Knitting socks with Bamboo Pop Sock yarn

While this week we’ve been exploring using Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop Sock yarn for everything but socks, I thought it would be amiss for me not to include a design for you to try. Yesterday, we looked at two stitches which imitate crochet, and I include them in this design at the ankle, just for a little je-ne-sais-quoi!

Bamboo Pop Sock is a great alternative to sheep’s wool sock yarn because the PBT strand in this yarn provides enough elasticity and memory that the non-elasticity of bamboo rayon or cotton is not a factor.

I knit these socks with size 2mm needles to get a gauge of 32 sts per 4” and these are women’s size 9-10 feet. Use the needle size that gives you this gauge.

Stitch Patterns

Stockinette Stitch in the round (any # of stitches)

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches

Rep Row 1

Bundle Stitch Lace (multiple of 2 stitches):

Row 1 (RS): *P2tog through back lps, ryo; rep from * across.

Row 2: *Bundle-st; rep from * across.

Rep Rows 1 & 2 for pattern.

Bundle-stitch (Bundle-st): Insert RH needle tip between first and 2^nd stitches on LH needle and knit up a loop, knit next first and 2^nd stitches together through back loops.

Reverse Yarn-over (ryo): Bring yarn from back of work to front over the RH needle and return to back of work between needle tips.

Re-knit stitch (rk): Knit 1, return st to LH needle, knit in the back loop to twist.

Knit-side shadow stitch (kshst): Insert RH needle tip into front leg of stitch below next stitch on LH needle and knit up a loop, place loop on LH needle. Turn work leaving these 2 loops emerging from the same stitch (called twin stitches) and remaining stitches unworked. Avoid tugging or stretching needles tips apart when turning.

Knit twin stitches together (ktwtog): Knit twin stitches together as one stitch.

Purl-side shadow stitch (pshst): Slip next stitch purlwise, insert tip of LH needle knitwise into purl bump below the stitch just slipped and lift onto LH needle, purl this loop, slip both stitches together (called twin stitches) knitwise back onto LH needle, turn work, leaving remaining stitches unworked. Avoid tugging or stretching needles tips apart when turning.

Purl twin stitches together (ptwtog): Purl twin stitches together as one stitch.

abbreviations

Est: established

K: knit

Kfb: knit in front then back loop of next stitch; an increase of 1 stitch.

Ktwtog: knit twin stitches together (see Special Stitches)

LH: left-hand

Lp(s): loop(s)

P: purl

Pm: Place marker

Pshst: purl shadow stitch (see Special Stitches)

Ptwtog: purl twin stitches together (see Special Stitches)

Rep: repeat(s/ing/ed)

Rm: remove marker

RH: right-hand

RS: right-side

Ryo: reverse yarn over (see Special Stitches)
kshst: knit shadow stitch (see Special Stitches)

Sl: slip

Sm: Slip marker

St(s): stitch(es)

Stst: stockinette stitch (see Stitch Patterns)

Tbl: through back loop(s)

Tog: together

WS: wrong-side

Pattern begins

Toe

Using Judy’s Magic Cast On [link: https://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html] and size 2mm needles, cast on 20 stitches and knit the first round.

Rnd 2: K1, m1, 8, m1, k2, m1, k8, m1, k1. 24 sts

Rnd 3: Pm, k12, pm, k12.

Rnd 4: [K1, m1, knit to 1 st before next marker, m1, k1] twice. 28 sts

Rnd 5: Knit.

Rnds 6 – 21: Rep Rnds 4 and 5 until you have 60 stitches total.

Foot

Work even in Stst until foot measures 5”.

Gusset Shaping

Rnd 1: K1, m1, k28, m1, k31. 62 stitches.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rnd 3: K1, m1, knit to 1 st before marker, m1, knit rem sts.

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rnds 5 – 24: Rep Rnds 3 and 4. 84 sts.

Heel Shaping

Now working in rows.

Row 1: K36, m1, k2, kshst, turn.

Row 2: P21, m1 purlwise, p2, pshst, turn.

The turning leaves a gap at either end of the 24 stitches just worked, and twin stitches just past these gaps. We will refer to these instead of using stitch markers as indicators.

Row 3: Knit to 4 stitches before next gap, m1, k2, kshst, turn.

Row 4: Purl to 4 stitches before next gap, m1 purlwise, p2, pshst, turn.

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3 & 4—94 stitches total.

Row 11: Knit across to next marker, working a ktwtog in each pair of twin sts, knit to next marker, k46 (working a ktwtog in each pair of twin sts you encounter), ssk, pm on LH needle, turn.

Row 12: [P1, yarn to back of work, sl 1, yfwd]x14, p1, p2tog, pm on LH needle, turn.

Row 13: Knit across to 1 st before marker, sl 1 knit wise, rm, return slipped st to LH needle, k2tog through back lps, pm on LH needle, turn.

Row 14: P1, [p1, yarn to back of work, sl 1, yfwd]x14, sl 1, rm, return slipped st to LH needle, p2tog, pm on LH needle, turn.

Row 15: Knit across to 1 st before marker, sl 1 knit wise, rm, return slipped st to LH needle, k2tog through back lps, pm on LH needle, turn.

Rep Rows 12-15 ending with a row 12 when there are 60 stitches total on the needles.

Ankle

Knit 10 rnds.

Knit 2 rnds of Bundle Stitch lace.

Knit 4 rnds.

Next Rnd: [P1, rk1] around.

Next Rnd: [rk1, k1] around.

Knit 6 rnds.

Cuff

Rnd 1: [K2, p2] around.

Rnds 2 – 10: Rep Rnd 1.

You can always make the cuff longer if desired.

Tomorrow you’ll be able to see the Bundle Stitch Lace applied to a garment, knitted with Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop Sock yarn. I hope you come back for a peek. In the meantime, will you cast on for a pair of these summer socks?

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: Knitting Imitates Crochet with Bundle Stitch Lace

Go to part 5: Knitting the Bundle Stitch Lace Top