Sweet Little Alligator’s Picnic Socks

by Amy Stevenson / astormorray@LJ/ravelry/twitter

Yarn: Noro Aya 09, 1 skein
or any dk yarn

Needles: Size 3 dpns

(or size needed for gauge)

Gauge: 21 stitches & 28

rows in 4 inches of St st.

Sizes: 3-6 [6-9, 9-12, 12-18]

months

stitch markers, yarn needle

NOTE: this pattern assumes familiarity with cuff down sock method-
ology and standard knitting abbreviations. Also being unable to find
any source on the sizes of baby feet, I’ve extrapolated from the size
of my own child’s feet at 3 months old, and adding roughly half an
inch all around per 3 months growth. If in doubt, make a larger
size, as it will fit eventually.

CO 20 [24, 28, 32] sts. Spread out evenly Heel Gusset:

over 3 needles, join without twisting. PM
at beginning of round.
Leg:
Work 12 [15, 18, 21] rounds of 1/1 rib.
Heel Flap:
k1 [2, 2, 2], kfb, k1 [1, 2, 2], kfb,
k0 [0, 0, 2], kfb, k1 [1, 2, 2], kfb,
k1 [2, 2, 2].
(12 [14, 16, 18] stitches on needle)
knit every row 7 [9, 11, 13] times
sl, k3 [4, 5, 6] pm (this is now the beg of
round), k4 [5, 6, 7], pick up 5 [6, 8, 9] sts, pm,
work instep in patt, pm, pick up 5 [6, 8, 9] sts.
round 1: knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog,
work instep in pattern, pm, ssk, knit to end.
round 2: work even.
Repeat these two rounds until there are
24 [28, 32, 36] sts.
Foot:
work even until distance from heel is
2.75 [3.25, 3.75, 4.25] inches

Turn Heel: Toe:

s1, k6 [8, 8, 10] ssk, k1, turn work
s1, p3 [5, 5, 5] p2tog, p1, turn work
s1, k4 [6, 6, 6] ssk, k1, turn work
s1, p5 [7, 7, 7] p2tog, p1, turn work
Two largest sizes only:
s1, k- [-, 8, 8] ssk, k1, turn work
s1, p- [-, 9, 9] p2tog, p- [-, 0, 1].
round 1: knit to 2 sts before marker,
k2tog, pm, ssk, knit to 2 sts before marker,
k2tog, pm, ssk, knit to end.
round 2: knit all stitches.
Repeat these two rounds until
12 [12, 14, 14] stitches remain.
Use kitchener stitch to graft sts together.