Bumpy, Curved Trail Socks
by that bald guy
This pattern was created with the intentionally random color changes that occur in hand dyed yarn. The stitch pattern creates a bumpy trail that gently curves around the foot, but doesn’t compete with the beauty of the yarn.
Materials
- Wool Therapy Tranquil BFL Sock [75% Wool, 25% Nylon]; color Elphie; 100 grams – 460 yards; 1 skein
- US#1 (2.25 mm) double pointed needles
- 3 stitch markers (optional)
- Darning needle
Gauge
8 sts and 12 rows / 1″ stockinette stitch in the round
Size
S(M, L), 8(9, 10)” circumference (in pattern slightly stretched)
Abbreviations
- k – Knit.
- k2tog – Knit 2 stitches together.
- M1 (left leaning) – Insert the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the first stitch on the left needle. Knit this strand through the back loop.
- M1 purlwise (left leaning) – Insert the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the first stitch on the left needle. Purl this strand through the back loop.
- M1 (right leaning) – Insert the left needle from the back to front into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on the left needle. Knit this strand through the front loop.
- M1 purlwise (right leaning) – Insert the left needle from the back to front into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on the left needle. Purl this strand through the front loop.
- p – Purl.
- sl 1 – Slip 1 stitch purlwise.
- sl m – Slip marker.
- ssk – Slip one stitch knitwise, then slip the next stitch knitwise. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position (through the back loops).
- wyib – With yarn held in back of work.
- wyif – With yarn held in front of work.
Instructions
Cuff
Loosely cast on 60(72, 84) stitches.
Distribute stitches between needles and join being careful not to twist stitches.
Round: [k, p2, k] 15(18, 21) times
Repeat round for a total of 12 rounds or until desired length of cuff.
Legs
Left Leg
Work highlighted portion of Chart A 5(6, 7) times around the leg. Work highlighted portion of Chart A until desired length of leg is achieved.
Right Leg
Work highlighted portion of Chart B 5(6, 7) times around the leg. Work highlighted portion of Chart B until desired length of leg is achieved.
Heel Flap
The heel flap is knit back and forth on a total of 30(36, 42) stitches.
Row 1: sl 1 wyif, p29(35, 41)
Row 2: [sl 1 wyib, k1] 15(18, 21) times
Repeat these 2 rows 14(17, 20) MORE times for a total of 30(36, 42) rows in the heel flap.
Turn the Heel
Row 1: sl 1 wyif, p29(35, 41)
Row 2: sl 1 wyib, k16(20, 22), ssk, k1, Turn
Row 3: sl 1 wyif, p5 (7, 5), p2tog, p1, Turn
Row 4: sl 1 wyib, k until 1 stitch before the gap, ssk, k1 Turn
Row 5: sl 1 wyif, p until 1 stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1 Turn
Repeat rows 4 and 5 until all stitches are worked and turn work.
sl 1, k17(21, 23).
Gusset
As a result of knitting the heel flap and turning the heel, there should be a total of 17(20, 24) slipped stitches on both sides of the heel.
Pick up 17(20, 24) stitches along the right side of the heel. Place Marker.
Work the next 30(36, 42) stitches in pattern utilizing the appropriate chart. Place Marker.
Pick up 17(20, 24) stitches along the left side of the heel.
K9(11, 12), Place Marker. This marker will represent the beginning of the round.
Round 1: k until 3 stitches before the marker. k2tog, k1, sl m. Work the next 30(36, 42) stitches in pattern utilizing the appropriate chart. sl m, k1, ssk, k until the center marker. sl m.
Round 2: k until the marker, sl m. Work the next 30(36, 42) stitches in pattern utilizing the appropriate chart. sl m, k until the center marker, sl m
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 30(36, 42) stitches remain on the bottom of the foot.
Foot
Continue working the pattern as established on the instep utilizing the appropriate chart and knitting the sole stitches until the desired foot length is reached.
Toe
Round 1: k1, ssk, k24(30, 36), k2tog, k1, Place Marker, k1, ssk, k24(30, 36), k2tog, k1, Place Marker.
Round 2: k until the marker, sl m, k until the next marker, sl m.
Round 3: k1, ssk, k until 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1, sl m, k1, ssk, k until 3 stitches before next marker k2tog, k1, sl m.
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until 30(36, 42) total stitches remain. Repeat round 3 (decreasing every round) until 12(16, 18) total stitches remain.
Cut the yarn and graft the remaining stitches together. Weave in all ends.
Charts
Chart A
Chart A represents the left sock. The highlighted chart, titled Instep Stitches – Right Side, represents the pattern repeat on the leg of the sock.
Additional charts are provided to illustrate the impact of the biased pattern on the foot of the sock. When the pattern reaches the edge of the instep (illustrated on round 16), ssk on the last stitch of the sole. The biased stitch pattern emerges on the left side of the instep via a series of increases at the end of the instep beginning on round 18 and ending on round 24 illustrated in the chart titled Instep Stitches – Left Side.
Round 1: k12.
Round 2: k6, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning).
Round 3: k12.
Round 4: k5, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k1.
Round 5: k12.
Round 6: k4, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k2.
Round 7: k12.
Round 8: k3, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k3.
Round 9: k12.
Round 10: k2, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k4.
Round 11: k12.
Round 12: k1, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k5.
Round 13: k12.
Round 14: k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6.
Round 15: k12.
Round 16: p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k7.
Round 17: k12.
Round 18: sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, M1 purlwise (right leaning).
Round 19: k12.
Round 20: p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, M1 (right leaning).
Round 21: k12.
Round 22: k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, sl, M1 purlwise (right leaning).
Round 23: k12.
Round 24: M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, M1 (right leaning).
Chart ‘Instep Stitches – Right Side’
Round 1: k12.
Round 2: k6, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning).
Round 3: k12.
Round 4: k5, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k1.
Round 5: k12.
Round 6: k4, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k2.
Round 7: k12.
Round 8: k3, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k3.
Round 9: k12.
Round 10: k2, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k4.
Round 11: k12.
Round 12: k1, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k5.
Round 13: k12.
Round 14: k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6.
Round 15: k12.
Round 16: p1, sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog.
Round 17: k12.
Round 18: sl, p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1.
Round 19: k12.
Round 20: p1, k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, sl.
Round 21: k12.
Round 22: k1, M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, sl, p1.
Round 23: k12.
Round 24: M1 (right leaning), k6, k2tog, p1, sl, p1, k1.
Chart B
Chart B represents the right sock. The highlighted chart, titled Instep Stitches – Left Side, represents the pattern repeat on the leg of the sock.
Additional charts are provided to illustrate the impact of the biased pattern on the foot of the sock. When the pattern reaches the edge of the instep (illustrated on round 16), k2tog the last instep stitch and the first stitch of the sole. The biased stitch pattern emerges on the right side of the instep via a series of increases at the end of the instep beginning on round 18 and ending on round 24 illustrated in the chart titled Instep Stitches – Right Side.
Round 1: k12.
Round 2: M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k6.
Round 3: k12.
Round 4: k1, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k5.
Round 5: k12.
Round 6: k2, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k4.
Round 7: k12.
Round 8: k3, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k3.
Round 9: k12.
Round 10: k4, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k2.
Round 11: k12.
Round 12: k5, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k1.
Round 13: k12.
Round 14: k6, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk.
Round 15: k12.
Round 16: ssk, k6, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl, p1.
Round 17: k12.
Round 18: p1, ssk, k6, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1, sl.
Round 19: k12.
Round 20: sl, p1, ssk, k6, M1 (left leaning), k1, p1.
Round 21: k12.
Round 22: p1, sl, p1, ssk, k6, M1 (left leaning), k1.
Round 23: k12.
Round 24: k1, p1, sl, p1, ssk, k6, M1 (left leaning).