This pattern is meant to be freely used by any and all knitters. I will ask that you make the first pair for our charity relief effort, and mail them to: COUNTRYWOOL * 59 SPRING ROAD * HUDSON * NY 12534.

If you make multiple pairs, or have a boxful of items to donate, send them to:
Children In Common
Adoptions Together, Inc.
5750 Executive Dr., Suite 107
Baltimore, MD 21228

Suggested yarn: worsted weight wool. Please use a yarn at least 80% animal fiber content (wool, mohair, angora, alpaca, llama) as these socks will be on feet that live in unheated or poorly heated orphanages. You may use two strands of sock wool (fingering weight) or 2 strands of sport weight wool in place of 1 strand worsted weight. I highly recommend LAMB'S PRIDE WORSTED or PEACE FLEECE for these socks. If you are worrying about the natural wool's washability under uncertain laundering conditions, simply make the socks on size 8 needles, knit them 3/4" longer in the leg, and 3/4" longer in the foot, and run them through your washer and dryer once before you send them along. They will behave nicely :)

 1 skein of yarn will make 2 small pairs, unless you knit very tightly and make them longer than suggested.

 Suggested needles:
double pointed, or 12" circular, # 5

 KEY
k = knit
p = purl
st(s) = stitch(es)
tog = together
BOR = beginning of row/round
SRW = short row wrap = slip next st, bring working yarn to opposite side of work, slip st back to left hand needle, put working yarn back to opposite side of work (where it started from)

ssk = slip 1 st as if to k, slip 2nd st as if to purl, insert left hand needle into
fronts of both sts and knit them together (1 st decreased)
NOTE: when working past wrapped sts, pick up the wrap along with the st and work both tog.

 These socks are worked from the top down, and incorporate a short row heel

 CUFF:
Cast on 32 (36, 40, 44) sts. Join.
Use a marker to mark the beginning of the round and work as follows: *k1, p1* repeating around for 2" Knit around till sock measures 4". On the last round, place a side marker after stitch 16 (18, 20, 22).

 HEEL SHAPING
You will be making the heel working back and forth using short rows.
Row 1: k across 15 (17, 19, 21) sts (or 1 stitch before side marker), srw the next st and turn to work back.
Row 2: p across 14  (16, 18, 20) sts (or 1 stitch before BOR marker), srw the next st and turn to work back.
Row 3: k across to 2 sts before side marker, srw the next st and turn to work back.
Row 4: p across to 2 sts before BOR marker, srw the next st and turn to work back.
Continue as above working across one extra st each row until you reach P 8 (9, 10, 11) (or 4 sts from marker).

 TURNING POINT OF HEEL:
Round 1: Turn and knit across 8 (9, 10, 11) sts, place a NEW HEEL MARKER, and continue knitting ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SOCK BACK TO THIS SAME MARKER. Pick up a yarn in any "holes" that appear in your heel short row wraps, twist it, and place it on the
left needle. Knit it together with the next stitch.

REVERSE HEEL SHAPING:

 SRW at next st, turn:
Row 1: P across 8 (9, 10, 11) sts, SRW, turn.
Row 2: k across 9 (10, 11, 12) sts, SRW, turn.
Row 3: p across 10 (11, 12, 13) sts, SRW, turn.
Row 4: k across 11 (12, 13, 14) sts,  SRW, turn.
Continue in this manner until all heel sts have been worked, ending after a purl row.

FOOT:
Work in the round till foot, measured from back of heel is 2-4" (5, 6, 7-8)"  long ( if your yarn made a teeny sock, then choose 2"....if you used a thick yarn and the socks turned out wider, then choose 4")

 TOE:
Divide sts evenly onto 2 double pointed needles.
Round 1: *k1, k2 tog, k across to last 3 sts of needle, ssk, k1*, repeat from *to* for 2nd needle.
Round 2: k around evenly
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 8 or 10 sts remain.
Cut yarn, leaving 8" sew this end through all sts and pull tight. Sew through the sts a 2nd time, and weave end in.

Make 2nd sock.