Sunshine Knit Baby Socks

Materials:

• RED HEART® Plush Baby™: 1 ball 9251 Lemon
• Susan Bates® Double-pointed needles: one set 4mm [US 6]
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker

GAUGE: 18 sts = 4” [10 cm]; 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st with larger needles.

CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge

Directions are for size 6 months

Special Stitches
K2tog = Knit 2 sts together.
P2tog = Purl 2 sts together.
SSK = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time as if to knit, to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts
together through back loop.
WYIB =With yarn in back.
WYIF = With yarn in front.

SOCK (Make 2)

Cuff
Cast on 20 sts. Divide sts evenly around needles. Join to work in rounds, being careful not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * around.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1” [2.5 cm] from beginning.

Leg
Next Row: Work in Stockinette st (knit every row) until leg measures 2½” [6 cm] from beginning.
Divide sts around needles as follows:
Needle 1: 5 sts.
Needle 2: 10 sts.
Needle 3: 5 sts.

Heel Flap
Knit across needles #1 and #2.
Working on needle #2 only, and starting with a wrong side row
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Slip 1 wyif, p9.
Row 2 (Right Side): *Slip 1 wyib, k1; repeat
from * across row.
Repeat Rows 1-2, 3 times more.

Heel
Continuing on needle #2 only.
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Slip 1 wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 (Right Side): Slip 1 wyib, k1, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1 wyif, p1, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 wyib, k2, ssk, k1, turn
Row 5: Slip 1 wyif, p3, p2tog, turn.
Row 6: Slip 1 wyib, k2, ssk—4 sts remain.
Do not turn.

Gusset
With right side facing, using needle #2, pick up and knit 5 sts along the edge of the Heel Flap. Using new needle, knit across needle #3 and needle #1 combining sts onto one needle. Using another needle, pick up and knit 5 sts along opposite side of Heel Flap, then knit across first 2 sts of heel. The two needles hold 7 sts each and third needle holds 10 sts—24 sts. The new beginning round is at the center of the heel (between the two needles that have 7 sts each).

Work Heel Gusset decrease rounds as follows
Round 1
New Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
New Needle 2: Knit all sts.
New Needle 3: K1, ssk, knit to end.
Round 2: Knit all sts.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 20 sts remain—5 sts
on needles #1 and #3, 10 sts on needle #2.

Foot
Work even until foot measures 2½” [6 cm] from picked up Gusset sts.

Shape Toe
Round 1
Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 2: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 3: K1, ssk, k to end.
Round 2: Knit all sts.
Repeat rounds 1-2, 1 time more.
Repeat round 1 only until 8 sts remain—2 sts on needles #1 and #3, 4 sts on needle #2.
Using needle #3, knit across needle #1 so that there are 2 needles, each with 4 sts.
 

FINISHING
Graft toe sts together as explained below, weave in ends and block lightly.

Grafting
Thread yarn needle with long length of yarn. Hold the two needles in the left hand with wrong sides together. Keeping the yarn needle and yarn under the points of the knitting needles, graft the stitches together as follows:

   *1. Insert yarn needle through first st of front needle as if to knit and slip the st off.
   2. Insert needle through 2nd st of front needle as if to purl, but leave the st on the needle.
   3. Insert yarn through first st on back needle as if to purl and slip the st off.
   4. Insert yarn through 2nd stitch on back needle as if to knit, but leave st on needle. Repeat from * until all the sts are joined. 

Take care to draw yarn up so that gauge of grafting equals gauge of knitting. Fasten off. Weave in ends on wrong side.