Basketcase Socks - revisited

Since the Basketcase Socks pattern is now only available through archived web pages, I thought I'd put it up again here. I've made a few modifications to reflect the way I knit socks now - and I spell-checked it :-)


Basketcase Socks

A medium-sized sock with a stretchy-clingy woven rib design along the leg and down the instep. This sock was originally designed to provide some cling for a wool-cotton blend yarn but should work equally well, or better, with other yarns.

Materials:
DK weight yarn - three 50 g. balls
4 DPN needles size 2.5 mm., or size required to meet gauge
Stitch markers

Gauge:
7 sts equals 1 inch in st. st. worked in the round.

Special stitches used:
All stitches are slipped purl-wise unless otherwise noted.
SSK - Slip 1 knit-wise, Slip 1 purl-wise, insert left needle in front of the two stitches and K2tog.

Cast on 60 stitches. Join, being careful not to twist, and divide evenly (20, 20, 20) among three needles. Knit in K2, P2 rib for 20 rounds, approximately 2 inches.

Commence pattern (repeat of 12, pattern will be knit five times per round):

Rnds 1 & 2: K 10, P 2
Rnds 3 & 4: K 2, P 6, K 2, P 2
Rnds 5 & 6: K 10, P 2
Rnds 7 & 8: K 4, P 2, K6
Rnds 9 & 10: (P 2, K 2) twice, P 4
Rnds 11 & 12: K 4, P 2, K 6

Knit these 12 rounds a total of four times, or 48 rounds.

Divide for heel: In order to centre the instep pattern, knit the next eight stitches onto the same needle you just finished. Turn. Slip 1, purl across. Purl the next two stitches onto the heel flap needle. Needle now has 30 stitches. Divide the remaining 30 stitches evenly onto the two remaining needles or place on a stitch holder. Turn and commence heel flap.

Heel Flap (Eye of Partridge or staggered heel stitch)

Row 1: *Slip 1, K1*, repeat between *s.
Row 2: Slip 1, purl across.
Row 3: Slip 1, K2, *Slip 1, K1*, repeat between *s, end K1.
Row 4: Slip 1, purl across.

Repeat these four rows for a length of 2.75 inches, or as desired.

Turn heel (I chose to do a square heel, but you can, of course, choose whichever heel you wish)

Row 1: Slip 1, Knit 19 stitches, SSK, turn.
Row 2: Slip 1, Purl 10 stitches, P2tog, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1, Knit 10 stitches, SSK, turn.

Repeat the last two rows until all stitches have been worked (12 sts remaining). Slip 1, knit across.

Gusset and Instep:

Instep Pattern (18 stitches):

Rows 1 & 2: K 8, P 2, K 8
Rows 3 & 4: P 6, K 2, P 2, K 2, P 6
Rows 5 & 6: K 8, P 2, K 8
Rows 7 & 8: K 2, P 2, K 10, P 2, K 2
Rows 9 & 10: K 2, P 2, K 2, P 6, K 2, P 2, K 2
Rows 11 & 12: K 2, P 2, K 10, P 2, K 2

Pick up one stitch in each of the slipped stitch loops along the side of the heel flap.

Pick up an extra stitch in the corner between the heel flap and the instep and place it on the instep needle. Knit this extra stitch through the back loop. Knit 6 stitches. Place marker. Knit Row 1 of instep pattern. Knit to end of needle. Pick up one stitch in the corner and place it on the instep needle. Knit this extra stitch through the back loop. Pick up one stitch in each of the slipped stitch loops along the other side of the flap. Knit 6 stitches.

You are now at the beginning of the round (the middle of the heel) - if necessary, re-arrange stitches so the heel/gusset is divided evenly.

Knit to the last three stitches on needle one, K2tog, K1. On the instep needle, SSK, knit to marker, knit Row 2 of instep pattern, knit to last two stitches, K2tog. On needle three, K 1, SSK, knit to end.

Instep Decreases:
Rnd 1: Needle 1, knit across. Needle 2, knit to marker, knit next row of instep pattern, knit to end of needle. Needle 3, knit across.
Rnd 2: Needle 1, knit to last three stitches, K2tog, K1. Needle 2, knit to marker, knit next row of instep pattern, knit to end of needle. Needle 3, SSK, knit to end of needle.

Repeat these two rounds until you are down to 15 stitches on each of needles 1 and 3, 60 stitches total. At this point you may wish to move some stitches from the instep needle onto the other two needles to make it easier to knit, but be sure to re-arrange them 15-30-15 before you do the toe. Continue knitting even, keeping instep in pattern, until foot of sock is approximately two inches shorter than required foot length.

Toe:
Discontinue instep pattern and knit instep needle in st. st.

Decrease Rnd: Needle 1, knit to last three stitches, K2tog, K1. Needle 2, K1, SSK, knit to last three stitches, K2tog, K1. Needle 3, K1, SSK, knit to end.

Knit one Decrease Rnd, then knit 3 rounds even.
* Knit one Decrease Rnd, then knit two rounds even * two times.
* Knit one Decrease Rnd, then knit one round even * three times.
Continue with just Decrease Rnds until 16 stitches remain (4-8-4).

Knit the stitches on needle 1 onto needle 3 so you have 8 stitches on each needle. Graft toe stitches. Make another sock exactly the same!

Copyright notice: I am sharing this pattern with you for free. You can use and share this pattern for free. You CANNOT sell this pattern OR the products of it.