Tolstoy's Triumphant Thermals by Ethan Lyn

Tolstoy's Triumphant Thermals

Knitting
October 2020
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
32 stitches and 46 rows = 4 inches
in Double-knit Stockinette
US 1 - 2.25 mm
440 yards (402 m)
XS (S, M, L, XL)
English German

Worked top down, two-at-a-time with a double knitting method. Afterthought heel and a cinched wedge toe.

Finished Size
XS (S, M, L, XL)

Sock’s foot circumference: 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)” (18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm).
Choose a size with approximately 1” (2.5 cm) negative ease in the foot circumference.

Yarn
Fingering weight (#1 Super Fine).
Shown here: Urth Yarns Uneek Sock
(75% extrafine superwash Merino, 25% nylon; 220 yd (200 m)/1¾ oz (50 g): #60, 2 balls.

Needles
Size U.S. 1 (2.25 mm): Your preferred configuration for small circumference in the round: DPNs, long circular for magic loop, 2 shorter circulars, set of three flexible DPNs, 8–9” (20–23 cm) circular.

A second set of needles in a similar size for use as stitch holders (optional; stitch holders or waste yarn can also be used).
Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Waste yarn; cable needle; yarn needle; locking stitch markers for fixing errors.

Gauge
32 sts and 46 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in double-knit stockinette st.
32 sts and 49 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in double-knit thermal patt.

Notes

  • The thermal pattern combines stockinette st with the same ribbing from the cuffs, and the toes and heels are cinched together at the end, which means no grafting. The afterthought heels are worked as a little break from the feet (mid-thought heels, in a way), so closing the toes comes at the very end.
  • The outside sock is worked in yarn A; the inside sock in yarn B. Offsetting the stripe repeats (working yarn A and yarn B in different colors) helps to differentiate between the two socks, making it easier to spot errors and keep the yarns from crossing.
  • While knitting, the right sides of each layer are facing you, and the sts on the needles alternate one-by-one between layers.
  • Yarn A should always be in front of yarn B to prevent the yarns from crossing—every time you drop the yarns and pick them back up, double-check to make sure you haven’t twisted them.
  • Afterthought heel setup consists of 2 rows of flat knitting in waste yarn (not double-knit) that are unraveled, with lifelines in the sts directly above and below to aid in picking up two layers of sts.