Baby socks off the spindle

I spun up a couple of ounces of handpainted roving at Deep Color to make a sock on two circular needles, but I thought a pair of baby socks would be more useful.

These are knit with freshly-spun yarn straight off the spindle with no finishing.



The pattern is pretty simple:

With sock needles (in this case size 2), cast on enough stitches for about 5.5 inches (in this case 36 stitches).

Knit 8 rounds K1, P1 ribbing, continue in stockinette for about 2 inches (20 rows). Divide half the stitches (18 stitches) and switch to working flat across them for heel.

Short row heel: k to last stitch, slip last stitch, wrap yarn around, turn; knit back to last stitch, wrap yarn around, turn; knit to next to last stitch, wrap yarn around, turn...keep this up until there are 1/3 of the total heel stitches betwen slipped/wrapped stitches (6 stitches). Then, knit across, knit both slipped stitch and wrap together, turn...keep this up until all slipped stitches and wraps are knitted, finishing on a knit row. Heel made.

Knit another inch on all stitches (about 10 rounds)

Star Toe:
Divide total stitches by 4. K2 together, knit (1/4 stitches minus 1), repeat three more times. Next round knit one plain, K2 together, knit (1/4/stitches minus 2), repeat three more times, knit one plain round... continue this until you have 8 stitches left on needle, thread yarn through with yarn needle to tie off, turn inside out and weave in ends on the wrong side.



These are the finished socks, presented to my coworker Lili on her last day at work before maternity leave.