Temperance: Modifications for Medium Size

Before we get started, make sure you’ve downloaded the Temperance PDF (available here), so you know what I’m talking about in this post. You can download a PDF of the modifications (here), or continue reading below.

Size M will be 8.20″ in circumference (unstretched) across the foot. The two sizes that come with the pattern (S and L) are 7.20″ (60 sts) and 9.20″ (80 sts), respectively. You have two easy options for modifying Temperance to fit the M size (70 sts) without making drastic changes:

1. Adjust the way in which the stitches are aligned for the foot. As written, you arrange the stitches evenly on two needles. For size M, rather than having 35/35, you will have 34/36. Details for this method are included below.
2. Switch to 2.75mm needles. I would recommend swatching if you choose this option. The pattern repeat is just over 1″ with 2.5mm needles, so you don’t want to increase in size too much.

Details for Option #1

Make sure you have the pattern PDF open for this or you’re printing this out to take along with you (modification PDF available here if you really want it).

Before beginning, you must decide if you want 2 extra stitches on the foot or the instep. If you have a larger heel, I’d recommend placing the 2 extra stitches on the instep. If you have an average heel, place them on the foot. But really, it’s 2 stitches on a sock. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. In my instructions below I have placed the 2 extra stitches on the foot.

Follow the pattern as written, with the following changes:

Toe Increases: continue increasing until you have 34 stitches on each needle (68 total). Knit one row. On the next row, increase 2 stitches (as previously written) on one needle only (36 stitches on needle 1, 34 stitches on needle 2).

Knitting the Twist pattern: the twist pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches, so you will need to center it across 36 stitches as follows: k3, Twist pattern (3 times, 30 stitches), k3, proceed to instep. This will keep your twist pattern centered.

This is very important: before you begin the heel, the last row you work should be a patterned row, not a knit row.

Work the short row heel, modifying it for 34 stitches (16 live, 9 wrapped on each side).

On the first row of the leg (after completing the heel) you must decrease 3 stitches on each side of the Twist pattern (in addition to any other decreases you are making for picking up extra stitches to prevent holes). This can be done several ways, but you can pick your own poison. I would recommend doing all of the decreases on the same row (6 stitches decreased). Make sure you decrease the first and last three stitches of the foot or you will mis-align your beautiful work.

(You can, of course do the decreases across multiple rows, but you’ll have to remember to knit the extra stitches before beginning the Twist pattern.)

Continue as written across 70 stitches, knitting 7 pattern repeats with each row.

Voila! Size m!

Details for Option #2

Uh, swatch.

Please email me or leave a comment if you have any questions. If the questions are pertinent to others, I will post a response here.