To my surprise (and probably to yours as well!), I did actually finish the first sock over the weekend.  It came out beautifully - in my quite biased opinion - and is just about perfect according to my definition of perfect socks :) The ribbing keeps the sock up and un-slouched, but is not snug and is very flexible and soft.  The foot is plain with no patterning to cause problems between shoe uppers and foot tops.  Of course I make socks for myself, primarily and so I make them to suit my preferences.  If you decide to make these socks, by all means make them to your preferences.  Continue the patterning down onto the foot, substitute a short row or an after-thought heel or change the style of the toe to suit yourself.  Adaptation is half the fun here :)

The yarn I used was an odd lot purchased primariily for its dyeing potential but it turned out to be surprisingly springy and very nice to work with.  It is also washable, which doesn’t hurt a bit!  It’s a bit heavier than ordinary sock yarn - sport weight, perhaps?  I worked it on size 2 US (2.75 mm) needles which gave me a perfectly sized sock for my size 10 foot.  A smaller sock could be worked with fingering or sock weight yarn on size 1 US (2.25 mm) or even size 0 US (2.0 mm) needles.  In any case, this is what I came up with and you’re welcome to try it out and adapt it as you will.

Leaves and Vines Socks
(chart below)

Materials

Sport weight wool, around 350 yards
4 size 2 double pointed needles (or two circulars, or one long one - whatever suits you)
Tapestry needle

Terms

K - Knit
P - Purl
K-P-K - Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 1 into next stitch (double increase)
SSK - Slip, slip, knit (or slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over)
K2tog - Knit 2 together
YO - Yarn over
CDD - Slip 2 stitches together, knitwise.  K1 and then pass the slipped stitches over (centered double decrease).

Cast on 60 stitches (20 stitches on each of three needles) and join, being careful not to twist.

Round 1:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 2:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 3:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 4:  *K2, P1, K-P-K into next stitch, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 5:  *K2, P1, K3, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 6:  *K2, P1, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 7:  *K2, P1, K5, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 8:  *K2, P1, SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 9:  *K2, P1, K5, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 10: *K2, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog, P1, K2, P1, K-P-K, P1; repeat from * around
Round 11: *K2, P1, K3, P1; repeat from * around
Round 12: *K2, P1, CDD, P1, K2, P1, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, P1; repeat from * around
Round 13: *K2, P3, K2, P1, K5, P1; repeat from * around
Round 14: *K2, P3, K2, P1, SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, P1; repeat from * around
Round 15: *K2, P3, K2, P1, K5, P1; repeat from * around
Round 16: *K2, P1, K-P-K, P1, K2, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog, P1; repeat from * around
Round 17: *K2, P1, K3, P1; repeat from * around
Round 18: *K2, P1, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, P1, K2, P1, CDD, P1; repeat from * around
Round 19: *K2, P1, K5, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 20: *K2, P1, SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 21: *K2, P1, K5, P1, K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round 22: *K2, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog, P1, K2, P1, K-P-K, P1; repeat from * around
Round 23: *K2, P1, K3, P1; repeat from * around

Repeat Rounds 12 - 23 for desired leg length (I did 5 leaves in each column).  When you’re ready to end the leg, following Round 15, work:

Round A:  *K2, P3, K2, P1, SSK, K1, K2tog, P1; repeat from * around
Round B:  *K2, P3, K2, P1, K3, P1; repeat from * around
Round C:  *K2, P3, K2, P1, CDD, P1; repeat from * around
Round D:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round E:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around
Round F:  *K2, P3; repeat from * around

Knit the first stitch on needle 1 onto needle 3.  Move 11 stitches from the beginning of needle 2 onto the end of needle 1.  Move 6 stitches from the beginning of needle three onto the end of needle two.  You should now have the following:

Needle 1:  30 stitches
Needle 2:  15 stitches
Needle 3:  15 stitches

Heel Flap

We’ll be knitting back and forth on the 30 stitches on needle 1.

Row 1:  (RS) * Sl1, K1; repeat from * across.
Row 2:  (WS) * Sl1, Purl across

Repeat these two rows 14 more times for a total of 30 rows (adjust for your own heel length - this is just an average that works most of the time), ending with a WS (wrong side) row.

Turning the heel

Row 1:  K20, SSK, turn
Row 2:  Sl 1, P10, P2 tog, turn
Row 3:  Sl 1, K10, SSK, turn

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until all the side stitches have been accumulated.  You should be ready for a RS (right side) row and have 12 stitches on your needle.

Knit one row.

The Gusset

Pick up 15 stitches down the side of the heel flap.  With another needle, knit all the stitches from needles 2 and three onto one needle.  With another needle, pick up 15 stitches going up the other side of the heel flap and, with the same needle, knit 6 stitches off the end of needle one.

You should have the following:

Needle 1:  21 stitches
Needle 2:  30 stitches
Needle 3:  21 stitches

The beginning of your round is now the point between needle 3 and needle one.  Proceed this way:

Round 1: Needle 1:  Knit to 3 stiches before end, K2 tog, K1.  Needle 2:  Knit across.  Needle 3:  K1, SSK, Knit to end.

Round 2: Knit around on all needles.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you are back to 15 stitches on needles 1 and 3 and a total of 60 stitches all around.

Foot

Knit the foot plain until the length is about 2.5” shorter than your actual foot.

Round 1: Needle 1:  Knit to 3 stitches before end of needle, K2tog, K1.  Needle 2:  K1, SSK, Knit to three stitches before end of needle, K2tog, K1.  Needle 3:  K1, SSK, Knit to end.

Round 2: Knit around

Repeat these two rounds until to have a total of 32 stitches:  8 on needle one, 16 on needle 2 and 8 on needle three.

Then repeat round 1 only four more times.  There remain 16 stitches.  Arrange these stitches for grafting - or your favorite form of toe closure and finish off.  Weave in ends,

Wear in health, hapiness and warmth!