Free Pattern:

Afterthought Heel Toe Up Self Striping Pattern

Supplies:

100 grams self striping yarn (My friend test knit this in Biscotte & Cie Felix in colorway Loopy Kisses)

Size US#2 (2.75mm) needles (or size necessary to obtain gauge of 8.5 stitches = 1”)

Sizes S (M, L)

Cast on 20 (24, 28) stitches using Judy’s Magic Cast on with 10 (12, 14) stitches on each needle…. After cast on, k all stitches once.

Increases:

Round 1: Needle 1: kfb, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb; Needle 2: kfb, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb

Round 2:       Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 till toe reaches 48 (56, 64) stitches

Next, increase 8 stitches evenly:  *k5 (6, 7), kfb, repeat from * to end of round.  56 (64, 72) stitches.

Knit in round until sock measures 2 ¼ ” less than desired length.

Now, k28 (32, 36) with waste yarn and then return them to the left hand needle (do not knit to end of round).

Now knit the waste yarn and continue knitting in round until sock is desired height minus cuff height.

Next round, decrease by: *k5 (6, 7) k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.  48 (56, 64) stitches.

Knit in k2, p2 rib for desired length of ribbing.

Bind off (I recommend using the “Sewn Bind Off” method)

Heel:

Using a needle, pick up the right leg of 28 (32, 36) stitches.  Flip the sock around so that the top of the waste yarn is facing you and repeat picking up the stitches.  Using a spare needle, carefully remove the waste yarn to create an opening for the heel.

Work in the round….in the first round, *knit 28 (32, 36) stitches and then pick up and knit two stitches in the gap, repeat from *.  Now total of 60 (68, 76) stitches.

Shape heel as follows:

Round 1:  *k1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1, repeat from * on next needle

Round 2: Knit

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 16 (20, 24) stitches remain.

Cut yarn with tail long enough to Kitchener Stitch the heel.

Enjoy!!!

Edited 4/7/2014:

The stitch count after the decreases and before the cuff were incorrect.  I have corrected them.  I also got some great feedback from Jeri on Ravelry.  She makes a great point by saying:

"I have found that most people have a bigger measurement up the leg, where a sock ends, than they do around their foot and ankle. Generally, I use a larger stitch count for the legs vs. the stitch count around the foot."

With this in mind, you could leave out the increases after the toe and knit the foot as 48, (56, 64) stitches.  Then, do the increase after the waste yarn for the heel, and not do a decrease before the cuff.

Thank you to everyone for pointing out my error and for the terrific insight.  This was my first written out sock pattern.  I will probably make another very soon for self striping yarn (because I love self striping yarn) that is a little smaller than this.  I gave my socks to my mother.  She is getting older and has a very large (sometimes swollen) ankle.  This pattern was perfect for her and fit around her ankle for a perfect fit.