At last, the pattern

**It has been brought to my attention that the pattern is difficult to understand in places. I have added a few notes in red to help explain. As always, contact me with any questions. Thanks!

This pattern was inspired by the amazing Lizard Ridge Afghan. With permission from Laura Aylor, I am giving you instructions for the Lizard Ridge Socks. Thanks, Laura!

This pattern was written for self-striping sock yarn. I used Felici from Knit Picks. The stripes of your yarn should be narrow, perhaps no more than 1/2 inch wide, or the pattern might not work well. You may also create your own stripes by using two contrasting yarns. My instructions are written for self-striping yarn.

My original socks had a different heel. I stole it from someone else's pattern, so I can't publish it. Please use the type of heel you like best. Instructions are included for an afterthought heel. If you've never tried one, it's easy. It's alchemy. I recommend using it just to try something different.

There will be two "bubbles" on each pattern sequence round. The beginning of the pattern is offset by 8 stitches each time. Because the short rowing is shifted with each bubble-row, I recommend using the magic loop method of knitting socks. This will prevent shifting groups of stitches back and forth between dpns. You can purchase a book to describe this technique. There are also many tutorials available online.

My gauge was 8 stitches to an inch. This created a sock with an 8 eight circumference. It was a great size for my husband. You may wish to use a smaller gauge for a woman's foot.

I use a spare dpn to set up an afterthought heel. If you don't have a spare dpn, just slip all stitches purlwise back onto the needle you were using and knit again.

Cuff:
Cast on 64 stitches and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Mark beginning of round. 32 stitches on each side of your magic loop.
Work in K1 P1 rib for 1.5 inches.
Work in plain stockinette stitch for 0.5 inches (or the width of one stripe of Felici.)

Begin short row bubbles pattern:

1. Knit 14, wrap and turn. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
2. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
3. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
4. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
5. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
6. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
7. Purl 6, wrap and turn.
8. Knit 41, picking up wraps as they appear and knitting them together with their corresponding stitch. (Don't worry about the right side of your "bubble" because those wraps will be picked up on the next row.)
9. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
10. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
11. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
12. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
13. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
14. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
15. Purl 6, wrap and turn.

End by knitting to marker, picking up wraps as they appear. Knit next round even, picking up any wraps left from previous round.
Knit even for 0.5 inches.

The next set of "bubbles" will be offset by eight stitches.

1. Knit 22, wrap and turn.
2. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
3. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
4. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
5. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
6. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
7. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
8. Purl 6, wrap and turn.
9. Knit 41, picking up wraps as they appear.
10. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
11. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
12. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
13. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
14. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
15. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
16. Purl 6, wrap and turn.

End by knitting to marker, picking up wraps as they appear.
Knit next round even, picking up wraps from previous round as they appear.
Knit even for 0.5 inches.

Next bubbles:

1. Knit 30, wrap and turn.
2. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
3. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
4. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
5. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
6. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
7. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
8. Purl 6, wrap and turn.
9. Knit 41, picking up wraps as they appear.
10. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
11. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
12. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
13. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
14. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
15. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
16. Purl 6, wrap and turn.

End by knitting even to marker, picking up wraps as they appear. Knit next round, pickup up remaining wraps. Knit even for 0.5 inches.

Last set of bubbles for repeat:

1. Knit 4, wrap and turn.
2. Purl 12, wrap and turn. (You will pass your marker making the first bubble. Ignore it. Just slip the marker as you work the bubble to keep track of your place. This is why I recommend using Magic Loop.)
3. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
4. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
5. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
6. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
7. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
8. Purl 6, wrap and turn.
9. Knit 41, wrap and turn.
10. Purl 12, wrap and turn.
11. Knit 11, wrap and turn.
12. Purl 10, wrap and turn.
13. Knit 9, wrap and turn.
14. Purl 8, wrap and turn.
15. Knit 7, wrap and turn.
16. Purl 6, wrap and turn.

Knit to marker, picking up wraps as they appear. Knit next round, picking up any remaining wraps.
Knit even for 0.5 inches.

Repeat these 4 series of bubbles one more time. Continue working pattern for desired length, but do not stop in the middle of a 4 bubble series. Doing so will make the sock bag in the direction of the extra bubbles. If you desire a longer sock, knit all 8 bubbles or work in stockinette to desired leg length.

Set up for Afterthought Heel:
Starting at marker, grab a spare double pointed needle and knit the next 32 stitches onto waste yarn. Slide stitches to end of needle and knit these 32 stitches again in your pattern yarn.

Knit even for 0.5 inches.
Knit Foot:
Repeat entire series of bubbles from leg pattern twice.
If you cannot repeat all 4 sets of bubbles twice, work pattern once, then work in stockinette until desired length. Stopping in the middle of the pattern will warp the fit of the sock.
Knit even until 1.5 inches shorter than desired length. Keep in mind that the heel will create another 1.5 inches of length when knit. Measure for the toe by lining up the waste yarn with ankle bone. David has a 12" foot. I knit a 9" long foot. I ended up working quite a few rows of plain stockinette. The stripes still had a curvy appearance toward the toe.
Shape Toe:
Round 1: *Knit 1, SSK, knit 26 (or until last 3 stitches on working side of Magic Loop), Knit 2 together, Knit 1. Repeat from *
Round 2: Knit even.
Work these two rounds until 8 stitches remain on each side of needle. Graft together.
Knit Afterthought Heel:
Carefully remove waste yarn from Heel Setup Round, placing resulting live stitches on needles. There will be 32 stitches on one side of your circular needle and 31 stitches on the other side. Pick up an additional stitch to make 32 stitches on each side of needle mark beginning of row. (64 stitches)
Round 1: **Knit 1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches on same side of needle, Knit two together, Knit one**. Repeat between **. (4 stitches decreased.)
Round 2: Knit next round even.

Repeat these two rows until 12 stitches remain on each side of needle. Graft remaining live stitches shut.

Weave in ends. Steam block aggressively, avoiding ribbing.

Please contact me with any errors you see. I am always available for help/questions at: alexcateye@msn.com. I've never written a pattern before, so please tell me if it's readable.