Swim Lane Sock Pattern

It’s almost time for the Summer Olympics! Rings of reverse stockinette “float” between wider lanes of stockinette stitch along the leg of this sock. Pattern is written with five rings to echo the Olympic emblem and create a shorter summertime sock, but you could continue the leg pattern to any length. This sock is constructed from the top down with a ribbed cuff and heel flap and could easily be adapted to toe up if that is your preferred method.


Materials

Needles: Set of 4 doublepointed needles, size 2 (or size needed to obtain gauge)
Tapestry needle

Yarn: Any sock/fingering weight yarn will work for this pattern. Sample shown uses Collinette Jitterbug, 1 skein (about 320 yards)

Gauge: 7 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Size: Women’s medium

Cuff

Using long tail cast on, cast on 56 stitches. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. Tail from cast on will serve as a marker for the beginning of the round. Arrange on three double-pointed needles as follows:

Needle 1: 14 stitches
Needle 2: 14 stitches
Needle 3: 28 stitches

Work K1, P1 ribbing for 10 rounds (or desired cuff length).

Leg

Swim Lane Sequence is worked over 6 rows.
Rows 1-4: Knit
Rows 5-6: Purl

Work Rows 1-6 five times (or to ½ inch shorter than desired length of leg). Work Rows 1-4 once more.

Heel

Heel flap is worked back and forth on the 28 stitches on Needle 3. The stitches on Needles 1 and 2 form the instep and will rest while the heel is fashioned.

Turn the work to begin working the heel on the wrong side of needle 3.

Row 1 (WS): Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl to end of row
Row 2 (RS): *Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, K1*, repeat to end of row

Repeat these two rows a total of 14 times. Repeat Row 1 once more.

Heel turn begins on the right side of the work and incorporates short rows to form the three-dimensional heel.
Row 1 (RS): Slip 1, K14, ssk, K1, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, P3, P2tog, P1, turn.

Note the gap that is evident between the unworked stitches on the needle and the last worked stitch in the short rows.

Row 3 (RS): Slip 1, K to one stitch before the gap, ssk, K1, turn.

Row 4 (WS): Slip 1, P to one stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. Knit across all stitches.

Gusset and Foot

Rearrange stitches as follows. Slip half of the heel stitches from Needle 1 to free needle. Slip instep stitches from Needle 3 to Needle 2. Needle 2 now has 28 stitches.

Beginning with Needle 1, which has half of the heel stitches, pick up 14 stitches along the heel flap. Work across Needle 2 in stockinette stitch. With a free needle, pick up 14 stitches along the heel flap and knit across the remaining heel stitches.

Needle 1 now holds half of the foot stitches, Needle 2 has the instep stitches, and Needle 3 holds the other half of the foot stitches. Beginning of round is at center bottom of foot.

Gusset Row 1: Knit to last three stitches on Needle 1, K2tog, K1. Knit across Needle 2. K1, ssk, knit to end of Needle 3.

Gusset Row 2: Work even.

Repeat these two rows until there are 14 stitches each on Needles 1 and 3.

Work even until foot is 1.5 inches shorter than desired length.

Toe

Toe Row 1: Knit to last three stitches on Needle 1, K2tog, K1. K1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches on Needle 2, K2tog, K1. K1, ssk, knit to end of Needle 3.

Toe Row 2: Work even.

Repeat these two rows until there are 16 stitches remaining. Knit stitches on Needle 1 to bring yarn to side of toe for finishing.

Finishing

Slip stitches from Needle 3 to Needle 1. Use kitchener stitch to join toe stitches together. Break yarn. Weave in ends

OR
Turn sock inside out. Slip stitches from Needle 3 to Needle 1. Use three needle bindoff to join stitches on needles 1 and 2. Break yarn. Weave in ends.