Chunky Cable Resolve Socks

Intermediate Top-Down Cabled Socks

Cozy bulky-weight socks featuring large chunky cables that travel all the way around the leg. After the heel the cables continue on the instep only and gracefully resolve into smooth stockinette on the top of the foot. Classic heel-flap-and-gusset construction gives a great fit.

Sizes

S (M, L) to fit foot circumference up to approx. 15 (17, 19)" / 38 (43, 48) cm (finished sock circumference is designed with minimal ease for a cozy bulky fabric).

Finished Measurements

• Foot/Leg circumference: 16 (18¼, 20½)" / 40.5 (46.5, 52) cm
• Leg length (cuff to heel): 7" / 18 cm (adjustable)
• Foot length: adjustable to fit

Yarn

Bulky weight yarn (CYC #5); approximately 180 (210, 240) yd / 165 (192, 220) m. Sample uses a smooth wool or wool-blend bulky for crisp cables.

Needles

US 9 / 5.5 mm set of 5 DPNs, or long circular for magic loop, or size needed to obtain gauge. (Optional: US 8 / 5 mm for a denser cuff if desired.)

Notions

Cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle, scrap yarn or spare needle for holding sts.

Gauge

14 sts and 18 rnds = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch in the round on US 9 / 5.5 mm, after blocking. Take time to check gauge; bulky socks are less stretchy than finer-gauge socks.

Notes

• Socks are worked top-down.
• Cable Pattern is a multiple of 8 sts and fits all three sizes exactly.
• When the heel is worked, cables continue only on the instep stitches; after the gusset they gradually stop crossing and resolve into plain Stockinette on the top of the foot.
• Instructions are written for DPNs (Needle 1 = instep, Needles 2–3 or 2–4 = sole). Magic-loop users: place a marker for beginning of round and a second marker after the instep stitches.
• Total stitch counts are given at every key point with inline validation.

Abbreviations (US)

beg = beginning
C4F = cable 4 front (sl 2 sts to cn and hold in front, k2, k2 from cn)
cn = cable needle
dec = decrease
DPN(s) = double-pointed needle(s)
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together
p = purl
p2tog = purl 2 together
pm = place marker
rep = repeat
rnd(s) = round(s)
RS = right side
sl = slip
ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip 1 kwise, slip 1 kwise, knit the 2 slipped sts together through back loop)
st(s) = stitch(es)
St st = Stockinette stitch
WS = wrong side
wyib = with yarn in back
wyif = with yarn in front

Stitch Patterns

2×2 Rib (worked in the rnd over a multiple of 4 sts)
Every rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Cable Pattern (worked in the rnd over a multiple of 8 sts)
Rnds 1–5: *K4, p4; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6: *C4F, p4; rep from * to end.
Rep Rnds 1–6 for Cable Pattern.

Stockinette Stitch (St st)
In the rnd: Knit every rnd.
Flat: Knit on RS, purl on WS.

Pattern Instructions

Cuff

With US 9 / 5.5 mm needles, cast on 56 (64, 72) sts. Divide evenly onto DPNs and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist. PM for beg of rnd.

Work 2×2 Rib for 2" / 5 cm.

Leg

Begin Cable Pattern and work even until leg measures 7" / 18 cm from cast-on edge, or desired length to top of heel, ending after a Rnd 5 of Cable Pattern (ready to work a cable rnd if desired, or after any plain rnd).
(56 (64, 72) sts still on needles ✓)

Heel Flap

The heel flap is worked flat over the next 28 (32, 36) sts. The remaining 28 (32, 36) sts will be held for the instep and continue the cables later.

Set-up: Knit the first 28 (32, 36) sts onto one needle for the heel flap; place the remaining 28 (32, 36) sts on hold (scrap yarn or spare needle) for the instep.
(Heel flap = half of total: 56/2 = 28, 64/2 = 32, 72/2 = 36 ✓)

Row 1 (RS): *Sl 1 wyib, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, purl to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until heel flap measures approximately 2½ (2¾, 3)" / 6.5 (7, 7.5) cm, ending after a WS row and having worked a total of 28 (32, 36) rows.
(28 (32, 36) rows = same number as heel sts for a nearly square flap ✓)

Heel Turn

Continue on the 28 (32, 36) heel sts only.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, k15 (17, 19), ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Rep Rows 3–4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending after a WS row.
Final heel st count: 16 (18, 20) sts.
(Original 28 (32, 36) minus 12 (14, 16) decreased sts = 16 (18, 20) ✓)

Gusset

Resume working in the rnd.

Set-up rnd:
Needle 1 (instep): Work across the held 28 (32, 36) instep sts in Cable Pattern as established (work any partial repeat at the edges in the stitches as they present—k the knits and p the purls).
Needle 2: Pick up and knit 14 (16, 18) sts along the left side of the heel flap (1 st for each slipped st), then knit across the 16 (18, 20) heel sts.
Needle 3: Pick up and knit 14 (16, 18) sts along the right side of the heel flap.
Total sts now: 28 (32, 36) instep + 14 (16, 18) + 16 (18, 20) + 14 (16, 18) = 72 (82, 92) sts.
(28+14+16+14 = 72; 32+16+18+16 = 82; 36+18+20+18 = 92 ✓)

Place a marker after the instep sts if desired; beg of rnd is at the start of the instep.

Gusset Decrease Rnd:
Instep: Work Cable Pattern as established to end of instep sts.
Sole: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts of sole, k2tog, k1.
(2 sts decreased per rnd)

Next rnd: Work even in established patterns (Cable Pattern on instep, St st on sole).

Rep the last 2 rnds until 56 (64, 72) sts remain.
(72–16 = 56; 82–18 = 64; 92–20 = 72 ✓ — exactly back to cast-on count)

Foot

Continue working Cable Pattern on the 28 (32, 36) instep sts and St st on the 28 (32, 36) sole sts until the foot measures approximately 4 (4½, 5)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5) cm from the back of the heel, or about 2" / 5 cm less than half the desired finished foot length.

Resolve the cables (graceful transition on top of foot):
Stop working the C4F crosses. From this point forward, work the instep stitches exactly as they appear (*k4, p4; rep from * or the partial edges) for 6 more rnds. Then work all instep stitches in plain Stockinette (knit every st). The purl valleys soften and the cables melt into smooth fabric on the top of the foot.
Continue even in St st on all sts until foot measures 1¾ (2, 2¼)" / 4.5 (5, 5.5) cm less than desired finished foot length (measure from back of heel).

Toe

Rearrange sts if needed so that half the sts (28 (32, 36)) are on the instep needle and half are on the sole needle(s). Beg of rnd remains at start of instep.

Toe Decrease Rnd:
Instep: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 instep sts, k2tog, k1.
Sole: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sole sts, k2tog, k1.
(4 sts decreased)

Next rnd: Knit.

Rep the last 2 rnds until 28 (32, 36) sts remain, then rep Toe Decrease Rnd every rnd until 8 sts remain.
(Even decreases from 56/64/72 land cleanly on 8 sts ✓)

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" / 30 cm tail. Thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight, and fasten off securely on the inside.
Weave in all ends. Block lightly to smooth cables and even the fabric, pinning to finished measurements if desired.

Optional: For a reinforced toe or heel, duplicate-stitch or weave a second strand of yarn on the WS after finishing.

Enjoy your chunky cabled socks!