While looking for another anklet sock pattern to knit, I also toyed with the idea of writing my own pattern. Voila! I came up with Crabby Toes (22 of 50)!
Close up of instep!
CRABBY TOES PATTERN
Fingering weight sock yarn (~ 200 yards or so)
Size 2 dpns (5 needles works best!)
Pattern Rows:
Row 1 - k2, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, repeat from * ending with k2
Row 3 - k2, *ktog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, repeat from * ending with k2
Even numbered rows, knit all stitches.
Cast on 60 stitches and join without twisting.
Divide stitches among 3 needles.
Cuff:
k2, p2 (rib pattern) for 5 rows.
Heel:
Row 1 - s1, k1 for 28 stitches.
These 28 stitches will be part of the heel while the remaining 32 stitches will form the instep of the sock.
Row 2 - s1, p27.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for 30 rows.
Turn the heel as follows:
Row 1 - s1, k16 k2tog, k1, turn work
Row 2 - s1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn work
Row 3 - s1, k8, k2tog, k1, turn work
Row 4 - s1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn work
Row 5 - s1, k10, k2tog, k1, turn work
Row 6 - s1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn work
Row 7 - s1, k12, k2tog, k1, turn work
Row 8 - s1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn work
Row 9 - s1, k14, k2tog, k1, turn work
Row 10 - s1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn work
18 stitches will remain on needle.
Gusset:
Start this section as follows - s1, k8 with extra needle.
Needle 1 - k9, pick up and knit 16 stitches from heel flap (for a total of 25 stitches)
Needle 2 - knit 32 stitches (this is the instep section of the sock)
Needle 3 - pick up and knit 16 stitches from other side of heel flap and knit 9 stitches from extra needle (for a total of 25)
Row 1, Needle 1 - knit to 3 stitches before the end of needle, k2tog, k1
Row 1, Needle 2 - start with Row 1 of Pattern Rows (and alternate with Row 3 of Pattern Rows in subsequent repeats of the gusset rows)
Row 1, Needle 3 - k1, ssk, knit to end of needle
Row 2 (Needles 1, 2 & 3) - knit
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until 60 stitches remain.
Foot:
After the gusset section, you should have the following number of stiches on each needle
Needle 1 - 14 stitches
Needle 2 - 32 stitches
Needle 3 - 14 stitches
Continue knitting the foot section of the sock as follows, until 2 inches before the end of the foot.
Needle 1 - knit
Needle 2 - continue with Pattern Rows
Needle 3 - knit
Toe:
Take the first stitch from Needle 2 (instep section of the sock) and move it to the end of Needle 1. Take the last stitch from Needle 2 and add it to the beginning of Needle 3. Now, you should have the following number of stitches on each needle
Needle 1 - 15 stitches
Needle 2 - 30 stitches
Needle 3 - 15 stitches
Row 1, Needle 1 - knit to 3 stitches before the end of the needle, k2tog, k1
Row 1, Needle 2 - k1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before the end of the needle, k2tog, k1
Row 1, Needle 3 - k1, ssk, knit to end of needle
Row 2 (Needles 1, 2 & 3) - knit
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until there are 4 stitches left on each of Needles 1 & 3, and 8 stitches left on Needle 2 (for a total of 16 stitches). Knit 4 more stitches on Needle 1 (using Needle 3). Graft stitches to finish the toe. Block and enjoy!