Plinth "Tube" Socks

These socks have been created for and inspired by Joy McMillan, aka The Knitting Goddess and her stint on the Fourth Plinth, in Trafalgar Square as part of Anthony Gormley's One & Other project. Joy will be standing on the plinth on the 6th of August, 2009 at 3AM. During her hour Joy will be reskeining yarn in a special colourway she created and dyed for this special event.

Ten skeins of this very limited edition yarn will then be packaged into gift bags for a random draw/raffle with the proceeds going to the Mirasol project. Joy's inspiration for her yarn was the London Underground/Tube, and the coloursthat represent the 11 Tube routes. This sock pattern takes it's inspiration from Joy and her Tube colourway. The cable pattern running along the back of the leg towards the heel mimics the London Underground signs you can see on London streets. The diamond pattern on the legs symbolizes the steps/stairways that take you from street level, to the Tube stations below. And the swirling twisted stitches/eyelets on the foot represent the Tube lines running under London. materials: 2.50 mm circular/magic loop (you can also use dpns if preferred) The Knitting Goddess 4ply 100% merino sock wool stitch markers measuring tape/ruler gauge: 8 stitches to 1" slightly stretched ABBREVIATIONS: PM = place marker M = marker CO = cast on k = knit p = purl ssk = slip next two stitches knitwise, one at a time, then knit these two stitches together through their front loops off the right hand needle p2tog = purl next two stitches together sl 1 pw = slip 1 stitch by inserting right hand needle into stitch as if to purl, slip it off left hand needle CN = cable needle ktbl = knit through back loop RT = knit 2 stitches together and leave on left needle, next 1st stitch again and then slip off left needle LT = knit 2nd stitch on left needle through the back loop (be sure to go behind the 1st stitch to do this), then knit 1st 2 stitches on left needle together through the back loop then slip off left needle 3PCR = slip 1 stitch from left stitch on to CN and hold to back of work, knit two stitches off left needle, purl 1 stitch off CN 3PCL = slip 2 stitches from left needle on to CN and hold to front of work, purl one off left needle, knit 2 stitches off CN 4PCR = slip 2 stitches from left needle on to CN and hold to back of work, knit two stitches off left needle, purl 2 stitches off CN 4PCL = slip 2 stitches from left needle on to CN and hold to front of work, purl two stitches off left needle, knit 2 stitches off CN 4CR = slip 2 stitches from left needle on to CN and hold to back of work, knit two stitches off left needle, knit 2 stitches off CN RS = right side of work WS = wrong side of work CO using long tail cast on, or your preferred method of stretchy cast on, C.O. 64 stitches and join, being careful not to twist stitches

RIBBING (k1tbl, p1) repeat 32 times repeat this for 10 rows, approximately 1" (or your desired length) LEG Diamond and Cable pattern * note when using magic loop place 30 stitches on 1 needle tip (will become instep stitches) and 34 on the other 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. knit 40; p2, k2, p6, k2, p2; k10 (k3, RT, LT, k3) repeat 4 times; p2, k2, p6, k2, p2; (k3, RT, LT, k3) knit 40; p2, 3PCL, p4, 3PCR, p2; k10 (k2, RT, k2, LT, k2) repeat 4 times; p3, k2, p4, k2, p3; (k2, RT, k2, LT, k2) knit 40; p3, 4PCL, 4PCR, p3; knit 10 (k1, RT, k4, LT, k1) repeat 4 times; p5, k4, p5; (k1, RT, k4, LT, k1) knit 40; p5, k4, p5; knit 10 (LT, k6, RT) repeat 4 times: p5, K4CR, p5; (LT, k6, RT) knit 40; p5, k4, p5; knit 10 (k1, LT, k4, RT, k1) repeat 4 times; p5, k4, p5; (k1, LT, k4, RT, k1) knit 40; p3, 4PCR, 4PCL, p3; knit 10 (k2, LT, k2, RT, k2) repeat 4 times; p3, k2, p4, k2, p3; (k2, LT, k2, RT, k2) knit 40; p2, 3PCR, p3, 3PCL, p2; knit 10 (k3, LT, RT, k3) repeat 4 times; p2, k2, p6, k2, p2; (k3, LT, RT, k3)

repeat rows 1-14 three more times, or approximately 6",from top of ribbing (or your desired leg length) last 34 stitches worked will become your heel stitches, reserve the 30 previous stitches for the instep Heel you will be working on the 34 stitches set up row: sl 1 pw, p3, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p4 (4 stitches decreased) Heel Flap 1. sl 1 pw, k1 (repeat to end) 2. sl1 pw, purl 29 repeat rows 1-2 for 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" or your desired length, ending after a row 2 Heel Turn 1. (RS) sl 1 pw, k16, ssk, k1, turn 2. (WS) sl 1 pw, p5, p2tog, p1, turn 3. sl 1 pw, knit to 1 stitch before gap on previous row, ssk, k1, turn 4. sl 1 pw, purl to 1 stitch before gap on previous row, p2tog, p1, turn repeat rows 3 & 4 until all stitches have been worked, 18 stitches remain. Shape Gussets Eyelet Swirl pattern 1. k4, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k4

2. knit 3. k5, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k3 4. knit 5. k6, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k2 6. knit 7. k7, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k1 8. knit 9. k8, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk 10. knit 11. k9, yo, ssk, k8, yo, ssk, k9 12. knit 13. (yo, ssk, k8) repeat three times 14. knit 15. k1, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k7 16. knit 17. k2, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k6 18. knit 19. k3, (yo, ssk, k8) repeat twice, yo, ssk, k5 20. knit repeat rounds 1-20 until desired length of foot (minus 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" for toe), ending after an even/knit round. With right side facing knit across heel stitches Set up: Pick up and knit 1 stitch into each slipped stitch along left side of heel flap and one stitch between heel flap and instep stitches, PM Work round 1 of Eyelet Swirl pattern across instep stitches, PM Pick up and knit 1 stitch between instep and right side of heel flap and into each slipped stitch on right side of flap Knit across heel stitches Along left side of heel flap, knit to 3 stitches before instep stitches/M, k2tog, k1 Work round 2 of Eyelet Swirl pattern across instep stitches to next M Along right side of heel flap, k1, ssk, knit along side of flap and then knit across heel stitches continue in this manner, alternating gusset decreases on even rounds of Eyelet Swirl pattern until a total of 60 stitches remain. Foot Continue working Eyelet Swirl pattern on instep stitches and knit stitches on the sole and until foot reaches desired length, minus 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" needed for toe. End with an even/ knit round Toe 1. k1, ssk, knit across instep stitches to 3 stitches before right side M, k2tog, k1, on sole stitches k1, ssk, knit across to 3 before end, k2tog, k1. 2. knit all stitches repeat rounds 1 & 2 until a total of 18 stitches remain kitchener stitch toe