Dory

After our fabulous introduction to Fair Isle in our last issue, Luise Roberts has come up with another sensational design to help you develop your growing colourwork skills. This time we look at Fair Isle in the round and these brilliant socks are a great example of what can be achieved. The pattern is made up of two contrasting yarns and the shapes look like scales. The scales have also been made to resemble fish as a great finishing touch. If you can't see them to begin with, just stand back and admire the design then, just like a magic eye picture, lots of little fish will appear before you!

CUFF
Using 3.25mm dpns and yarn A, loosely cast on 64 sts using the long tail cast on method. Arrange the stitches over four needles. 16 sts on each needle. Join in the round, making sure the stitches are not twisted. Place round marker at the start of the round on needle 1 (n1)
❑ Rnds 1-15: * k1, p1, rep from * to end of rnd

LEG
Change to 3.75mm dpns
❑ Rnd 16: k to last st, m1.
65 sts
Join in yarn B
❑ Rnds 17-76: working in st st and using the chart for the First sock, work one rep on each needle until the last st, then k1 in yarn A
Change to 3.25mm dpns and yarn B
❑ Rnd 77: * k2tog, k to end of needle; rep from * on each needle. 61 sts
❑ Rnd 78: k
❑ Rnd 79: * k2tog, k to end of needle; rep from * on each needle. 57 sts
❑ Rnds 80-87: k

HEEL FLAP
Break off yarn B, rejoin yarn A.
Prepare for the heel flap as folls:
❑ Next row: n1 – k to last st, bring yarn between needles to front of work, sl 1, turn Transfer the sts on n1 and n4 onto one needle. 29 sts
❑ Row 1: k1, p to last st, sl 1, turn
❑ Row 2: * k1, sl 1; rep to last two sts, sl1, bring yarn between needles to front of thework, sl 1, turn
❑ Rep last two rows 14 more times

TURNING THE HEEL
❑ Row 31: k1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn
❑ Row 32: sl 1, k4, ssk, k1, turn
❑ Row 33: sl 1, p to one st before the gap in sts, p2tog, p1, turn
❑ Row 34: sl 1, k to one st before gap in sts, ssk, k1, turn
❑ Rep last two rows, inc number of sts worked before the dec st by one st on each row until all sts have been worked, ending with a RS row. 17 sts

GUSSETT
Break off yarn A, rejoin yarn B
❑ Rnd 88: using a spare needle pick up 15 sts down left side of heel working through both of the loops for each slip st edge st, pick up one st at base of heel and one st under first stitch of instep
❑ With a new needle, k across the instep sts that form on top of the foot on needles 2 and 3
❑ With a new needle, pick up one st under last stitch of instep and one st at base of the heel before the slip st edge, pick up 15 sts up right side of heel, working through both of the loops for each slip st edge st
❑ With the same needle that picked up the sts up the right of the heel, k9 from the needle holding the sts from the turned heel
Transfer rem sts from the heel onto the next needle. This needle is the start of the round, (n1)
❑ Rnd 89: n1 – k to last two sts, ssk; n2 and n3 – k; n4 – k2tog, k to end of needle
❑ Rnd 90: n1 – k to last three sts, k2tog, k1; n2 and n3 – k; n4 – k1, ssk, k to end of needle
❑ Rnd 91: k
❑ Rep last two rnds until there are 57 sts
❑ Rnd 110: n1, n2 and n3 – k; n4 – k1, ssk, k to end of needle.
56 sts (14 sts on each needle)

FOOT
❑ Rnds 111-151: k
❑ Cont to k to the foot length required, allowing 18 rnds (approx 4.5cm) for toe shaping

TOE
Break off yarn B, rejoin yarn A
❑ Rnds 152-159: k
❑ Rnd 160: n1 – k to last three sts, k2tog, k1; n2 – k1, ssk, k to end of needle; n3 – k to last three sts, k2tog, k1; n4 – k1, ssk, k to end of the needle
❑ Rnd 161: k
❑ Rep last two rnds twice more
❑ Rep Rnd 160 until 28 sts rem
❑ Next rnd: n1 – k to end of needle, cut yarn leaving a 40cm tail

❑ Work as for First sock but when working the leg, work the chart for the Second sock

Use Kitchener stitch (LK Issue 29 p89) to graft the toe stitches together. Weave in loose ends and block using ball band instructions as a guide.

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

To fit a woman’s shoe size 5.5-6
Foot circumference: approx 19cm