Gettin' Knitty with it!

I love to knit. Sadly, I haven't knit since I moved up here. Since I'm home, recouperating from surgery, I have lots of time. Not only am I knitting, I'm designing my own patterns! This is my first attempt at writing a knitting pattern. Please let me know if you find errors or if there are confusing instructions and I'll do what I can to fix it :)

Staggered Rib Socks (for toddlers - tweens)

Materials:

set of 5 #1 DPNs

1 ball (50g) fingering weight sock yarn, super wash wool

yarn needle

stitch marker (optional)

Gauge: 36 stitches/48 rows = 4” stockinette stitch

Sizes:

S (2-4 yrs, 5-6” foot), M (5-8 yrs, 7-8” foot), L (9-12 yrs, 9-10” foot)

Cuff:

CO 48 (56, 64) stitches, divide stitches 12 (14, 16) per needle, place stitch marker at beginning of round.

work K1P1 ribbing for 10 (12, 14) rows.

Leg:

Pattern (worked over 8 stitches):

Rounds 1-4: *P2, K6 repeat from *

Rounds 5-8: K2, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 6 stitches of round 8, P2, K4

Rounds 9-12: K4, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 4 stitches of round 12, P2, K2

Rounds 13-16: K6, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 2 stitches of round 16, P2

Repeat rounds 1-16 3(4, 4) times (on the last repeat, only work rounds 1-15). The 24 (28, 32) sts on N1&N2 are the instep sts. These are on hold while the heel flap is worked.

Heel Flap:

The heel flap will be worked back and forth on the 24 (28, 32) sts on N3&N4. Combine 24 (28, 32) heel flap sts onto 1 needle (referred to N1 from here on) while working row 1.

WS facing:

Row 1: SL1, P all stitches

Row 2: *SL1, K1 repeat from * across all stitches

Row 3: SL1, P all stitches

Row 4: SL2, *K1, SL1 repeat from * until last 2 stitches, K2

work these 4 rows 4 (5,6) times, then work Row 1 one more time to prepare to turn the heel.

Turn Heel:

RS facing:

Row 1: slip 1, K13 (15, 17), SSK, K1, turn

Row 2: slip 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 3: slip 1, K6, SSK, K1, turn

Row 4: slip 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 5: slip 1, K8, SSK, K1, turn

continue to work in this fashion until all stitches have been worked. You should have 14 (??, 16) stitches remaining on N1.

Gussett:

RS: Using the same needle (N1), pick up 1 st in each edge stitch along the side of the heel flap. Pick up 1 additional st in the gap between the flap and the instep sts (instep sts are the 24 stitches that have been “on hold” while working the heel flap).

Knit the next 24 stitches in pattern (work row 16 of the pattern) onto one needle (N2). You should now have all your instep stitches on one needle. Using a new needle (this will be N3), pick up 1 st in each edge st along the other side fo the heel flap plus 1 additional st in the gap between the instep sts and the heel flap. Using N3, knit 7 (?, 9) sts from N1 onto N3. You are now at the beginning of your round, you should have half of the heel sts plus sts for one gusset on N1, 24 instep/pattern sts on N2, and the other gussset and other half of heel sts on N3.

Round 1:

N1: knit all stitches

N2 knit in pattern (starting with row 1)

N3 knit all stitches

Round 2:

N1: K all until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N2: knit in pattern (starting with row 1)

N3: K1, SSK, knit to the end

repeat rounds 1&2 until you have 48 (56, 64) total stitches left.

Foot:

Continue to work in above pattern (without decreasing) for 44 (60, 84) rounds or until desired length minus 1.5-2 inches.

Shape toe:

Round 1:

N1: Knit all stitches until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N2: K1, SSK, K until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N3: K1, SSK, K remaining stitches

Round 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat these 2 rounds until 20 total stitches remain. Knit sts on N1 to N3. You should now have 10 sts on each needle.

Finish with kitchner stitch, weave in ends.