Materials:
Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk DK #8007 “denim tones”; 3 - 50 gr balls (120 yds ea) for women’s medium, US shoe size 7.5-8.5

Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo DPs, #3 US for cuff and leg; you may wish to use #2.5 US for heel and foot (or needles required for gauge). Instructions are written for 4 dp; adjust if needed.

Abbreviations: CO: cast on; dec: decrease; K: knit; K2tog: knit 2 sts together; P: purl; rem: remain(ing); rep: repeat; rnd: round; st(s): stitch(es); St st: stockinette st, knit every round

Gauge: for leg, 7 sts/in (28 sts/10 cm) in St st with US size 3 (3.25 mm) needle; for heel & foot, 7.5-8 st/in (30-32 st/10 cm) with US size 2.5 (3 mm).

Size: Woman's Medium

Cast-On: 56 sts (woman’s med). K2P2 rib, ~1.5 in or desired length
Prepare for pattern: cables are constricting; for that reason increase by 7 sts to have sock remain appropriate size.
*(Inc 1, k7) rep around. K 1 rnd and verify st count = 63 sts. Start pattern as per chart at bottom of page or instructions below.
Work pattern for 4.5 in, or until sock leg is ~6.5 in from start. End on rnd 16 (3 complete cable repeats).

The Cabled heel. The heel is worked over 36 st, of which 9 on each side are garter st, and the center 18 sts are worked in the cable pattern. (Alternatively, work your own desired heel)
Preparation for the heel: Change to smaller needles.
1. K 18 sts, turn & P36 sts.
2. Thread tapestry needle with waste yarn, pull that through remaining instep sts, to protect them from tension and avoid
the dread gusset holes. Set aside for later.
3. On front, Sl1, K 8 sts, place marker, work 2 patt reps across (now at Row 1), place marker, K 9 sts. Turn.
4. On Back, Sl1, K8, work 18 sts as presented (K or P as the st requires), K9, turn. The back rows are NOT counted in cable pattern.
5. On front, Sl1, K 8 sts, place marker, work 2 patt reps across (now at Row 2), place marker, K 9 sts. Turn.
6. On Back, Sl1, K8, work 18 sts as presented (K or P as st requires), K9, turn. The back rows are NOT counted in cable pattern.
7. Continue heel, with ONLY front rows being counted for cable rows, until heel is 2.75 in from start or desired length. Discontinue cable pattern.

Turning the heel: On front side, Sl-1, K at this point, discontinue cable on instep and work all sts as St st (knit every rnd) across 19, k2tog, k1, turn. On back, sl-1, P5, p2tog, p1 turn.
Now work as follows:
Front: Sl-1, K across to 1 st before gap, K2tog, K1,turn.
Back: Sl-1, P across to 1 st before gap, P2tog, P1, turn.
Rep until all sts are used up, ending on back, ready to turn to front.
Gusset:
K across half the heel sts & set aside (this is now dp needle #3).
With new needle (dp #1), K across & pick up side "gusset" sts.
Instep. Change to needle #2 and K sts off holder (this is Rnd 1 of pattern).
With new needle #3, pick up gusset sts on right side of heel and K heel sts set aside previously.
Continuing Foot & Gusset: K 1 rnd. Alternate dec & no dec rnds below until 52 sts remain.
Dec Rnd: K across needle 1 to last 3 sts. K2 tog, K1. On needle 2, work pattern as established. On needle 3, K, slip 1, K1, PSSO.
No Dec rnd: No decreases; work in pattern.
Repeat the Dec and No-dec rnds until you reach desired st count (52).

Foot: two choices
(a) Work in patt until 1.75 -2 in. from desired foot length.
(b) Discontinue the cable on instep and work all sts as St st (knit every rnd).
Toe Pattern: Check & divide sts: 26 on instep needle, and 13 on needles #1 & 3.
Dec rnds 1-3: On needle 1, K until 3 st from end. K2 tog, K1. On Needle 2: K1, slip 1, K1, PSSO; K to 3 sts before end, K2tog, K1.
On Needle 3: K, slip 1, K1, PSSO.
No-dec rnd: K all sts without any decs.
Alternate the Dec and No-Dec rnds until only ~30 sts rem.
Dec every rnd until only ~ 12-16 sts if Kitchener toe closure is desired, or ~8 sts for gathered toe closure.
For gathered toe, cut yarn leaving an ~8 in end; with crochet hook, pull yarn through each st, one-at-a-time, and drop st off needle.

Finishing: Turn sock inside out and use crochet hook to pull ends to inside. Finish off all ends. Work each end “up” diagonally 3 sts and then “down” diagonally 3 sts. This diagonal method locks end in better than horizontal or vertical one. Don't forget starting strand to join little bit of two rows where you started. Weave in ends diagonally to lock.

Sincerely appreciative thanks to Radka Chamberlain for test-& model-knitting.

See all colors of Panda Silk DK HERE

Laura Andersson is the editor (and author-designer) of Friendly Socks, Vol.1 & Vol. 2, Friendly Socks, Vol 2: A-Z and was recently released; a 3rd set Friendly Socks, Vol. 3, Fifty States, is in progress. Information about these books can be found at http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com or www.siriusknitting.com . Laura is the owner of Sirius Knitting Publications and can be reached at
drlaura -at- siriusknitting.com (change the -at- to @ to send email, we do this to help drlaura avoid spam).

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns and email cpyinfo -at- straw.com (replace the -at- with @)

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988,  fax: 510-237-9809