MCE Sox Pattern

As promised, here's the pattern for the Mock-Cable Eyelet Socks (plus a better picture). I'm assuming a basic knowledge of sock construction & skipping a lot of the construction notes. Socknitters has a good tutorial on construction, good for beginners or just if you need a refresher.

Mock-Cable Eyelet Socks
by Kay Luke

To fit average-to-large sized woman's foot. (Written for my size 10s, in other words.)
Yarn: Elann's Sock It To Me Colori in color Spiced Berries, 2 skeins
size 2 needles

Cast on 60 stitches. Join in the round, taking care not to twist yarn, and work k2,p2 ribbing for one inch.

Commence working in pattern:
Round 1: *P1, sl 1, k2, pass slipped stitch over 2 stitches, p1*, repeat from *.
Round 2: *P1, k1, yo, k1, p1*, repeat from *.
Round 3: *P1, k3, p1*, repeat from *.
Round 4: Repeat row 3.

Work in pattern until sock cuff measures 4" or desired length, ending with row 4.

Start heel flap: The heel flap is worked over 30 stitches; place the remaining 30 stitches on a holder or on a separate needle for the meantime.
Row 1: *sl1, k1*, repeat from *.
Row 2: Sl1, purl to end.
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until heel flap is 30 rows (15 slipped stitches on each side), ending with a purl row.

Start heel shaping:
Row 1: Knit to last stitch, wrap & turn.
Row 2: Purl to last stitch, wrap & turn.
Row 3: Knit to last stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap & turn.
Row 4: Purl to last stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap & turn.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until there are 14 live stitches on needle (not counting wrapped stitches), ending with a purl row.
Begin picking up wrapped stitches:
Row 1: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrap & stitch together, turn work.
Row 2: Purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrap & stitch together, turn work.
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until all wrapped stitches have been picked up, ending with a purl row.

Picking up for the gusset:
Note: I generally knit on two circulars, and I keep the 30 stitches on top of the foot on the top needle, and gusset & heel on the bottom needle. That way, all my decreases are on the bottom needle, and I can keep track of the pattern on the top of the foot easier. If you are using DPNs, place the 30 stitches on the top foot on a single needle, and divide the heel & gusset stitches over two needles. If you are using a single needle, place markers as indicated to help you keep track.

Knit across 30 stitches of the heel. Pick up and knit 16 stitches along edge of heel flap (once in each slipped stitch & one in the corner of the gusset, to help tighten things up.) Place a marker here if you are using a single needle. Knit the 30 stitches from holder IN PATTERN: *P1, sl 1, k2, pass slipped stitch over 2 stitches, p1*, repeat from * for a total of 6 repeats. Place marker if using single needle. Pick up and knit 16 stitches along other edge of heel flap (one in the corner of the gusset & once in each slipped stitch.) A total of 92 stitches is on the needles.

Begin gusset decreases:
*Continue knitting around heel until last 2 stitches before top; k2tog. Knit across top of foot IN PATTERN for 30 stitches. Sl1, k1, psso.* Repeat in this manner until total number of stitches is reduced to 60.

Continue knitting the foot (plain for the bottom 30 stitches, IN PATTERN for the top 30 stitches) until the foot measures 7.5 inches from heel or desired length, ending with a row 4 of the pattern and having knitted across the bottom.

Toe Decreases:
Round 1: *K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 stitches of top, k2tog, k1.* Repeat for bottom.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 40 stitches remain.
Repeat round 1 only (decreasing every row) until 28 stitches remain.
Graft toes & enjoy.