Knitty Gritty Pattern: Cat Bordhi’s Coreolis Sock

Materials

Austermann Step yarn, 1 ball color 9 (for a sock higher than 7″, you will need 2 balls)
two circular 24″ needles, US size 6 (4 mm) (or size to obtain gauge)
Skacel Letter Markers A, B, C, and D (or 4 different-colored markers to which you assign letters)

Gauge: (with 2 strands held together) 24 sts and 34 rounds = 4″ (10 cm)

Finished size: woman’s size 7-10 (length is adjustable)

Knitting in the round with 2 circular needles:
Each needle holds half the total stitches and knits its own stitches as usual. When the first needle is finished, its stitches are slid to the middle of the cable and the circle of needles rotates clockwise, right side always facing you. The yarn passes from the first needle to the second needle, which then knits its own stitches. Then the second needle rests with its stitches on its belly and passes the yarn to the first needle. Around and around the knitting goes, one needle at work while the other needle rests.

Begin with the toe:
If you’ve never knit on 2 circular needles before, this is the perfect way to start out, because you begin on just 1 needle, knitting a square of garter stitch. When the square is complete and stitches have been picked up all around the edges, you can easily begin knitting in the round with 2 circular needles. See detailed instructions below.

CO 11 sts to 1 circular needle. K 11 ridges of garter st (22 rows). Pick up and k 11 sts along next edge with the same needle. Use second needle to pick up and k 11 along the remaining 2 edges, for a total of 44 sts.

K all rounds until foot measures 5-3/4″ less than desired length (e.g., if your foot is 10″ long, subtract 5-3/4″ from 10″, making this part of the foot 4-1/4″ long). Notice that the garter square is tipped into a diamond shape, which points up the middle of the foot. Tie a bit of yarn on the next side to identify it as the instep needle (the unmarked side is the sole needle).

Arch Expansion Begins

Cat Bordhi demonstrates the Coriolis increase and the heel, including the heel stitch.

Clockwise Coriolis (first sock):
K until 3 sts remain on sole needle, then move these 3 sts to instep needle. Place marker A 2 sts after start of instep needle. Instep needle will begin each round.
Rnd 1: K until 2 sts remain before A (first time you work this rnd, there are only 2 sts before marker A), k once into each strand of next st, k1, ssk, k to end of rnd.
Rnds 2-3: K until 2 sts remain before marker A, k once into each strand of next st, k to end of rnd.
Repeat rnds 1-3 until st count is 66. Move 3 sts from sole needle to right end of instep needle. Remove marker A.

Counterclockwise Coriolis (second sock):
K to end of instep needle, then k 3 sts from sole needle onto instep needle. Place marker A 2 sts before end of instep needle. K to end of sole needle.
Rnd 1: K until 2 sts remain before marker A, k2tog, k1, k into each strand of next st, k to end of rnd.
Rnds 2 and 3: K 1 st past marker A, k into each strand of next st, k to end of rnd.
Repeat rnds 1-3 until st count is 66. Move final 3 sts from instep needle to adjacent end of sole needle. Remove marker A.

Place markers for instep:
Place marker A 11 sts after start of instep needle and marker B 11 sts before end (22 sts between marker A and marker B). Sole needle has 22 sts.
Instep needle only: Repeat (k1, k into each strand of next st) 5 times, k to marker B, repeat (k1, k into each strand of next st) 5 times, k1, stop.

Heel Turn

Special instructions for this section:

• sl1 slip 1 st (also known as slip 1 st purlwise): Think of the 2 needle tips as a clothesline. The slipped stitch slides from tip to tip, without changing its mount (the way it slants on the needle). Slipping a stitch knitwise changes the stitch’s mount. Slip a stitch knitwise only if instructed to do so.

• w&t (wrap and turn): For a knit st: bring yarn to front, slip next st knitwise, move yarn to back, put this wrapped st back on left needle, and turn to work in other direction. For a purl st: bring yarn to back, slip next st purlwise, move yarn to front, put this wrapped st back on left needle, and turn to work in other direction.
• cw (conceal wrap) Lift wrap from the right side up and over the stitch it had wrapped, dropping the wrap onto the needle between that stitch and the following stitch, then knit first stitch and wrap together from right to left through back legs, or purl first stitch and wrap together.

Heel turn is worked back and forth in rows on sole needle only. Note progression of numbers.
Rnd 1: K 1, k into each strand of next st, repeat (sl1, k1) until 2 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 2: Sl1, p until 2 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 3: Repeat( k1, sl1) until 3 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 4: Slip 1, p until 3 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 5: Repeat (sl1, k1) until 4 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 6: Slip 1, p until 4 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 7: Repeat( k1, sl1) until 5 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 8: Slip 1, p until 5 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 9: Repeat (sl1, k1) until 6 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 10: Slip 1, p until 6 sts remain before end of needle, w&t.
Row 11: Repeat( k1, sl1) until 6 sts remain before end of needle, k1. Next st is the 1st of 5 wrapped sts on this side. Cw 4 times. Next st is a cw/ssk: that is, begin to cw and ssk the following st with the cw, swallowing it up. Turn.
Row 12: Slip 1, p until 6 sts remain before end of needle. Next st is the 1st of 5 wrapped sts on this side. Cw 4 times. Next st is a cw/p2tog: that is, begin to cw and p together the following st with the cw, swallowing it up. Turn.

Cat Bordhi continues to demonstrate the shaping so that all the stitches are hidden seamlessly in the knit stitches. She shows how the Coriolis segment of the sock spirals up the leg. She points out the seed stitch cuff and demonstrates a four-strand bind off.

Back of heel:
Move sts from between start of instep needle and marker A, and sts from between end of instep needle and marker B to adjacent ends of sole needle. Before moving the sts, place marker C at beginning of sole needle and marker D at the end. Put away marker A and marker B after moving the sts. Before continuing, shift sts along sole needle so tips emerge at marker C, with yarn coming from left tip.
Row 1: (Sl1, k1) until 1 st remains before marker D, ssk, removing marker D as you ssk, turn. Note gap between needles as you turn.
Row 2: Sl1, p until 1 st remains before marker C, p2tog, removing marker C as you p2tog, turn. Note gap between needles as you turn.
Row 3: Repeat (sl1, k1) 10 times, ssk, turn.
Row 4: Sl1, p19, p2tog, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until only 2 sts remain beyond gaps on each side. Final row becomes a round: (sole needle) Work a row 3, but do not turn. K 1. (instep needle) Working in the round again, k to end of instep needle. (sole needle) K 1, k2tog, k to end of needle (45 sts total).

Leg

In this section there are different directions for the first and second socks. As the Coriolis stripe moves around the leg, help it from one needle to the other (not necessary for short socks, but you can knit these as tall as you like, and then it is necessary).

Clockwise Coriolis (first sock):
The Coriolis stripe must now move onto sole needle. Move last 3 sts from instep needle to adjacent end of sole needle, placing marker A after 1st two moved sts.
All rnds: K until 2 sts remain before marker A, k once into each strand of next st, k1, ssk, k to end of rnd.
Counter-clockwise Coriolis (second sock)
The Coriolis stripe must now move onto the sole needle. Move 1st three sts from instep needle to adjacent end of sole needle, placing marker A after 1st moved st. Beginning 2 sts before marker A on sole ndl, k2tog, k1, k into each strand of next st, k to end of rnd, which is end of sole needle.
All rnds: K until 2 sts remain before marker A, k2tog, k1, k into each strand of next st, k to end of rnd.

Cuff:
When the leg is about 7″ from base of heel, begin seed stitch so the edge will not roll:
Rnds 1-5: K 1, p1, repeat to end of rnd. (Because st count is odd, this 2-st repeat will stagger itself, resulting in seed stitch instead of ribbing.) Bind off with 4 strands of yarn held together. This ensures a loose enough edge and creates a nice braided look. Weave in all ends.

RESOURCES :

Skacel letter markers
Website: www.skacelknitting.com

Skacel Austermann Step Yarn with aloe vera and jojoba oil
Website: www.skacelknitting.com

Purrfectly Catchy Designs sock blockers,
Website: www.purrfectlycatchydesigns.com

New Pathways for Sock Knitters
By Cat Bordhi
Passing Paws Press, Inc., 2007

This pattern was reposted courtesy of the designer. Please contact him/her directly with questions.