Ann Budd's Cable Clock Socks: Work sts as they appear question

#1

I am working on Ann Budd’s Cable Clock Socks pattern and would love some help understanding the instructions.

The pattern for the cuff instructs the following:

Odd-numbered Rnds 1-17: Work sts as they appear (knit the knits and purl the purls).

Rnds 2, 6, and 14: See Stitch Guide for RT and 2/2 RC definitions. [RT, p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times, RT, slip marker (sl m), p1, 2/2RC, p1, sl m, [RT, p1] 4 (5 , 6, 7, 8) times, RT sl m, p1, 2/2RC, p1, sl m, [RT, p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times.

Rnds 4 , 8, 12, and 16: Work sts as they appear.

I am curious what specifically work sts as they appear means.

Should Rnds 4, 8, 12, and 16 look like this:

[k2,p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times, k2, sl m, p1, k4, p1, sl m, [k2,p1] 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) times, [k2], sl m, p1, k4, p1, sl m, [k2, p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times.

…or this?

[RT, p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times, RT, slip marker (sl m), p1, 2/2RC, p1, sl m, [RT, p1] 4 (5 , 6, 7, 8) times, RT sl m, p1, 2/2RC, p1, sl m, [RT, p1] 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) times.

Essentially, I’m asking if there should be any difference between Row 3 and Row 4.

Thank you!

#2

Working sts as they appear means to knit the Vs and purl the bumps on the row facing you. So assuming the 2.2RC in a 4stitch cable on the even rounds you would purl the 4 sts on the odd number rounds.
If the RT is a 2 stitch right twist then purl it on the odd number rounds.

Rows 3 and 4 will then be the complement of each other. Wherever there are knits on round 3, they will be purled on round 4. The purls on round 3 will be knits on round 4.

#3

Thanks for the help, @salmonmac! Still trying to understand - since I’m working in the round, wouldn’t I want to knit the 4 sts on the odd number rounds after the 2.2RC? Similarly, wouldn’t rows 3 and 4 be the exact same since I want to knit the knits and purl the purls?

#4

Thank you, I missed the Rnds part. Yes, the odd number rounds are knit as the sts appear and so are 4,8,12 and 16. So 3,4,5 would be the same.

Rnds 2, 6 and 14: “…2/2RC, p1, sl m, [RT, p1] …”
These sts would then be k4, p1, slm, (k2, p1) on the odd number rounds and also the even numbered that are noted (4,8,12 and 16). I assume rnd 10 as well unless there are other directions.

#5

Thanks for confirming!