Solstice Sock Pattern

Solstice Socks
By Karin Maag-Tanchak

THIS IS A FREE PATTERN FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE ONLY.

I abhor holiday-specific clothing, but wanted something that pays tribute to the season. Hence, Solstice Socks.

I made two different socks, one Sun Sock, and one Moon Sock, which depicts the phases of the moon. You can choose to make two different socks, or two of the same. If you keep the cuff short (5 inches/12.5cm), there is enough yarn to make 2 pairs of socks, and you can mix and match.

In keeping with the theme, I chose a variation on the Star Toe, which I first discovered in Nancy Bush’s book Folk Socks.

All photographs by Karin Maag-Tanchak; model: Annemarie Maag-Tanchak (age 10); miniature Stonehenge built by John Maag-Tanchak and Sophie Patka.

SIZE
Women’s medium.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Cuff: 8 inches/20cm around.
Foot length determined by you.

MATERIALS
[MC] Blue Moon Fiber Arts “Socks that Rock” lightweight [100% superwash merino; 360 yds per 4.5 oz skein]; color: In the Navy; 1 skein
[CC] Blue Moon Fiber Arts “Socks that Rock” lightweight (100% super wash merino;
360 yds per 4.5 oz skein]; color: 24 Karat; 1 skein

1 set US 2/2.75mm double-point needles
1 set US 1/ 2.25 mm double-point needles

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

GAUGE
32 sts/40 rows = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
- To maintain gauge, I used the smaller size dpns for the plain stockinette parts of the sock.
- Twisted Rib: *k1tbl, p 1*, repeat to end of round.
- Color stranding is used for all charts
- Small Suns and Moon Phases charts each depict half the number of total sts and must be worked twice for each round.
- The basic sock pattern is the same for both socks.
- MC is different for each sock: In the Navy for Sun Sock, 24 Karat for Moon Sock, which means that the CC is the opposite.

PATTERN
With MC, and size 2 needles, CO 60 sts. Distribute sts evenly onto 4 dpns. Work Twisted Rib for 10 rounds. Work st st for 2 rounds.
Work Small Suns[Moon Phases] chart. Cut CC and work st st in MC until piece measures 5 inches/10cm or desired length from beginning.

Heel Flap
With same needle, work across 15 sts. 30 sts on needle. Turn, leaving 30 instep sts on 2 needles.
Next row: sl1, purl to end.
Begin heel flap pattern:
Row 1: *sl1, k* repeat to end.
Row 2: sl1, p to end.
Repeat these two rows until 30 rows have been worked.

Heel Turn:
(RS) Knit 17, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p 5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Sl1, k 6, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p 7, p2tog., p1, turn.
Sl1, k 8, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p 9, p2tog, p1, turn.
Sl1, k10, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn.
Sl1, k12, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn.
Sl1, k14, ssk, k1, turn.
Sl1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn.
18 sts rem.

Gusset:
Work across 9 sts. Using another needle, work across remaining 9 sts. Using the same needle, pick up and k 15 sts along heel flap. Work across instep st. Pick up and k 15 sts along heel flap, work to end of round.
Rounds begin at center of heel. Needle 1: 24 sts; needles 2 and 3: 15 each; needle 4: 24 sts.

Round 1: needle 1: work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2 and 3: k. Needle 4: k1, ssk, k to end.
Round 2: k.
Repeat these 2 rounds until 60 sts remain (15 sts on ea needle.)

Foot:
Work st st until foot measures 2 inches/5cm less than desired length.

Toe:
Round 1: On each of the four needles, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: k.
Work these two rounds until 36 sts remain. Work Round 1 only until 8 sts remain. Break yarn. Using a blunt-tipped needle, run the yarn through the 8 stitches and pull tight.

FINISHING
Weave in ends on wrong side, and block.

Chart notes:

(not included in my original submission; I have since reformatted the chart; I was working with Stitch and Motif Maker had to save the chart as a jpeg, and this is what you get....)

Suns and moons are separate charts, really...I think you can tell from the socks.

Obviously, the "row 11" on the chart is not row 11. It is row 1 for the moon phases.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

The Star Toe tends to be a little bigger/boxier than the wedge toe, for example. Feel free to use your own favorite toe construction!