Big Boy Socks for my baby boy (Slipper Sock Pattern)

I really am trying to NOT buy new yarn.  I made that goal a year ago (knit from my stash!) and I have really not done well.  For some reason, however, I feel a little less guilty about buying new yarn if (1) I have something in mind for the yarn and (2) I cast on right away.  That was the case with the yarn I bought in late November 2011.  My local yarn shop is one year old now and they were having a sale.  I bought two skeins of Bernat Jacquard worsted weight yarn in a colorway called "Jet".  I decided the shades of grey and off-white were good colors for a boy.

I love the way my yarn shop organizes things. It works with the way my brain works.  From left to right, the yarns are displayed from thinnest to thickest.... on the far left... lace weight, sock and fingering weight yarns... in the center, DK and sportweight, worsted and aran weight yarns... followed by chunky and bulky yarns on the far right. Brilliant!

But for some reason (most likely because it is a "self striping" yarn), the worsted weight Bernat Jacquard yarn was WITH the sock yarn.  So it got me to thinking of making socks with heavier, worsted weight yarn.  I looked on Ravelry, and I found that lots of folks make socks, mittens, fingerless mitts, and hats with this yarn.  I initially was going to use a pattern called "Just Perfectly" which I found on Ravelry.  I ended up improvising my own pattern and this is what I came up with.  My project notes are far from refined but here they are.  The socks are very thick so I cannot picture my son wearing these with shoes, but he loves to wear them around the house.  In fact, when I finished the first sock, he insisted on wearing it... just the one.  He said he was, "... like Michael Jackson but with his feet!"  You know, how Michael Jackson used to wear just ONE white glove!?  Hilarious!

This weekend, when I would see my son shuffling around the house with just the one sock on his foot, I would hold up my knitting and say, "Look, I am working on your sock.  I am knitting JUST as FAST as I CAN!"  Sock #2 finished last night! What a relief!

Big Boy Socks (Slipper Socks)
Size US 5 needles (double pointed needles)
Two (2) skeins of Bernat Jacquards (worsted weight) yarn

• Knit the Cuff:  Cast on 48 st on size US 5 dpns.  Join to knit in the round.  Knit in k2,p2 rib for 40 rounds on three needles (you can knit more or fewer rounds depending upon how long or short you want your socks to be).
• Knit 1 stitch.  Move this one stitch to needle #3. Over the next 24 stitches, knit the heel flap.  The remaining 24 stitches (which will become the instep) should be held on another needle (or two), a scrap piece of yarn, or a stitch holder.  Knitting the 1 stitch and moving it to needle #3 centers the stitches. That way, when you knit the instep, it is symmetrical. K1,p2,k2,p2... continue in k2,p2, end with a k1.  I am a LIBRA... I am all about symmetry!

For the heel flap, I followed instructions I found in a pattern called "Just Perfectly" by Bitta Mikkelborg.  The Raverly pattern link can be found HERE.  These are socks I definitely plan to make some day in the future.... a very interesting looking sock pattern for worsted weight yarn!

Heel flap:
Working on 24 first stitches only, leaving remaining instep stitches on hold.
Row 1: *With yarn in back Sl 1 knitwise, k1* repeat from * across row.
Row 2: With yarn in front Sl 1 purlwise, purl across row.
Repeat these two rows until you have worked 31 rows, ending with row 1.

Heel turn:
Row 1 (WS): With yarn in front sl 1 purlwise, p 12, p2tog, p1,turn.
Row 2 (RS): With yarn in back sl 1 knitwise, k 3, k2tog tbl, k1, turn.
Row 3 (WS): With yarn in front sl 1 purlwise, p to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4 (RS): With yarn in back sl 1 knitwise, k to 1 stitch before gap, k2tog tbl, k1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches are worked.  You now have 14 stitches left on your needle.  End on a right side row.  Divide these stitches on to 2 needles (needle 1 and 4).

The round now begins under the foot (in the middle of the foot) with needle 1. The thread is now at the end of needle 1. With needle 1, pick up and knit 16 stitches along the heel flap on the right side. Work the stitches on the instep needles (needle 2 and 3), in pattern... k1,p2,k2,p2,k2... end with p2,k1. With a free needle, pick up and knit 16 stitches along the left side of the heel flap. Knit the 7 stitches on needle 4. At this point you should have 23 st on needle 1, 12 stitches on needle 2, 12 stitches on needle 3, and 23 stitches on needle 4.

Gusset Decreases:

• Knit round: Knit 1 round, keeping instep stitches in pattern.
• Decrease round: Knit stitches on needle 1 until last 3 st; then k2tog, k1. Work stitches on needle 2 and needle 3 (instep) in pattern.  On needle 4, k1, ssk, then knit all stitches to end of needle.

Work these two rounds, alternating between knit rounds and decrease rounds, until there are 12 st on eash of the 4 needles (48 stitches total).

Knit the Foot:
Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2 and 3: Work instep stitches in pattern.
Needle 4: Knit
For my son's size 11.5 feet (Holy Cow!), I completed 40 rounds.  You could knit more or less of course for shorter or longer socks.

Toe Decreases:  When you begin the toe decreases, you stop working the instep stitches in k2,p2 ribbing (For the toe, I did decreases each round until a total of 16 stitches remained).
Needle 1:  Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2:  K1, ssk, knit to end of needle (no more ribbing)
Needle 3:  Knit to last 3 stitches (no more ribbing), k2tog, k1.
Needle 4:  K1, ssk, knit to end of needle.
When a total of 16 stitches remain, graft toe using Kitchner Stitch.

Done... except now you have to make the dreaded "Second Sock!" 

So there you have it!  Slipper Socks done in a jiffy. A great last minute Holiday gift perhaps. Hmmm, maybe I need a pair... my knit shop has just the right yarn...