This is the core pattern on which most of my designs are based. It is tight-gaged for comfort and durability. Sure, tight knit is a tiny bit warmer, but otherwie you feel all those little stitches digging into your heels and toes. It fits my foot, but can be easily adjusted for your foot. It is 8 inches in diameter, and as long or as tall as you want it to be. I am still working on finding The Pertfect Toe (TM) so this pattern may change when I find it! Gauge is 10 stitches per inch.
Cast on 80 stitches and join for knitting in the round. Place 20 stitches on each DPN. Knit 10 rows of K1P1 ribbing. Knit as many rows as needed in stockinette until your sock measures 6 inches (or desired height).
Construct heel: This heel is a short row heel based on the directions of Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. If my directions do not make sense, you can find a photo tutorial on Melinda Mullin's site, Purlwise. Your first and last needles are your heel needles. Start your heel when your working yarn is between the first and last needles. Move 5 stitches from each instep needle to each heel needle. (Using more than half the stitches gives a longer and wider heel)
Heel stitches:
Row 1: Continue knitting until you have 1 unworked knit stitch remaining on the left needle. TURN work so you are facing the inside of the heel.
Row 2: P-YOd. Purl all stitches on this needle, then all but the last stitch on the next needle. TURN work to front.
Row 3: K-YOd. Knit all stitches on both needles until you reach the first YO double stitch. TURN
Row 4: P-YOd. Purl all stitches on both needles until you reach the first YO double stitch. TURN
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 14 plain stitches in the middle of the heel (7 on each needle) and 17 YO double stitches.
Increasing rows:
Row 1: K-YOd. Knit all stitches on both needles until you reach the first YO double stitch on needle 1. Knit into the first half of this stitch. Reorient the remaining YO. K2tog with the remaining YO and the first half of the next YO double stitch. Reorient the YO left behind then TURN
Row 2: P-YOd. Purl all stitches on both needles until you reach the first YO double stitch. Purl into the first half of this stitch. SSP: Slip the YO knitwise, then slip the first half of the next YO double stitch. Pass both stitches back to the left needle and purl these 2 together thru back loops. TURN
Row 3: K-YOd. Knit until you reach the first YO double stitch. Knit into the first half of this stitch. Reorient the remaining YO. K3tog with the 2 remaining YO's and the first half of the next YO double stitch. Reorient the YO left behind then TURN
Row 4: P-YOd. Purl until you reach the first YO double stitch. Purl into the first half of this stitch. SSSP: Slip each YO knitwise, then slip the first half of the next YO double stitch. Pass all 3 stitches back to the left needle and purl them together thru back loops. TURN
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all original 17 YO double stitches have been used up. On your last row, knitting row 3 you should k3tog with the 2 remaining YOs and the last, unworked stitch on the end of the first needle. Continue onto the instep needles, knitting all stitches. When you get around to the other heel needle, SSSK with the unworked stitch on the needle, the remaining YO, and the YO half of the YO double stitch on the needle. Knit into the remaining half of the YO double stitch.
Continue knitting around until the sock from edge of heel to your needles measures 1 inch less than your desired foot length. Start the toe:
Mock Short Row Toe:
This toe imitates the look of a short row toe, without the short rows and with a lot less stitches to graft. Start the toe from the middle of the bottom of the foot. Needle 1 is a foot needle, needles 2-3 are instep needles, and needle 4 is the last foot needle. You will decrease every other row until toe measures 1 inche. Decrease on the first row, and on every odd numbered row. For a 1 inch toe, decrease until each needle has 11 stitches on it. For a 1.5 inch toe, continue knitting until each needle has 7 stitches on it. After last decrease, continue knitting plain across needles 1, 2 and 3.
Decrease row: Knit all but last stitch on needle 1. Leaving stitch on needle, turn needle as if slipping stitch knitwise (i.e. Twist needle counter-clockwise a half turn). With this needle as your new right needle, knit 2 together from needle 2, and pass slipped stitch over. Knit remaning stitches on needle 2. Repeat this same decrease on needles 3 and 4.
Close off toe with a kitchener stitch. For excellent directions with photos for this stitch, please visit Queen Kahuna's Site. Tuck in all ends and your sock is done!