Introduction: This is a simple and fast knit. Good thing! As these wee ones practically outgrow the socks before you finish them! Of course, Panda Cotton is machine-washable so, Mom - no worries!

Size: Baby-Toddler, about age 12-18 mos
Gauge: 8 spi (32 st/10 cm)

Materials:
Yarn: 1 50 gr. ball Crystal Palace Panda Cotton (here #2305 "faded jeans")  (this pattern is also suitable for Panda Wool or Maizy)
Needles:  CPY Bamboo DPN or STAR Bamboo size #2 US (2.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Directions:
1. Cast on 40 st with desired yarn and appropriate needles.
2. Do not join; purl 1 row; now join, being careful not to twist. Place marker for end/beginning of round.
3. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 1-2 in (~2.54-5.08 cm) or desired length.
4. Start leg pattern:
 Holey Ribs  [correction in Round 1 - 4/13/08]
 Round 1: *[(k2tog, yo, k2), p4]*, repeat between * to end.
 Round 2: *[k4, p4]*, repeat between * to end

5. Work in pattern until the leg is ~3.5 to4 in (8.9- 10 cm) from start. End on round 2.

6. The Heel: the heel is worked on (˝ +2) of the sts.
Knit across 11, turn and purl back 22. Place the remaining sts on a holder for later.

Front: *(Sl-1, k1) across
 Back: Sl-1, *(purl across)
 Repeat these two rows until the heel is 1.75 to 2 in (~4.5-5 cm) from beginning, or desired length.
 End ready to start on the front side.

Turning the heel:
K11, k2tog, k1, turn.
Sl-1, purl 3, p2tog, p1, turn
Sl-1, k to 1 st before gap, k2tog, k1, turn
Sl-1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat the knit and purl, as established until you have worked all the stitches.
End on the back ready to knit on the front side.

Gusset pickups:
1. With a new needle (to be ndl 3) k across ˝ of the st.
2. Now, with a new needle (ndl 1), k across the rest of the row and then pick up and knit each stitch going down the side of the sock.
When you are 1 st away from the st on the instep needle, you will want to reach into that yarn between your right and left needles (from the back if you can) and pick up a loop from a row below. Twist this loop and put it onto the left needle, and now knit the new loop with the first instep st. This helps to avoid the gusset hole.
3. Knit across the instep st.
4. Now pick up and knit the st. along the side going up the heel. You will again want to M1 between the right needle and your first pick up st, to pull up and prevent a gusset hole. When you have picked up all your st., knit the last ˝ of the st you reserved earlier.
5. Now, stop and take stock. You should have the same # st on the #1 and #3 needles. Sometimes there is a stitch difference, which you can just ignore, or work in with the gusset decreases.
Gusset decreases: For most people, you can ensure a better fit if you knit around for at least one row before beginning your gusset decreases back to your starting 40 st.
Decrease Pattern, Round 1:
Ndl 1: K to the last 3 st, k2tog, and k1.
Ndl 2: choices
a) simple method, just k across. b) pattern method, p1, and return to the Holey
Rib used previously.
Ndl 3: K1, SL 1, K1, pass slip stitch over [psso]; knit across the remaining st.
Decrease Pattern, Round 2: Knit all needles plain, with no changes in stitch count. Repeat these two rows until you achieve your desired st. number.
The Foot: knit as established with Ndls 1 and 3 knit only, and Ndl 2 in pattern until the sock is ~1.5 in from the end of the longest toe. (Measure the foot from back of heel to tip of longest toe; measure the sock from back of heel for same distance.)
Note: if you make the sock ~1/4 to ˝ in longer than the child’s longest toe, there will be a bit more wear with comfort.
The toe: The toe shown here is a simple round toe. Check your stitch arrangement. You want ˝ or (1/2 + 2) sts on ndl #2, and the other 1/2 of the st is split evenly between ndls #1 and 3.
The toe is worked thus, alternating rounds:
Decrease Round 1:
Ndl 1 - work to the last 3 st, k2tog, and k1.
Ndl 2 - k1, Sl-1, psso. Work to the last 3 st on the needle, & k2tog, k1.
Ndl 3 - k1, Sl-1, psso; work to the end of the needle.
Plain Round 2: knit across all needles with no st changes.
Alternate these two rows until you have ~20 sts remaining; then decrease every round.
When your st count is only ~8, close with your favorite closure.
I prefer to cut the yarn, leaving an ~8 in end, and use a crochet hook to pull the yarn through each st, one at a time, and drop the st off the needle. Then pull tautly and tuck the end inside and work in diagonally.

Knit your 2nd sock and enjoy!

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