I made this sock as a CIC sock, and my first attempt at knitting cables. It was inspired by the Knitlist Get-together Cable Sock Pattern, an adult pattern.

I changed the cast on from 48 to 32, changed it from 6 cables to 4, switched the directions on half the cables to get a swirling-inward effect, used my usual basic heel rather than a cabled heel (maybe I try that next time), and dropped the pre-toe instep reduction.

I'm very glad I did my first cable socks as CIC socks, rather than for myself. I found out just how much cables pull in a sock! This sock is the same size yarn, same size needles, and one stitch more in the cast on than these CIC socks I did with the Nicholas's Swirly Tube Socks pattern. But those are designed to fit a 6 year old, and I was able to try them on my undersized 8 year old. These socks fit my 21 month old!

Worsted weight yarn, I used Plymouth Galway yarn, color 33. I used size 6 circular needles to get a gauge of 6 stitches per inch and 8 rows per inch. Use whatever gives you the gauge, I knit very tightly. You'll also need a cable needle.

Using the long-tail cast on, cast on 33 stitches, divide them between the 2 circs. (I tend to cast on tightly, so I do it on two needles held together.) Knit one round of K2, P2 ribbing using both the yarn from the skein and the tail from your cast on (so leave a long tail!), and K2TOG with the last stitch and the first stitch for the join.

Work 5 more rounds of K2, P2 ribbing.

Pattern rounds:
Rnd 1: *K1, P1, K4, P1, K1*; rep from * 3 more times
Rnd 1: *K1, P1, K4, P1, K1*; rep from * 3 more times
Rnd 3: *K1, P1, slide next two stitches to cable needle and hold them to the front of the work. Knit the next two stitches off the left needle, then knit the two stitches on the cable needle. P1, K2, P1, slide next two stitches to cable needle and hold them to the back of the work. Knit the next two stitches off the left needle, then knit the two stitches on the cable needle.* That takes care of all the stitches on the first needle, repeat once for the stitches on the second circular needle.
Rnd 1: *K1, P1, K4, P1, K1*; rep from * 3 more times

(I know there is a shorter way to write row 3 - but this is my first time with cables, and I don't know the abbreviations yet!)

When you have completed 6 repeats of the cable pattern, begin your heel flap on the 16 stitches on one needle while the other waits.

Row 1:
Sl 1 purlwise, * K1, Sl 1 knitwise; repeat from * around, end with K1.

Row 2:
Sl 1 purlwise, p14, K1

Repeat the above two rows until the heel flap is 16 rows (8 repeats of the two rows).

Turning the heel:
sl 1, k 9, k 2tog, k1, turn
sl 1, p 5, p 2tog, p 1, turn
sl 1, k 6, k 2tog, k1, turn
sl 1, p 7, p 2tog, p 1, turn
sl 1, k 8, k 2tog, turn
sl 1, p 8, p 2 tog, turn
knit across (10)

(you may want to place a marker after 5 stitches, as gusset and toe decrease rows start there. I don't use a marker.)

Picking up Gusset stitches:
With the same needle that you've just K10 with, pick up 10 stitches along the side of the heel flap. Pick up one more stitch in the intersection where the heel flap meets the instep stitches, to prevent a hole. When you come back to this stitch on the next row, knit it twisted.

Switch to the instep needle, start the pattern rows again, with Row 1. The instep needle will simply be following the pattern rows all down the foot.

With the empty end of the heel stitches needle, pick up one stitch where the heel flap meets the instep. Then pick up 10 stitches along that side of the heel flap.

(Yes, at this point you will have 32 stitches on that needle. It is a bit tricky at first, but gets easier quickly)

Gusset:

Knit across the heel stitches and the other gusset stitches to the last stitch, knit it twisted.

Knit next row of pattern on the instep needles.

Heel needle, knit the first stitch twisted, knit across to the last three stitches, K2TOG, K1.

Knit next row of pattern on the instep needles.

Heel needle, K1, SSK, knit to center. Your gusset rows now start from here.
Round 1 (and all odd rows) - knit all stitches on heel needle, continue ribbing pattern on instep needle.
Round 2 (and all even rows) - knit to last 3 stitches of heel needle, K2tog, K1. Instep needle, continue pattern. Heel needle, K1, SSK, knit to center/marker.

The gusset decrease rounds will correspond with rounds 1 and 3 of the cable pattern. Continue decreasing until the heel needle has 16 stitches on it.

Foot:

For the foot, knit in pattern on the instep needles and knit all stitches on the heel needles until you have completed the 13th cable pattern repeat from the cuff. Make sure you end on row 4 of the cable pattern.

Toe:

The pattern repeats end here, you will knit all stitches. Again, the row 'starts' at the middle of the heel needle, use a marker if need be.

Round 1 - knit to last 3 stitches of heel needle, K2tog, K1. Instep needle, K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. Heel needle, K1, SSK, knit to center/marker.

Round 2 - K all sts.

Continue this until there are 10 stitches left on each needle. Knit one round. Knit to the end of the heel needle. Slip the 4 sts closest to the needle ends over their adjacent neighbors. Use the kitchener stitch to join the remaining instep stitches to the remaining heel stitches.