Garter Rib Sock

I like a ribbed sock. I like the way it hugs the ankle and leg. I designed this one to have something easy for social knitting and whilst in the car. This one is my April sock in our Pull Up Your Socks group for 2011 where we are knitting a sock a month. I have its mate OTN and am now working on the decreases for the foot.

The yarn is Punta Merisock. I really like the colour. I couldn't find my sock blocker so I just bent a wire coat hanger into a sock shape.
Basically, I cast on 72 sts and ribbed k3, p1 for 18 rounds. You can cast on any multiple of 8 for a larger or smaller sock. Then I *knit one round then a k3, p1 round. Repeat from * for 7" - 8".For the heel flap, I knit my favourite "Eye of Partridge" heel as follows:

Put half the stitches on one needle and the rest of the stitches on the other needle(s).
Row 1: *sl1, k1 repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.
Row 2: sl1, purl to the end of the row. Turn.
Row 3: sl1, *sl1, k1, to the last st, k1. Turn.
Row 4: repeat Row 2.

Repeat these 4 rows until the heel flap is 2" long or desired length.
End with a wrong side row.
Row1: (RS) sl the first st knitwise then, knit across to one stitch past half way. K2tog, k1. Turn.
Row 2: Sl first st purlwise and purl back 5 sts, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 3: Then, sl 1st st knitwise and knit to one st before the 'gap' . Knit the two sts together on either side of the gap, then k1. Turn.
Row 4 and all wrong side rows: repeat Row 2
Continue working Rows 3 & 4 until all sts have been consumed ending with a right side row. Do not turn.

Pick up and knit the sts at the side of the heel flap, work the instep sts in the pattern with other needle(s). With the heel needle, pick up and knit the sts on the other side of the heel flap. You are now ready to begin the decreases for the gussets.

Knit to the last 2 gusset sts and k2tog. Knit across the instep sts in pattern. Ssk the first 2 sts of the other gusset and knit across the rest of the sole sts.

Continue working the instep sts in pattern.

Knit the 'sole' sts until the last two sts then repeat from * above until you have decreased the desired number of sole sts to match the instep sts.

Continue knitting the rest of the foot by working the instep sts in pattern and knitting the sole sts until a couple of inches short of your big toe. (Just past my bunion in my case). Then start the toe decreases on the instep sts as follows.

Round 1: *k1, ssk, knit to the last 3 sts of the instep sts, k2tog, k1. Repeat from * on the sole sts, to the end of the round.
Round 2: Knit all sts.

Repeat these decrease rounds until there are 32 sts (16 instep sts and 16 sole sts). Then work Round 1 of toe decreases until there are 16 sts (or 12 sts if you need a bit more length) altogether; half of the sts on one needle and half on the other. Graft the toe closed.