Pattern: Phineas socks
Posted on November 29th, 2006 at 11:10 pmHidey ho! I finished up the second of some new socks this afternoon.
I love em. *wiggles toes*
I again find myself knitting project-less. It’s happened a few times lately. Very strange. I’m sure I’ll find something else within seconds, though. Don’t you worry.
Likey? Have a pattern:
PHINEAS
a quietish sock pattern
Size
To fit a woman’s US size 7-9. Sock as shown measures at 7.5 inches circumference. Sole and cuff length is adjustable to the wearer’s foot and preferences.
Materials
• Schaefer Yarn Anne [60% Merino Wool Superwash, 25% Mohair, 15% Nylon; 560 yds./ 4 oz.]
• 1 40 inch US #0 / 2 mm. circular needle, or size needed to make gauge.
• Tapestry needle.
Gauge
32 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette (8 st. / inch)
Notes
This sock is worked toe-up on one long circular needle (but can easily be adapted for use with double-pointed needles), using my current personal recipe for sock knitting. I made up the chart one day when I decided I wanted something a little more exciting, yet not much more complicated, than plain stockinette socks.
I have enjoyed using the Schaefer Anne yarn for this. It is somewhat silky with a bit of a sheen and works up to a thin fabric that reminded me of a dress sock, except that it is variegated. These socks were named for Phineas Nigellus Black (of the Harry Potter book series), best known as Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s most unpopular headmaster.
I am by no means a knitting expert and therefore rely on the invaluable techniques I’ve learned from other knitters to construct socks. Please follow the links I’ve provided for toe and heel construction to get step-by-step details for those respective parts.
Cast On
Cast on 28 stitches using the Magic Cast-On for Toe-Up socks by Judy Becker, published by Knitty magazine here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html.
I prefer this method. Or else try the article by Wendy Johnson (http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter02/FEATtiptoptoes.html) to knit a Short Row Toe or a Figure-Eight Toe.
Following the instructions given, knit toe until you have increased to 72 stitches.
Foot
Begin knitting the foot of your sock, working the following chart twice across the first half of your stitches (instep), and working plain knit stitches across the second half (sole).
(Click through to the images on Flickr, choose “All sizes” above the photo, right click and save the biggest version for printing)
At the end of the chart, begin chart again at row 1 and continue knitting until your sock measures 7 inches from the end of your toe or until it reaches where your leg meets your foot.
Heel
Begin next round of knitting by working the instep stitches in established pattern. Once knit, ignore your instep stitches and instead of knitting the sole stitches of that round plain, begin your heel.
Refer to Wendy’s instructions for her Short-Row Toe here:
http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter02/FEATtiptoptoes.html
A short-row heel is worked exactly the same as a short-row toe. Trust the directions.
Note: Your heel will be worked over 36 stitches, which is ½ of your total number of stitches. For the sock as shown, work your short rows until 12 of the stitches remain “live.” If you like a shallower heel, work fewer short rows and if you need more room, work a several more.
Leg
Upon completing your heel, continue onto your instep stitches and begin chart pattern with the row after you left off. In the leg, knit the pattern on both sides for a total of 4 repeats of the chart.
Work leg for 5 inches (as shown) or to your desired length. It is best to end either after round 16 or round 32 for a finished look, as the pattern forms whole diamond shapes.
Cuff
Knit an inch and one half of twisted ribbing as follows:
k1tbl, p1, repeat to end of round
Bind off using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Bind-Off as follows:
Break off yarn (leave a tail about three times as long as your circumference, plus some for insurance) and thread onto a tapestry needle.
1. Pass needle through the first two stitches on your needle, as if to purl.
2. Pass needle back through the first of the two stitches as if to knit and slip that stitch off the needle.
Repeat those two steps until you have one stitch left, pass your needle through that last stitch purl wise, tug lightly, and weave in that end.
Weave in any other ends. Make second sock.
© text and photos Rosemary Waits; quietish.com; rosemarywaits.com. Please don’t use this pattern to make socks to sell or to sell yarn. You’re welcome to share with friends, but please give credit and link back to me. Thankya!
Charts for larger sizes:
(For a wider circumference, work toe as instructed in pattern and increase to either 80 stitches or 88. Whichever fits best. Then use the charts below to complete the pattern.)
November 29th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
LOVE the socks!!! I have the pdf saved. Thanks!!! : )
November 30th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I’m wiggling the toes on my right foot in celebration!
November 30th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Thanks R,
Now I can knit myself a Black Family heirloom.
Bev
bookshookssticks dot blogspot dot com
December 1st, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Oh so very nice. And the color is yummy too.
December 1st, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Great socks! I love ‘em. I’m saving the pdf too and adding it to my must-make file. (don’t ask how big it is)
December 1st, 2006 at 9:55 pm
Oooh, pretty! I just bought some Schaefer Anne & hadn’t decided what to do with it…this is definitely in the running! Thanx for sharing!
December 4th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
I like it - I saved the pattern. It shows off color variations nicely without overpowering them or being boring stockinette.
December 5th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
OH! They are BEAUTIFUL! I really like how they look, and I’ve saved the pattern too!
January 20th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Thanks for your lovely pattern.
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
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February 4th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
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February 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
[…] 2006 Sock dilemma and weird emails, oh noes! Monday February 12th 2007, 2:36 am Filed under: Uncategorized I finished the first Phineas in only3 days, and I have to say, I absolutely love toe-up socks! It went so much faster than cuff down. I think it’s because you start off with something more interesting instead of miles of stockinette before you get to the fun bits. The pattern was easy, and it turned out really great, except…. the heel is too loose. I started the short rows probably 1/4 of an inch too late, so the heel is all saggy. The way I see it, I have two options. First, I can make a second sock exactly like the first and gift the socks to someone with slightly larger feet than me. The downside to that is that I love this yarn, and this pattern is exactly what I had in mind for it the instant I saw it. My other option is to make the second sock the right size and frog this one and reknit the whole thing. The flaw in that plan is that I want them to be done NOW so I can wear them all the time, so maybe I should just try to get my feet to grow another 1/2 an inch or so. What to do, what to do… […]
June 16th, 2007 at 8:59 am
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June 29th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
This is a great pattern, I can’t wait! Esp. since I’ve been on a major toe-up magic loop kick recently–thank heavens for Ravelry!!!;)
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I just saw your site on the Yarn Harlot today. I love your pattern. Thank you.
July 29th, 2007 at 12:45 am
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August 23rd, 2007 at 1:18 pm
[…] it from the etsy dealer MacKintosh Yarns she has great yarns and great colorways and I am using the Phineas Sock Pattern I love this pattern! Have a great day and Happy knitting!! […]
September 11th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
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November 11th, 2007 at 12:03 am
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December 5th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
[…] still is time consuming, and a little bit stressful. I redid the short row heal on my uncle’s Phineas socks 3 times before I was satisfied, but it’s finally come out ok. It’s been a week […]
January 18th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
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April 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
these are so cute!… I really love them. I’m putting them in my ravelry queue.. thanks for the pattern!
June 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Just found these on Ravelry while desperately seeking a good men’s toe up sock pattern … this is THE solution for Father’s Day socks! Thank you for a wonderful pattern with design integrity!