The choice is up to you whether to wear them up - under a pair of hiking boots or cuffed down with your Burks. You can also felt them a bit for a more snug fit.
Gauge : about 4.5 - 5 stitches per inch
WPI : spin a 2 ply yarn that measures about 12 wraps per inch. There were about 195 yards in a 3 ounce skein, and I used 4.3 ounces for a large size for my daughter. Try using A worsted weight yarn.
Material : you will need about 4.5 ounces of yarn top complete a pair.
Needle Size : I used a size 3 - 12" circular, and a set of #3 double points.
Cuff
Cast on 53 ( 57) stitches, on the 12" circular needle. Place the last cast on stitch to the left side of the needle and knit this last stitch with the 1st cast on stitch - K2 tog. with the tail of the cast on. This will leave you with 52 ( 56) stitches. Make sure that the stitches are not twisted.
K2, P2 ribbing all around for about 3"-3.5".
Knit one row all around.
On the next row, you will want to decrease 8 stitches evenly all around. Totaling 44 ( 48) stitches. Knit evenly until the sock measures 7" - 8 " in total length.
Heel Stitches:
I begin my heal stitches when I am almost to the beginning of the round, using the tail as an indicator of where the back of my sock is.
Counting 11 (12) stitches beforethe "join" or back of the sock, change to double points at this time, and begin to knit these 11 (12) stitches and the next 11 (12) stitches using the following pattern. This will be a total of 22 ( 24) stitches on your heel needles.(leave the instep stitches on the circular needle).
Pattern :
Row #1 = Slip 1st stitch, P3, Slip one st and knit one stitch across to last 4 stitches, P3, K1, turn
Row #2 = Slip 1st stitch, P across.
Repeat these 2 rows for 10-12 rows. End with a purl side facing.
Turning the heel:
Row 1 - Slip 1 stitch, Purl 12 , purl 2 tog. , Purl 1, turn
Row 2 - Knit 4 , Slip the next stitch, Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch over the K1, K1, turn
Row 3 - Slip 1 stitch, P5, P2 tog. , P1, Turn
Row 4 - Slip 1, Knit 6 , Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch over the K1, , K1, turn
Row 5 - Slip 1, Purl 7 , P2 tog., P1, turn
Row 6 - Slip 1 , Knit 8 ,Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch over the K1, K1, turn
Row 7 - Slip 1, Purl 9 , P2 tog., P1, turn
Row 8- Slip 1 , Knit 10 ,Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch over the K1, K1, turn
Row 9- Slip 1, Purl 11 , P2 tog., P1, turn
***( this will finish the smaller sized sock - so knit across all stitches.)****
Row 10- Slip 1 , K12 ,Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch over. Finished.
Gusset:
Using a smaller sized needle- pick up 10 ( 11) stitches across the heel stitches- in the slipped stitches.
Using a size 3 double point, knit across all instep stitches.
Using a smaller sized needle- pick up 10 ( 11) stitches across the heel stitches- in the slipped stitches.
Knit 1/2 of heel stitches to the 3rd needle.
Using your circular again, begin to knit all around- placing a marker after the 1st needle before instep stitches and also between the instep and 3rd needle. You will now be able to work circularly again. If you want, place a marker in the middle of the heel stitches- this will mark each new row.
At each marker- you will decrease as follows.
Knit to 3 stitches before the marker, K2tog, K1
Knit across instep stitches .
Round 1 -Knit the 1st stitch after the marker, Slip 1, K1, Pass the slipped stitch over the K1, and knit.
Round 2 -Knit one circular row.
Repeat these two rows until you are back to the 22 stitches you started with. This will be a total of 11 ( 12) stitches before and after each marker and 22 (24) instep stitches.
Continue in stockinette stitch until the sock reaches you little toe or about 2 1/2 " prior to the end of the toe.
Now decrease for toe as follows:
**Knit to 3 stitches before the marker- K2 tog, K1, slip marker K1 stitch , Slip 1 stitch, K1 stitch and pass slipped stitch over the one juts knitted.Knit across all top stitches to the last 3 stitches, K2 tog and K1, slip marker and K1, Slip 1 stitch, K1. pass slipped stitch over the one juts knitted. Knit to marker in the middle of the bottom of sock.
** Knit one row all around.
Repeat these 2 rows, until you have 8 stitches remaining. You will need to change to double points when the circulars are to hard to use. Then you can place the stitches on each needle from marker to marker- being 3 needles in all.
Graft the toe stitches and make another sock to match!