Designed and Knit by Laura Andersson for Crystal Palace Yarns

Level: Beginning Sock Knitter

Introduction: Bamboozle is a lovely bamboo-cotton blend with just a wee bit of stretch, and as a worsted+ wt yarn, it’s a very fast knit. One skein will make some great socks for that toddler in your heart.

Abbreviations: CO: cast on; dec: decrease; K: knit; K2tog: knit 2 sts together; P: purl; rem: remain(ing); rep: repeat; rnd: round; st(s): stitch(es); St st: stockinette st, knit every round; rnd: round.

Gauge: 6 sts/in for leg in St st - US size 5.

Materials:
Needles: DPs, #5 US (3.5mm), or size required for correct gauge.
Yarn: 1 - 50 gr ball of Bamboozle (here shown in #1240 'limeade')
Tapestry needle or small crochet hook to work in ends after knitting

Sizes: Toddler, age ~1.5-2.5, with 4.0 to 5 in foot length.

Cast-On: With Bamboozle yarn, cast on 36 sts using #5 US needles. Join, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of rnd.
Work in K2 P2 rib for 1 in.

Rambling Rib Stitch:
Change 1: On the first st of the round, P1. Now work around as *(K2, P2), ending with P1. Work thusly for 1 in.
Change 2: Work as P2, K2 rib for 1 in.
Prepare for the heel.

Getting ready for heel. The heel is worked over 20 sts, with 16 instep sts set aside.
On front side, K across 10 sts, turn work to P side. Now slip one st and P across 19 sts.
Turn work to K side. Rem instep sts may now be set aside or slipped on to contrasting yarn to minimize “gusset holes” later.

Heel Front: *(Slip 1 st, K 1 st), rep across.
Heel Back: Slip 1 st, P across.
Alternate these two rows until heel is 1.5 in. from start, or desired length.

Turning heel:
On front: Slip 1 st, K 10, K2tog, K1, turn. On back: Slip first st, P 3, P2 tog, P1, turn.
Front: Slip first st; K to 1 st before gap. K2tog, K1, turn. Back: Slip first st, P to 1 st before gap, P2 tog, P1, turn.
Rep these two rows until all sts have been used. End ready to work on front side.

Gusset: K across half heel sts & set aside (this is now dp needle #3). With new needle (dp #1), K across & pick up side "gusset" sts.
Instep: Change to needle #2 and K sts off holder, as presented in the P2K2 rib pattern. With new needle #3, pick up gusset sts on right side of heel and K heel sts set aside previously.

Continuing Foot & Gusset: You will have more sts than your CO number of 36 sts.
The heel needles (#1 and #3) will be worked as K1 P1 rib, always having the st adjacent to the instep as a K st (the last st on dp#1 and the first st on dp#3).

Instep Decs: alternate dec & no dec rnds until desired sts count of 36.
Dec Rnd: K across needle 1 to last 3 sts. K2 tog, K1. On needle 2, work Rambling Rib St.
On needle 3, K, slip 1, K1, PSSO.
No Dec rnd. No decs; work in pattern. Repeat the Dec and No-Dec rnds until reaching the desired sts count.

Change 3: K 1, *(P2, K2) across; end K1. Work as Change 3 for 1 in.

Change 4: K2P2 across. Work as Change 4 for 1 in.

Change 5: P1, *(K2P2) across; end P1. Stop when foot is ~3.5 in. from back of heel.

Foot:
Work in Rambling Rib St. through Changes 3, 4, & 5 until foot is 3.5 in. from back of heel.

Toe Pattern: All sts are knit (St st).
Dec rnds 1-3:
On needle 1, K until 3 sts from end. K2 tog, K1.
On Needle 2: K1, slip 1, K1, PSSO; K to 3 sts before end, K2tog, K1.
On Needle 3: K, slip 1, K1, PSSO.
No-Dec rnd: K all sts without any decs. Alternate Dec and No-Dec rnds until only ~20 sts rem.
Dec every round until only ~8-12 sts rem. Work desired toe closure.

Finishing:
Turn sock inside out and use crochet hook to pull ends to inside. Finish off all ends. Work each end “up” diagonally 3 sts and then “down” diagonally 3 sts. This diagonal method locks the end in better than a horizontal or vertical one. Don't forget your starting strand to join little bit of two rows where you started. Weave in ends diagonally to lock.

We would love to post photos of completed socks on our Socks and More Blog, especially with your toddler modeling! - so submit any photos to our “Sock-Guru” drlaura -at- siriusknitting.com (replace the -at- with @ to email)
& http://socksandmorewithCPY.blogspot.com

Laura is the editor (and author-designer) of Friendly Socks, Vol.1 & Vol. 2, Friendly Socks, Vol 2: A-Z. A 3rd set Friendly Socks, Vol. 3, Fifty States, is in progress. Information about these books can be found at http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com  or www.siriusknitting.com  . Laura is the owner of Sirius Knitting Publications and can be reached at drlaura -at- siriusknitting.com (change the -at- to @ to send email).