You should now be at the corner of the heel flap. If you look at the left side of the heel flap, there should be 17 loops formed by the slipped stiches from knitting the flap. Continue to knit around the heel flap by knitting into these loops. After knitting into 15 loops, place 2nd stitch marker, and then knit into remaining 2 loops. Then knit the 34 other stiches from the sock tube, knit into 2 loops on the other side of the heel flap, and place the third stitch marker. Knit into the remaining 15 loops on this side of the heel flap, and knit 10 stiches to the first stitch marker. There should now be 88 stiches. Begin row 1.

Row 1: Knit to two stiches before second marker. k2tog. Knit to third marker. ssk. Knit to end of round.
Row 2. Knit all stiches.

After knitting these two rows, repeat rows 1 & 2 ten more times. There should now be 66 stitches. For the remainder of the foot, remove the second and third stitch markers and work in stockinette until work measures 3.875" from last decrease row. Take out the first stitch marker, knit 16 stiches, and replace stich marker. You should now be the side of the foot. This is now the beginning of the round. And we have come to the moment you've all (probably) been waiting for: the toes. Naturally, how you work the toes will depend on which foot you are working on (because unlike normal socks, toe socks only fit one foot each). Both sets of instructions are included here.

Right Foot Toes:

Row 1: k6, m1, k2, m1, k51 (or, if you prefer, knit to 7 stitches before end of round), m1, k2, m1, k5. (70 st.)
Row 2: k7, m1, k2, m1, k53 (or knit to 8 stiches before end of round), m1, k2, m1, k6. (74 st.)
Pinky toe: Place all but the first 9 stitches and last 8 stitches on a spare needle or waste yarn. To make the pinky toe, rather than knitting around the full round, knit the first 9 stitches, and then knit directly into the last 8 stitches, and go to the end of the round. You should now have a joined loop of 17 stitches. This will be the pinky toe. Knit these 17 stitches in stockinette for 8 more rows. Then decrease using these decrease rows:
Decrease row 1: k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk. (11 st.)
Decrease row 2: k1, k2tog, ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog. (6 st.)
To finish the pinky toe, break the yarn with 6 inches to spare. Place the yarn tail on a tapestry needle, and pull it through the 6 remaining stitches. Drop these stitches off the needles, and pull the yarn tail tight to close the top of the toe. The pinky toe is finished. To continue working on the rest of the toes, place the held stitches back on the working needle(s) and begin knitting with a new strand at the stitch which you would have knit into had you continued around the sock at the base of the pinky toe. This is now the beginning of the round. There should be 57 stitches on the needles.
Rows 3 & 4: Knit all stitches.
Row 5: k6, m1, k2, m1, k41 (or to 8 stitches before end of round), m1, k2, m1, k6. (61 st.)
Row 6: k8, m1, k45 (or to 8 stitches before end of round), m1, k8. (63 st.)
Ring toe: Work precisely as you worked the pinky toe, except knit one extra row before you decrease. After you have finished the toe, put the held stitches back on the working needle(s), and begin knitting again with the stitch which you would have knit had you continued around the sock at the base fo the toe. (46 st.)
Row 7: k11, m1, k2, m1, k20, m1, k2, m1, k11. (50 st.)
Row 8: k6, m1, k2, m1, k4, m1, k2, m1, k22, m1, k2, m1, k4, m1, k2, m1, k6. (58 st.)
First half of Row 9: k8, m1, k8, and begin big toe.
Big toe. k26, then place all stitches except for the previous 26 stitches onto waste yarn or spare needle. Then, rather than continuing around the sock, knit directly into the first stitch not on the waste yarn, forming a loop of 26 stitches. After joining, knit these 26 stitches for 12 more rows. Then decrease with the following decrease rows:
Big decrease row 1: k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2. (19 st.)
Big decrease row 2: k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk. (12 st.)
Big decrease row 3: k2tog, ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog, ssk. (6 st.)
Pull these six stitches together as with the other toes. Once the big toe is pulled shut, restart knitting at the stitch which would have been knit next had you continued around the foot at the base of the big toe, to finish row 9.
Second half of row 9: k8, m1, k8.
Middle toe: Work as you worked the pinky toe, except use the first 8 stitches and last 9 stitches, rather than the first 9 and last 8. Also, work 10 rows after the initial joining round, instead of just 8. The remaining 17 stitches form the index toe. Knit those stitches for 11 rows, and decrease and finish as in the pinky toe. And with the end of that index toe, you, my friend, are done! Well done to you.

Well, technically you have to weave in the ends, but you should now have a complete left sock.

Right Foot Toes:

Row 1. k26, m1, k2, m1, k11, m1, k2, m1, k25. (70 st.)
Row 2. k27, m1, k2, m1, k13, m1, k2, m1, k26. (74 st.)
First half of Row 3. k29, and begin pinky toe.
Pinky Toe: k17, and place all stitches except for the previous 17 onto waste yarn or a spare needle. Then, rather than continuing around the foot, knit directly into the first stitch still on the working needle(s). After joining, knit the working 17 stitches for 8 more rows, then decrease as usual. Once the pinky toe is completed, begin knitting again where the knitting would have continued at the base of the pinky, to finish row 3. (57 st.)
Second half of row 3: knit to end of round.
Row 4: Knit all stitches.
Row 5: k20, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k21. (61 st.)
Row 6: k22, m1, k16, m1, k23. (63 st.)
First half of Row 7: k10, m1, k2, m1, k11, and begin ring toe.
Ring toe. Work just as in pinky toe, except knit one extra row before decreasing. Then restart knitting rest of foot, just as before.
Second half of Row 7: k11, m1, k2, m1, k10. (50 st.)
Row 8: k11, m1, k2, m1, k4, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k4, m1, k2, m1, k11. (58 st.)
Big toe: Put all stitches except for first 13 and last 13 stitches on waste yarn or spare needle(s). k13, and knit directly into the last 13 stitches, and knit to beginning of round. After joining round, knit these 26 stitches for 12 rows, then decrease as with the left big toe. Then begin Row 9 where the knitting would have continued to at the base of the big toe. (32 st.)
Row 9: k8, m1, k16, m1, k8. (34 st.)
Index Toe: Place all but the first 9 and last 8 stitches on waste yarn or a spare needle. k9, then knit directly into the last 8 stitches. Knit to end of round. Knit for 10 rows, then decrease and pull closed in the usual way. The remaining 17 stitches form the bottom of the middle toe. Knit those 17 stitches for 11 rounds, and again decrease and close in the usual way.

Now weave in the ends, and Lord almighty, you've got yourself a pair a socks! Hooray!