Men’s sport socks “Cyclist” with a replaceable heel are knitted toe-up using fine sock yarn. This project is suitable for advanced knitters and fans of stranded colorwork knitting.
Designer’s Introduction — Tiina Kaarlela
This design is dedicated to Doctor of Technology Kalle Korpiola, who built a wooden bicycle. Kalle can repair almost any device. In fact, he is the husband of my friend Tiina Merisisko. He might casually show up wearing a pink jumpsuit and is generally a wonderfully eccentric person. Sometimes he is charming and delightful, but at other times he may simply collapse onto the sofa and fall asleep in the middle of a party.
Materials, Tools, and Knitting Techniques
Sizes
44–45 (46–47).
Please note that this pattern is designed for socks intended to be worn with boots. Therefore, the socks are quite dense and should be worn directly on bare feet.
Sole length: 28.5 (30) cm.
Yarn
Fine sock yarn (420 m / 100 g):
- Color A: dark turquoise (MC);
- Color B: yellow;
- Color C: cherry red.
Needles and Other Supplies
- 2–2.5 mm circular needles;
- Double-pointed needles or circular needles for knitting in the round;
- Spare needle 2–2.5 mm;
- Tapestry needle.
Charts
- Chart A “Right Sock”.
- Chart A “Left Sock”.
- Chart B “Right Sock” and “Left Sock”.
- Chart B “Sole”.
Gauge
32 sts = 10 cm.
How to Knit Men’s Sport Socks “Cyclist” with a Replaceable Heel
Men’s sport socks “Cyclist” with a replaceable heel are worked toe-up on circular needles. For a detailed description, read the article: 5 Easy Ways to Cast On for Toe-Up Knitting.
Toe
Casting On
You may begin the toe using any cast-on method you prefer. Below is what I consider the simplest method.
Cast on 12 stitches with the main color using circular needles and work:
- 1 row purl,
- 1 row knit,
- 1 row purl.
In the next row, turn the work with the right side facing you. Pick up 1 stitch along the right edge and knit it. Knit the 12 stitches from the left needle. Then pick up 1 stitch from the left edge and knit it — this forms Needle 1.
Turn the work so that the cast-on edge is at the top and the right side faces you. Slide the stitches to the other end of the circular needles.
Pick up 1 stitch from the right edge of the toe and knit it. Then pick up 12 stitches from the cast-on edge and 1 stitch from the left edge — this forms Needle 2.
You now have 28 stitches total on both needles. The needle tips point in the same direction, and the yarn is again at the beginning of Needle 1. Begin working in the round.
In the next round, knit all stitches.
Toe Increases
Round 1 (Increase Round): Work the stitches on both needles as follows: K1, knit into the front and back of the next stitch, knit until 2 stitches remain on the needle, knit into the front and back of the next stitch, K1.
Repeat this round until there are 24 (26) stitches on each needle. Total: 48 (52) sts.
Continue increasing every second round:
- Round 1: knit all stitches.
- Round 2: increase round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until there are 40 stitches on each needle. Total: 80 stitches.
Sole
Needle 1: Work all stitches according to Chart A.
For the larger size, knit 1 stitch in MC before and after the chart.
Needle 2: Work according to Chart B.
After completing the chart, continue knitting in stockinette stitch with the main color until the sock measures 22.5 (24) cm from the toe.
In the next round, increase 1 (2) stitch(es) at the beginning and end of Needle 2.
Total: 82 (84) sts.
Waste Yarn Section in the Leg
The men’s sport socks “Cyclist” with a replaceable heel are knitted using a spare needle and waste yarn to create the held heel stitches.
Using the main color and a spare needle, knit all stitches of the back half of the sock with waste yarn. For the larger size, redistribute the stitches so that there are 42 stitches on each needle by moving the first and last stitches from the front needle to the back needle.
After that, using the standard method, cast on onto the now-free working needle with a contrast yarn the same number of stitches that were placed on the auxiliary needle. Break the contrast yarn and bring its end to the right side of the work.
Leg
Using the main color, knit 10 rounds in stockinette stitch across both the newly cast-on stitches and the stitches of the front half of the sock.
Then work Chart B using colors B and C.
After completing the chart, cut colors B and C. Knit 14 (18) rounds in stockinette stitch with the main color.
Switch to smaller needles and work 40 (48) rounds in 2 × 2 ribbing.
Bind off:
K1, K2tog, pass the previous stitch over, repeat from * to * until the end of the round.
You may also use a stretchy bind-off method if desired.
Heel
Transfer the stitches from the spare needle onto circular needles. Unravel the waste yarn along the edge of the leg section.
You should now have 80 (84) stitches on both the upper and lower sections.
While knitting the first round, pick up one additional stitch at each side between the rows to prevent holes from forming.
Work the entire heel in stripes:
- 2 rounds in MC,
- 2 rounds in Color B,
- 2 rounds in Color C.
Work decreases every second round at the beginning and end of each needle:
- at the beginning: knit the 2nd and 3rd stitches together with a left-leaning decrease;
- at the end: knit the 3rd and 4th stitches from the end together with a right-leaning decrease.
For the Smaller Size:
Continue working the striped pattern with decreases until there are 12 stitches left on Needle 1 and 14 stitches on Needle 2. In the next round, work decreases only on Needle 2.
For the Larger Size:
Continue decreasing until there are 12 stitches remaining on each needle.
Cut colors B and C. Graft the heel stitches together using Kitchener stitch. For a detailed description, read the article: Kitchener Stitch (Grafting) with a Needle in Stockinette Stitch.
Work the second sock in the same way, but knit the chart in mirror image using the corresponding chart.
Weave in all yarn ends on the wrong side and gently steam-block the socks.
Conclusion
This article explains how to knit the men’s sport socks “Cyclist” with a replaceable heel designed by Tiina Kaarlela. I hope this detailed tutorial will help you create unusual, colorful, and comfortable socks that will delight both you and your loved ones.
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