Alcombe Socks by Jen Arnall-Culliford

Alcombe Socks

Knitting
March 2014
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
30 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches
in st st
US 1 - 2.25 mm
689 yards (630 m)
To fit ankle circumference: 17.5 (19.5, 21, 22.5, 24.5, 26, 27.5, 29.5, 31) cm {7 (7¾, 8¼, 8¾, 9½, 10¼, 10¾, 11½, 12¼) in}
English
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Size
To fit ankle circumference: 17.5 (19.5, 21, 22.5, 24.5, 26, 27.5, 29.5, 31) cm {7 (7¾, 8¼, 8¾, 9½, 10¼, 10¾, 11½, 12¼) in}
Actual ankle circumference: 16.5 (18.5, 20, 21.5, 23.5, 25, 26.5, 28.5,
30) cm {6½ (7¼, 8, 8½, 9¼, 9¾, 10½, 11¼, 11¾) in}
Foot length is fully adjustable within the pattern, and the pattern includes a table of shoe sizes which may be helpful if you don’t know the length of your recipient’s foot.

Yarn
Yarn A: Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball (4ply weight; 75%
superwash wool, 25% nylon; 420m/100g balls)
Pale Shimmer (2170) 1 x 100g ball
Yarn B: Lang Yarns Jawoll (4ply weight; 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon; 210m/50g balls)
Grass Green (83.0198) 1 x 50g ball
Foot lengths over 24cm {9½in} in the largest ankle sizes may require more yarn.

Needles and accessories
1 set 2.25mm {UK 13/US 1} needles for working small diameters in the round (double-pointed needles, long circular for Magic Loop, two shorter circular needles or a very short sock circular needle are all suitable)
Stitch markers
Stitch holder or waste yarn

Tension
30 sts and 42 rows to 10cm {4in} over st st using 2.25mm needles

Pattern Notes
Helical Stripes
Helical stripes are very simple to work. There is no need to carry colours at the back of the work. There will be no visible jog at the change of the round, and the fabric is completely smooth.
Some helical stripe instructions have you work right up to the second yarn – I prefer to work to a few sts before and slip the last few sts, as I find that this keeps a more even tension in both yarns.
When working the helical stripes, the official start of the round marker is ignored, but left in place. This stitch pattern is much harder to explain in writing than it is to carry out!

Construction
This sock is worked from the top down using a heel flap and gusset construction. The foot is worked in plain stocking stitch.
The related Cutcombe Sock pattern has an afterthought heel. This method allows the colour gradation and striped patterning to continue uninterrupted from cuff to toe.

Yarn
I purchased 1 x 100g Crazy Zauberball and 2 x 50g balls Lang Jawoll, and had sufficient yarn for two pairs of socks, with the second pair colours reversed.