These wool socks, with a single cabled braid, can be knit from your favourite sock yarn or from homespun, for a handmade touch.

Saxony
These socks are another example of limiting placement of cables for maximum effect. The single Saxon braid makes a bold statement on a small canvas such as a sock. The fact that the braid also works at more than one gauge suitable for socks is a bonus. The three versions shown here illustrate how subtle changes in stitch gauge, especially over a limited surface, can completely change the look and feel of a cable. It can be surprising and delightful how a cable pattern works up at a small gauge.

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Skill level: Intermediate

Finished measurements
Sized to fit average women's foot
Leg length: 7" (18cm)
Foot length: 9-1/2" (24cm)
Ankle circumference: 8" (20.5cm)
Sized to fit average men's foot
Leg length: 9" (23cm)
Foot length: 10-1/2" (26.5cm)
Ankle circumference: 8-1/2" (21.5cm)

Yarn
Women's: 320 (350, 370) yds (293 [320, 339]m) sock or fingering weight
Men's: 350 (400, 470) yds (320 [366, 430]m) sock or fingering weight
Model at left: 2 (2, 2) 2 (3, 3) skeins Lorna's Laces Yarns Shepherd Sock, 2-oz (57g) skeins, each approximately 215 yds (197m), 80% superwash wool, 20% nylon, Denim
Model at right: Handspun Suffolk (100%), natural white
Third model: 2 (2, 3) 2 (3, 3) skeins Footpath Yarn, 2 oz (57g) skeins, each approximately 175 yds (160m), 85% wool, 15% nylon, Elderberry

Needles and notions
• One set of four double-pointed needles in US size 3 (3.25mm), 2 (2.75mm), or 1 (2.25mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• Cable needle
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
Model at left: 32 sts = 4" (10cm) in St st using US size 1 (2.25mm) needles
Model at right: 24 sts = 4" (10cm) in St st using US size 3 (3.25mm) needles
Third model: 28 sts = 4" (10cm) in St st using US size 2 (2.75mm) needles
Adjust needle size as necessary to obtain correct gauge.

K2, P2 ribbing
All rounds: (K2, p2) across.

Moss stitch
Rounds 1 and 2: (K1, p1) across.
Rounds 3 and 4: (P1, k1) across.
Repeat these 4 rounds for moss stitch.

Note: Pattern is given in 3 different gauges. The pattern is written for the gauge obtained using US size 3 (3.25mm) needles with US size 2 (2.75mm) and US size 1 (2.25mm) needles given in parentheses. The first set of numbers, in bold, refers to the women's sock in each gauge. The second set of numbers refers to the men's sock in the three gauges. When only one number appears, it applies for all gauges.

Cuff
Cast on 48 (52, 64) 52 (60, 68) sts loosely.
Divide sts evenly on double-pointed needles and join. Place markers (pm) for the beginning of the round and the centre of heel. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 2 (1, 1-1/2)" (5 [2.5, 3.8]cm) 2 (2, 1-1/2)" (5 [5, 3.8]cm), increasing 4 (8, 8) 4 (4, 8) sts on last row – 52 (60, 72) 56 (64, 76) sts.

Leg
Setup row: Work in moss stitch for 12 (16, 22) 14 (18, 24) sts, pm, p2, work Chart over 24 sts, p2, pm, work in moss stitch for 12, (16, 22) 14 (18, 24) sts. Adjust the sts around the needles for ease in working the patterns.
Continue in this manner, working 2 (4, 4) 3 (5, 5) repeats of Chart. The leg should measure approximately 7" (18cm) 9" (23cm) from the beginning.
Next round: Knit across all sts, decreasing 4 (8, 8) 4 (4, 8) sts evenly across the round – 48 (52, 64) 52 (60, 68) sts.

Heel flap
Row 1 (RS): Work 12 (13, 16) 13 (15, 17) sts from the centre of heel marker. Turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 st purlwise, purl 11 (12, 15) 12 (14, 16) sts, slip the centre of heel marker, purl 12 (13, 16) 13 (15, 17) sts – 24 (26, 32) 26 (30, 34) heel sts. Leave remaining 24 (26, 32) 26 (30, 34) sts unworked for the instep.
Row 3: Slip 1 st purlwise, (k1, p1) across, ending with k1.
Row 4: Slip 1 st purlwise, purl to end.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until heel flap measures 2" (5cm) 2-1/2" (6.5cm).

Turn heel
Note: Slip the first st of every row purlwise.
Row 1 (RS): Knit 14 (15, 18) 15 (17, 19), ssk, k1. Turn.
Row 2: Slip 1, p5, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 3: Slip 1, k6, ssk, k1. Turn.
Row 4: Slip 1, p7, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Continue in this manner, working to 1 stitch before the gap, then work this stitch together with the stitch after the gap, until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a wrong-side row.

Heel gusset
Note: Foot is worked in St st.
Work 7 (8, 9) 8 (9, 10) sts to the marked st for the beg of round, knit the second half of the heel sts, pick up 13 (14, 17) 14 (16, 18) sts along the side of the heel, place first marker, work across 24 (26, 32) 26 (30, 34) instep sts, place second marker, pick up 13 (14, 17) 14 (16, 18) sts along the side of the heel, work across the remaining 7 (8, 9) 8 (9, 10) heel sts – 64 (70, 84) 70 (80, 90) sts.

Shape gusset
Decrease round: Work to 3 sts before the first marker, k2tog, k1, work to second marker, k1, ssk, work to the beg of round marker.
Next round: Work even.
Repeat these 2 rounds until 48 (52, 64) 52 (60, 68) sts remain.

Foot
Continue working in rounds until foot measures 8" (20.5cm) 9" (23cm) or 2" (5cm) less than the desired length, ending at the beg of round marker.

Shape toe
Round 1: Work to 4 sts before the first marker, k2tog, k2, k2, ssk, work to 4 sts before the second marker, k2tog, k2, k2, ssk, work to the beg of round marker.
Round 2: Work even.
Repeat these 2 rounds until 24 (28, 32) 28 (32, 36) sts remain.
Work round 1 only until 12 (16, 16) 12 (16, 16) sts remain.

Finishing
Divide remaining sts evenly on two needles. Graft the sts together using Kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends on inside of sock.

Excerpted from A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns, copyright 2008 by Lisa Lloyd. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.