FREE PATTERN: Dowding Socks by Rohn Strong

Dowding Socks by Rohn Strong

Just like their namesake Hugh Dowding, these socks are strong and resilient, ready to stand up to any and all things you can put them through.

MATERIALS

• Trekking 6-ply Tweed, 75% wool, 25% nylon, 150g/390m/427yd, MC: Sand 1851, CC: Red 1856
  
• 3.5mm hook
  
• Split ring stitch markers
  
• Tapestry needle

TENSION
Work 20 sts and 16 rows in exdc to measure 10 x 10cm/ 4 x 4in using 3.5mm hook, or size required to obtain tension.

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY
Rohn Strong is an internationally recognised crochet and knitwear designer, specialising in the history of the First and Second World Wars. He is the author of The Heritage Collection WWI and WWII. Read more about Rohn in our exclusive interview www.insidecrochet.co.uk/blog/meeting-rohn-strong or visit his site at www.rohnstrongdesigns. wordpress.com

SPECIAL STITCH PATTERNS
Extended Double Crochet (exdc):
Insert hook into st indicated, yrh and pull up a loop, yrh and draw through one loop on hook, yrh and draw through both loops on hook.
Raised Front Treble Crochet (rtrf):
Yrh, insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated, yrh and pull up a look (3 loops on hook), [yrh, draw through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Cuff
Rnd 1 (RS): With 3.5mm hook and MC, leaving 20cm/8in end for finishing, 46 (50, 56, 66) ftr, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: 1ch, dc around, join with sl st to first ch.
Rnd 3: 2ch, *rtrf (see Special Stitch Patterns) around bar of tr from prev RS row, tr in next tr; rep from * around – 23 (25, 28, 33) rtrf, 23 (25, 28, 33) tr.
Rep Rnds 2 & 3 six times, changing colour after every 3rd rnd.

Leg
Rnd 1: 1ch, exdc (see Special Stitch Patterns) into first st, (mark this st as beg of rnd), work exdc in each st around.
With MC, rep Rnd 1 until leg measures 20cm/8in from beg of cuff or to desired length.

Heel
Begin working in rows.
Row 1 (RS): With CC, dc in next 23 (25, 28, 33) sts, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Row 2: 1ch, dc in each st across.
Row 3: 3ch, [rtrf, tr] across.
Rep Rows 2 and 3 until heel measures 7cm/2¾in, ending with a WS row.

Turn Heel
Row 1 (RS): 1ch, turn; dc in first dc, dc2tog twice, dc across to last 5 sts, dc2tog twice, dc in last dc.
Row 2: 1ch, turn; dc in each dc across.
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Rows 4 & 5: Rep Row 2.

Gusset
Begin working in rounds.
Rnd 1: With RS facing and working in end of rows on Heel Turning and Flap, with MC, work 13 dc evenly spaced across placing marker in last dc made (Gusset). Beg in first unworked st
of Leg, exdc across, place marker. Working in end of rows on Heel Flap and turning, work 13tr evenly spaced across (Gusset), place marker in last st as beg of rnd. (Use two markers of the same colour to mark each side of the gusset and a contrasting colour marker to mark beg of rnd.)
Rnd 2 (decrease rnd): Exdc in each st across to one st before marked st, dc2tog (move marker to new st), exdc around to one st before marked st, dc2tog, exdc in each st to last marker.
Rnds 3–9: Repeat Rnd 2, 7 times.
Remove gusset markers.

Foot
Rnd 1: Exdc in each exdc around.
Rep Rnd 1 until foot measures 23 (25.5, 28.5, 31)cm/9 (10, 11¼, 12¼)in from back of Heel or to desired length; remove marker.

Toe
Fold piece in half centering heel at the back. Rnd 1 should begin atthe side of foot. Add or remove sts to ensure you begin at side, mark stitch.
Rnd 1: With CC, dc in each exdc around.
Rnd 2: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next 18 (20, 23, 28) sts, dc2tog; rep from * once more.
Rnd 3: Dc in each dc around.
Rnd 4: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next 16 (18, 21, 26) sts, dc2tog; rep from * once more.
Rnd 5: Dc in each dc around.

Rnd 6: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next 14 (16, 19, 24) sts, dc2tog; rep from * once more.
Rnd 7: Dc in each dc around.
Rnd 8: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next 12 (14, 17, 22) sts, dc2tog; rep from * once more.
Rnd 9: Dc in each dc around.
Rnd 10: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next 10, (12, 15, 20) sts, dc2tog; rep from * once more.
Rnd 11: Dc in each dc around.
Sl st into next dc.

Grafting Toe
Turn sock inside out and align toe stitches. Dc across through both thicknesses of fabric, fasten off.

Finishing
Block and lay flat to dry. Wooden or plastic sock blockers are a great tool for stretching socks into the shape desired, ascrocheted socks can be difficult to block.