(K)nitty Gritty Sockette "Pattern"

I've been doing a bit of thinking about how best to write down and present the pattern for the sockettes. I made the prototype in commercial sock yarn but they were originally designed for a friend, and her intent is to make them up in handspun yarn, which can vary quite a bit in thickness. Gauge for socks is also a rather personal thing, so rather than specify a specific gauge and corresponding number of stitches to cast on, I've decided to tell you HOW I made them without getting into all the specifics. Obviously with this pared down so-called "pattern" you will have to be a bit of an experienced sock knitter. Mainly you will have to be familiar with some kind of toe-up technique as I've decided not to go into that in detail.



So here it is, pared down to just the (K)nitty Gritty Sockette "Pattern".

Using your favorite Toe-Up sock pattern, and an even number of stitches, work the sock toe until piece measures two and a half inches, in length, from the beginning.

Cast off approximately 1/6 of your total stitches, CENTERED OVER THE TOE. (This is where the sock opens to become a "shoe".)

If you were using double-pointed needles for the toe, change now to straights. Those using circular needles can continue on, but switch now to knitting back and forth, "flat".

Knit back and forth in stockinette (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) until the flat section of the sockette will reach (gently stretched) to the end of your heel. Note: This is considerably farther than with your normal sock, but we are not creating a turned heel.

Heel Shaping: (Edited with correction) Knit to within 3 stitches of the center of your row, K2 tog, k2, SSK, knit to end of row.
Purl one row.
Repeat last two rows.

Knit to center of row. Fold work in half, right sides together. Bind off remaining stitches using three needle bind off.

Work 2 rounds of single crochet* around foot opening, decreasing where necessary to create a snug fit. Crochet a strap to reach across instep, leaving an opening for a buttonhole. Sew on a matching button.

*Alternately, for those who don't crochet, or choose not to, you can keep the edge stitches from curling by working each row in the flat section as:

On right side: sl 1, knit across.
On wrong side: sl 1, k2, purl to last three stitches, K3.

Knit a narrow band long enough to reach across instep, creating a yo, k2tog buttonhole 1/4 inch before the end.

As I said, this is a very pared down, so-called, "pattern". If I've only succeeded in confusing and frustrating you, feel free to email me (address is on my profile page) and I'll try to better clarify what the heckity-peck I did. ;-)