Day Eight - Kitchener Stitch and Blocking
The final day of knitting a sock! We will close the toe with The Kitchener stitch.
Slip all the stitches on needle two to needle three.
Knit all the stitches from needle one onto needle four.
Cut a long tail.
With the working end at the back, hold the needles parallel.
Using your darning needle, sew the remaining stitches together as follows:
First 2 sts:Front purl, keep on. Back knit, keep on.
1. Front knit, slip off.
2. Front purl, keep on
3. Back purl, slip off.
4. Back knit, keep on.
There are several very good tutorials on the internet for this stitch.
Weave in the ends and block.
For blocking, you will want to soak your socks and lay them out in their shape. Purchasing a good set of blocking forms is necessary if you want to make lots of socks.
Never wring the water from the socks, always squeeze. When you wash your socks, it is always squeeze the water out and lay flat to dry.
Final Pattern
Sock Pattern
8 stitches to an inch, 10 rows to an inch
Cast On 64 stitches
Cuff
K2, P2 for 16 rows. Place a marker on the first stitch.
Leg
Knit every row for 64 rows
Heel Flap
Set up row: Knit all stitches from needle one onto needle four
Row 1: (WS) Knit 3 stitches, purl to last 3 stitches, knit 3 stitches
Row 2: (RS) Knit 3 stitches, *sl 1, k 1; repeat from * until last 3 stitches, knit 3 stitches
Repeat these two rows for a total of 32 rows.
Turn Heel
Row 1: (WS) Sl 1, Purl 16 stitches, purl 2 together (p2tog), p 1, turn
Row 2: (RS) Sl 1, k 3, slip slip knit (ssk), k 1, turn
Row 3: (WS) Sl 1, purl to within 1 stitch of gap, p2tog, p 1, turn
Row 4: (RS) Sl 1, knit to within 1 stitch of gap, knit 2 together (k2tog), K 1, turn
Heel Gusset
Divide the stitches of heel back onto separate needles, 9 stitches on each.
Pick up and knit 16 stitches along each side, plus two at the top of the gusset.
Needles One and Four should have 27 stitches on each.
Set Up Row
Needle One: Knit to last two stitches, ssk
Needles Two and Three: Knit
Needle Four: K2tog, knit to end
Gusset Decrease
Row One
Needle One: Knit to last two stitches last two stitches, k2tog
Needles Two and Three: Knit
Needle Four: Ssk, knit to end
Row Two
Knit
Repeat these two rows until you have the same number of stitches as your cast on.
Foot
Knit 32 rows.
Row 1
Needle One: Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog k1
Needle Two: K1, ssk, knit to end
Needle Three: Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog k1
Needle Four: K1, ssk, knit to end
Row 2
Knit
Repeat these two rows until you have 32 stitches remaining stitches on your needles.
Then repeat Row 1 every row until you have 16 stitches remaining.
Use the Kitchener Stitch to bind off the remaining stitches.
Weave in ends and block.