Inspiration: subtle colors show off a subtle stitch motif.

Materials:
2 - 50 gm ball Mochi Plus color 'treasure chest' #559
Crystal Palace Bamboo dpn needles in size US 5 (for leg and cuff) & US 4 (for heel and foot)
Stitch Marker (or loop of contrasting yarn)
Large eyed tapestry needle or crochet hook

Gauge: 6 sts per inch (24 sts/10 cm) over St st on US 4.

Size: woman’s M (size US 7/8)

Abbreviations:
CO- cast on; dpn- double pointed needles; K- Knit; K2tog - knit 2 sts together; P- Purl; rep - repeat; St st - stockinette stitch; YO - yarn over; PSSO - pass slip st over; rnd(s) - round(s); st(s)- stitch(es); tog - together.

Instructions:
CO 48 st. Join, being careful not to twist. Place marker.
P 1 rnd; K 1 rnd.
Inc 1 in ea st by knitting into the front and back. K 1 rnd. Dec in every st. K 1 rnd.
Work K2 P2 rib for 2"

Begin pattern:
1. K4 P4 for 1/2".
2. P2, *(K4 P4) around, end P2. Work rnd 2 for 1/2".
Continue alternating these 2 patts for ˝ in each for a total of ~6.5" or desired length.

Begin Heel:
K12, turn, P24. Put remaining 24 instep sts on holder.
Heel front: *(Sl-1, K1), across). Heel back: Sl-1, P all sts across.
Repeat these 2 rows until the heel is ~2.5" from start, or desired length.
Heel turn: Sl-1, K13, K2tog, K1, turn. Sl1, P 5, p2tog, p1 turn.
Right Side: Sl-1, K across to 1 st before “gap”. K2tog, K1, turn.
Wrong Side: Sl-1, P across to 1 st before “gap”, P2tog, P1, turn.
Repeat these two rows until all heel sts are used up.
End ready for front row.

Gusset pickups: K across ˝ st and change to new needle.
K across remaining sts; pick up & knit the slip sts going down the side of the heel. Change to a new needle #2 and K the instep sts; change to a new needle and knit the slip sts going up the other side of the heel. End by knitting across the remaining sts.

Gusset decreases: decrease down to the starting number of sts, alternating dec rounds as below and plain rounds thusly:
Dec round:
On ndl 1, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1;
on ndl 2, k across;
on ndl 3, k1, sl-1, k1, psso, and K to end.
Plain round: knit with no decreases across all 3 needles.
When you have returned to the starting number of sts, knit even until the sock foot is ~1.75" from length of longest toe. Now begin toe decreases.

Toe:
Dec rnd:
Needle 1, K to last 3 sts; K2tog, K1.
Needle 2, K1, Slip1, K1, PSSO, K to last 3 sts; K2tog, K1.
Needle 3: K1, Slip 1, K1, PSSO, and K to end.
Plain rnd: K all sts.
You will alternate Dec rnd and Plain rnd until 8 sts remain.

Toe closure: cut the yarn, leaving an ~8" end.
With a crochet hook, pull the yarn through the sts one at a time, dropping each off the needle. Pull tightly to close; tuck end inside.

Finishing:
Work in all ends. Try a crochet hook for this - no need to thread needle & this is faster.

Laura is the editor (and author-designer) of Friendly Socks, Vol.1, Friendly Socks, Vol 2: A-Z; a 3rd set Friendly Socks, Vol. 3, 50 Socks - 50 States, is due Fall 2009. Information about these books can be found at http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com or www.siriusknitting.com .
Laura is the owner of Sirius Knitting Publications and can be reached at
drlaura -at- siriusknitting.com (change the -at- to @ to send email, we do this to help drlaura avoid spam).

copyright 2009 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this free knitting pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format or elsewhere on the Web without permission. Knitting shops carrying CP Yarns Mochi Plus are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns and email cpyinfo -at- straw.com (replace the -at- with @)

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988,  fax: 510-237-9809