Skew takes the concept of the bias design element to a new extreme by turning the entire architecture of the sock, including the heel, on the diagonal. Rather than attempt to compensate for the non-squareness of stockinette stitch, I chose to exploit it, resulting in delightfully anatomically correct toes followed by an innovative heel shaping which continues the diagonal flow of the stitches without interruption. This heel requires neither short rows nor picking up stitches, but it does require a little bit of faith until the origami moment when a short grafted seam transforms an unfamiliarly-shaped object into a finished heel. A fair amount of high-school algebra and geometry was resurrected for the design process, but the knitter only needs to be able to count.

Don’t let the clean stockinette swaths fool you; the unconventional shaping will keep you on your toes!

SIZE
One size. Sock model wears US women’s shoe size 8.5

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot Circumference: 7.5 inches, unstretched
Length: 9.5 inches
Leg height: 6.25 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Claudia Handpainted [100% merino wool; 175 yd per 50g skein]; color: Oops!; 2 skeins


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
2 US #1/2.25 mm 24 inch circular needles for two-circular method
OR
1 40 inch US#1/2.25 mm circular needle for Magic Loop method

2 US #1/2.25 mm dpns

2 US #0/2.0 mm 24 inch circular needles
OR
1 40 inch #0/2.0 mm circular needle (for ribbing only)

Notions
Yarn needle
Stitch markers – at least two different styles or colors

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Notes: Handpainted or self-striping yarns are particularly suitable for this design, as they will highlight the unusual stitch direction flow.

The use of dpns is not recommended: since increases and decreases occur on opposite sides of the foot, frequent redistribution of stitches would be necessary. In addition, there are up to 102 stitches on the needles at one time.

Although the main portions of the foot and leg are worked on 72 stitches, because they are turned diagonally, the fit of this sock is comparable to a 60-stitch traditional sock circumference at the same gauge. Heel fit is similar to a short-row heel with mini-gussets.

Instructions are the same for both left and right socks except for the heel and decrease mini-gusset sections.

There are various markers with different purposes – different colors or styles will help you keep track.

DIRECTIONS
Big Toe
Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, CO 12 sts total (6 per needle), then knit across one needle only.

(If you prefer to use Turkish or figure-eight cast on method, wrap needles 6 times; k loops off each needle once.) You now have 12 sts total, with one row of sts visible between the needles on the knit (smooth) side. Mark this point as beg of rnd.

Note: Round begins at outside edge of foot, with first half of stitches forming instep for left sock or second half of stitches forming instep for right sock.

Round 1: K2, LLinc, k2, RLinc, k2, place COR marker (sl marker on subsequent rnds), k2, LLinc, k2, RLinc, k2. 16 sts.
Round 2: K.
Round 3: K2, LLinc, k to 2 sts before COR marker, RLinc, k2, sl marker, k2, LLinc, k until 2 stitches remain, RLinc, k2. 4 sts increased.
Round 4: K.

Repeat these two rounds until you have 48 sts.

FINISHING
Weave in ends, using seaming tails to close holes at tops of heels.

The designer has two math degrees and is a contributing author of the book Making Mathematics with Needlework, but dropped out of grad school twice because she prefers to do research with yarn. She is a technique junkie, a process knitter, and occasionally a machine for turning coffee into socks.

She lives in rural Indiana with her crocheter/mathematician husband, housemate, and more cats than strictly necessary, and in her spare time she rocks out as singer and keyboard player for the band Whisper Down. You can reach the designer via her blog or as named4wool on Ravelry.