Fledgling Instructions

Why Fledglings? Well, they are not quite full grown socks yet. You need to do a bit to help them out!

What you’ll need:

- 2.5mm (US 1.5) needles - you can choose DPNs or a long circular for magic loop or TAAT, depending on your preference.

- half (approx 31cm or 12") of the Fledgling tube

- Songbird Nestling in a contrasting solid colour - wound into a ball.

You’ll pick up “live stitches” at both ends of each tube. At one end, you’ll add a cuff, at the other, a toe. We’ll figure out the heel after you’ve done those.

Toe: Place right leg of 60 stitches onto the needles. (30 on each half of blank if using circulars)

Set up Round: With contrast colour, Knit 30 sts, place a marker, knit to end (60 sts total)

Round1: *K1, SSK, knit to 3 sts before marker, K2TOG, K1 slm, Repeat from * to end of round

Round 2: Knit to marker, slm, knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 10 more times (16 stitches left), Rearrange stitches if using DPNs to have 8 stitches on front needle, 8 on back needle. Graft using Kitchener stitch  - video instructions here.

Afterthought Heel: An after-thought heel is really just another “toe” added on one side of the sock tube. Placement is the most important step here. Refer to the chart to decide where to begin.

With sock tube lying flat, measure where you want to place the heel. Using your needle, pick up the right leg of the stitches across one side of the sock. Include 1 extra stitch on each side (32 stitches) to prevent a hole when finished. Skip one row, and pick up 32 stitches the same way again. Cut one stitch in the middle of the row between needles and unravel each way for 15 stitches (leaving that extra stitch at each end intact) and tuck ends inside to weave in later. The reference video is done on a 72stitch tube, but the instructions are the same altering for stitch count. Afterthought video here - you can FF to around 7:30 if you don't want to watch the whole video.

Join contrasting yarn. During first round, place a marker at half way point (32 Sts).

Round1: *K1, SSK, knit to 3 sts before marker, K2TOG, K1, place marker, Repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: Knit to marker, slm, knit to end of round. Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 11 more times (16 stitches left), Rearrange stitches if using DPNs to have 8 stitches on front needle, 8 on back needle. Graft using Kitchener stitch again.

Cuff: Working on DPNs or a long circular, place the 60 stitches onto the needles.

Option 1: *K1, P1, Repeat from * to end of round, Repeat for 1.5-2”, Option 2: *K2, P2, Repeat from * to end of round, Repeat for 1.5-2” Option 3: *K1 through back loop, P1. Repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat for 1.5-2” Cast off loosely. I like to use a bind off like this: Bind off

Complete the second tube in the same way. Turn inside out, pull loose stitches at corners and joins to snug them up and sew in all ends securely. Block if desired.