Tabi Socks - Size Small
Cast on 40 stitches using a cable cast on. Slip 10 stitches off of each end onto new needles. This will leave you with 20 stitches in the middle -- needle B.
Begin a knit 2, purl 2 rib and continue pattern in the round until cuff is desired length. Make sure to end ready to work on needle B -- the needle with 10 stitches.
Start working across needle B in a slip 1, knit 1 pattern. When you've reached the end of the needle, turn your work, and begin the slip 1, knit 1 pattern back across. Continue this slip 1, knit 1 pattern until you've worked 20 rows.
Now to turn the heel! Knit 12 stitches across needle B, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work without working the remaining stitches. Put a stitch marker here. Now, slip 1 stitch, knit 5 across, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work again. Place another stitch marker.
Slip one stitch and knit to within 1 stitch of your stitch marker. Remove the stitch marker by sliding the stitch before the marker onto your other needle. Once you've slid the stitch marker off, transfer the stitch back to the original needle and knit it and the second stitch together. Knit one more, place a marker, and turn.
Continue working back and forth until you've worked all of the stitches. You should now have a perfectly cupped heel!
After the heel has been completed, it's time to work on the body of the sock. To join the two pieces, grab a crochet hook. (Some people can pick up stitches along the gusset with just needles, but that requires a level of coordination that I do not have.) Along the side of your newly formed heel flap, you'll see a row of elongated stitches. Slide your crochet hook through the first (hook going toward the middle of the flap), loop the yarn around it and pull it through the stitch. Take this loop and slide it onto another knitting needle. Repeat this process until you've picked up 10 stitches along the flap.
Combine the stitches on the needles holding the ribbing and knit across. Now, you're on the other side of the heel flap where you'll repeat the same process outlined above. Once you've picked up 10 stitches, knit 6 of the 12 stitches on the next needle onto the needle you just worked -- this will be needle C. Slide the remaining 6 stitches onto the following needle -- this will be needle A -- and knit around.
After completing a knit round, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit 1 more. Knit across neede B. Knit 1 on needle C, knit 2 together, and knit the rest of the stitches. I'll call this a 'reduction' round.
Once you've completed this 'reduction' round, knit another knit round. Alternate reduction and knit rows until needles A and C have 10 stitches remaining.
You have now completed the gusset shaping and can move on to the body of the sock. Knit around all needles until the sock, from the back of the folded heel flap to the needles, measures 8".
Divide toes accordingly and slide big toes stitches onto stitch holders. Knit around toe section 3 times and begin decreases. Knit toes to desired length and decrease, cast off.
To start big toe, insert crochet hook into loops next to finished toe section and draw the end of the yarn through. Begin knitting around. Knit toe to desired length and decrease and cast off.
Turn sock inside out and weave in ends. Between the toes, make sure to weave extra reinforcement to increase the longevity of the sock.
Begin a knit 2, purl 2 rib and continue pattern in the round until cuff is desired length. Make sure to end ready to work on needle B -- the needle with 10 stitches.
Start working across needle B in a slip 1, knit 1 pattern. When you've reached the end of the needle, turn your work, and begin the slip 1, knit 1 pattern back across. Continue this slip 1, knit 1 pattern until you've worked 20 rows.
Now to turn the heel! Knit 12 stitches across needle B, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work without working the remaining stitches. Put a stitch marker here. Now, slip 1 stitch, knit 5 across, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work again. Place another stitch marker.
Slip one stitch and knit to within 1 stitch of your stitch marker. Remove the stitch marker by sliding the stitch before the marker onto your other needle. Once you've slid the stitch marker off, transfer the stitch back to the original needle and knit it and the second stitch together. Knit one more, place a marker, and turn.
Continue working back and forth until you've worked all of the stitches. You should now have a perfectly cupped heel!
After the heel has been completed, it's time to work on the body of the sock. To join the two pieces, grab a crochet hook. (Some people can pick up stitches along the gusset with just needles, but that requires a level of coordination that I do not have.) Along the side of your newly formed heel flap, you'll see a row of elongated stitches. Slide your crochet hook through the first (hook going toward the middle of the flap), loop the yarn around it and pull it through the stitch. Take this loop and slide it onto another knitting needle. Repeat this process until you've picked up 10 stitches along the flap.
Combine the stitches on the needles holding the ribbing and knit across. Now, you're on the other side of the heel flap where you'll repeat the same process outlined above. Once you've picked up 10 stitches, knit 6 of the 12 stitches on the next needle onto the needle you just worked -- this will be needle C. Slide the remaining 6 stitches onto the following needle -- this will be needle A -- and knit around.
After completing a knit round, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit 1 more. Knit across neede B. Knit 1 on needle C, knit 2 together, and knit the rest of the stitches. I'll call this a 'reduction' round.
Once you've completed this 'reduction' round, knit another knit round. Alternate reduction and knit rows until needles A and C have 10 stitches remaining.
You have now completed the gusset shaping and can move on to the body of the sock. Knit around all needles until the sock, from the back of the folded heel flap to the needles, measures 8".
Divide toes accordingly and slide big toes stitches onto stitch holders. Knit around toe section 3 times and begin decreases. Knit toes to desired length and decrease, cast off.
To start big toe, insert crochet hook into loops next to finished toe section and draw the end of the yarn through. Begin knitting around. Knit toe to desired length and decrease and cast off.
Turn sock inside out and weave in ends. Between the toes, make sure to weave extra reinforcement to increase the longevity of the sock.