Yarn: Hand spun two-ply wool, approximately 12 wraps per inch, between sock and sport weight.
Needles: Set of size 2 (2.75 mm) double pointed needles.
Gauge: About 5.5 stitches per inch over stockinette stitch.

About the sock: This is a ribbed top-down sock with subtle leg shaping, short row-heel, and wedge toe. Sized to fit an adult male with a size 13 US shoe.

Cast on 60 stitches using the long-tail cast on (or your favorite cast on). For help with the long-tail method, watch the first video on this page. Divide your stitches equally onto four needles: 15 stitches on each needle. Join, being careful not to twist your cast on row, and begin knitting in the round. Work knit 3, purl 2 ribbing around for 40 rounds (rounds = rows worked in the round). Leg decrease round: on the next round, work *knit 2 together, knit 1, purl 2, repeat from * to the end of the round. Now you have 48 stitches: 12 stitches on each needle. Work knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 30 rounds. Work 10 rounds knitting every stitch. End of leg.

Begin heel: The short-row heel (also called an hourglass heel) is worked on half of the stitches. Two needles contain the instep (top of the foot) stitches, and two needles hold the heel stitches. It doesn’t matter where your start your heel. I like to use the needles on either side of the beginning of the round, so that my cast on yarn tail will be at the back of the leg. Place your 24 instep stitches on a piece of scrap yarn.

There are as many ways to knit a short-row heel as there are sock patterns. I used a heel adapted from the book The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook. Whichever method you use, you’ll want to short-row down until you have 8 “working” stitches flanked on each side by 8 short-rowed stitches.

Some great tutorials to help you with your heel:

Cosmicpluto knits! shortrow heel with wraps
The Blue Blog short row heel (this is most similar to the method I use)
Kaity Knits…a lot: A really simple short-row heel

After you finish your heel, you’ll go back to knitting in round for the foot. Transfer your instep stitches back onto needles. You should still have 48 stitches total. Knit every stitch for 50 rounds. Now you can work your favorite toe, or a wedge toe like I worked here. The wedge toe decreases are worked at each side of the foot. You can start the decreases at either side. * Work to within 3 stitches of the end of a side needle, knit 2 together, knit 1. On the next needle, knit 1, SSK, knit to the end of the needle. Repeat from * to complete the round. Next round, knit all stitches. Alternate a decrease round with a plain round until you have 10 stitches left. Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener stitch. Here’s a great tutorial. Weave in your yarn tails and your done.

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