Sock Pattern: Mirabella

Yarn: 2 balls Baruffa/Lane Borgosesia Aerobic (100% Extra Fine Merinos; 60g, 165m; 1.75 oz, 180 yds), in #61816. This yarn has been discontinued, so use another fingering weight yarn that will give you the gauge specified.
Needles: Set of 5 2.25mm or US1 double-pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge
Notions: Waste yarn; crochet hook; 2 extra double-pointed needles, same size as working needles or smaller; tapestry needle

Gauge: 29 sts = 4" in stockinette stitch

Size: 8.5" around the widest part (the ball) of the foot

Level: Some experience with knitting socks toe-up, short rows, cabling without a cable needle

Notes
◊ Please refer to the image below for pattern and abbreviations.
◊ This sock pattern uses the yarn-over short-row method. More detailed instructions and images can be found at Nona Knits, Purly Whites, and the Blue Blog.
◊ If you are still unsure of this yarn-over method, use whatever method that you're comfortable with. You should have a total of 56 sts after the toe, increasing 1 st on the front side during the setup row.

Using waste yarn, crochet a chain 30 sts long. Draw yarn end through the last loop on your hook, and tie a knot at the end. This end is where you'll unravel the chain eventually. Turn the chain over and identify the back bumps. Pick up 28 sts through these back bumps. Purl 1 row. Turn.

Toe
Row 1 (right side): Knit 27 sts, turn.
Row 2: Byo, p 26 sts, turn.
Row 3: Yo, k to the st before the yo, turn.
Row 4: Byo, p to the st before the yo, turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 14 sts between yos, ending on the wrong side. Turn.

Row 1 (right side): Yo, k to the first yo. Correct the twist of the yo and k2tog with the following st. Turn.
Row 2: Byo, purl to the yo, ssp. Turn.
Row 3: Yo, k to the 2 yos. Correct their twists and k3 tog with the following st. Turn.
Row 4: Byo, p to the 2 yos, sssp, turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all toe sts have been worked. On your last purl (wrong side) yo row, you will do a byo and knit to the end, 29 sts on this needle. On the waste yarn, undo the end with the knot and unzip to expose live sts, picking them up on a spare needle. Pick up 28 sts on another needle.

Setup Row
Yo, place marker, k28. You will come to the yo from your last short row. P this yo with the first picked up st (p2tog). P1, k2, p2, k8, m1, k8, p2, k2, p1, p the next st with the yo before the marker (p2tog). 57 sts total.

Begin knitting in the round. The first 28 sts are the sole stitches, the last 29 are the pattern sts: 6 sts pattern A, 17 sts pattern B, 6 sts pattern A.

Work in pattern until sock, when lightly stretched, reaches the ankle bone.

Heel
Work heel shaping using short rows in the same manner as the toe. Work on the 28 sole sts (or less for a wider heel).

Leg
You now have 2 choices for the leg of the sock. For the back of the leg, you can continue with stockinette stitch, or you can repeat the pattern. If you choose to repeat the pattern, on your last heel shaping round, inc 1 st in the middle of your sts. 29 sts in the back. On your next round, begin with the corresponding row of pattern to match your front pattern sts: 6 sts pattern A, 17 sts pattern B, 6 sts pattern A.

Knit until the desired length, at least 6 more pattern repeats.

Cuff
If you knit the pattern straight with a stockinette back, you will decrease 1 st in the middle of pattern B on your first 1x1 rib row (57 sts decreases to 56 sts).
If you knit the pattern on the front and the back of the leg, work 1x1 rib (58 sts).

Work 1x1 rib for 8 rows.

Cast Off
For a finished look, use the 1x1 tubular bind-off. I used this pictorial guide. Work this cast off 1 needle (14 sts) at a time.

Step 1: Cut yarn, leaving a long tail about 2-3 feet long. Using your two extra dpns, slip all k sts to one needle, slip all p sts to another needle. Your k sts should be on the front needle, your p sts on the back needle. Thread your tail onto the tapestry needle.
Step 2: Insert needle into the first k st as if to p.
Step 3: Insert needle into the first p st as if to k.
Step 4: Insert needle into the k st as if to k, drop this st. Insert needle into the next k st as if to p.
Step 5: Insert needle into the p st as if to p, drop this st. Insert needle into the next p st as if to k.

Every 2-4 sts, stop and stretch out the previous dropped sts to make sure that your bind-off is indeed stretchy. If it isn't, this means you are pulling the yarn tail taut against the sts. Keep your weaving loose so the bind-off remains stretchy. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get to the last k and p sts.

Step 6: Insert needle into the last k st as if to k, drop this st. Insert needle into the first bound-off k st as if to p.
Step 7: Insert needle into the last p st as if to p, drop this st. Insert needle into the first bound-off p st as if to k.

Finishing
Weave in tail end using tapestry needle. Socks don't need blocking as the pattern stretches.

© 2008 Mary Joy Gumayagay and Indus3ous.com. All rights reserved. This pattern may be freely distributed as long as the pattern, images, text, and this copyright notice remain intact and no profit is made from its distribution or use. Read extended copyright here. For pattern assistance please post in comments below.