Back to Basics: Socks – For every newbie out there who dares to take up the challenge, this beginner-friendly sock pattern has got you covered.
While the pattern comes with instructions for a short row heel, it’s designed to be adaptable to your personal preferences and unique feet. We’ve even included links to alternative heel techniques, so you can choose the one that brings you the most joy in your knitting journey and fits your feet.
With multiple sizes thoughtfully incorporated, you can easily achieve the perfect fit for yourself or for the lucky recipient of your handcrafted socks. This pattern truly embraces size diversity, making it a wonderful option for a wide range of individuals.
The pattern is written for the magic loop method for knitting socks; however, the design could be worked on double-pointed needles or mini-circulars instead should you prefer (ensure you denote your instep stitches with extra markers – so you don’t miss the placement of the heel or toe shaping).
TIPS & TRICKS
For helpful resources on sock knitting, please visit: https://rhyflowerknits.com/socks/
PATTERN SUPPORT
Please see our Pattern Support page regarding pattern support for our freebie patterns; https://rhyflowerknits.com/pattern-support/
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
(Measured around the ball of the foot)
6 [6.5, 7, 7.75, 8.25, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.75, 11.25]” / 15 [16.5, 18, 19.5, 20.5, 22.5, 23.5, 25, 26.5, 28.5] cm circumference — choose a size that will give you 1-1.5” / 2.5-4 cm of negative ease. The finished measurements do not factor in negative ease, these are the actual measurements for the finished item.
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle, stitch markers (1)
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
US3 (3.25 mm) 40” (100 cm) circular needles, or the size required to obtain gauge
YARN REQUIREMENTS
MC: 100-245 yds / 91-224 m of DK weight yarn (depending on the length of your foot and leg)
CC: 37 [43, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 79, 86, 93] yds / 34 [39, 44, 49, 55, 60, 66, 72, 79, 85] m of DK weight yarn
SUGGESTED YARN
Turtlepurl Yarns – DK Striped Turtle Toes
75% Superwash Merino 25% Nylon
245 yds (224 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g)
Colour: Trenchcoat
https://turtlepurl.com/
GAUGE
27 stitches by 36 rounds in stockinette = 4” / 10 cm, after blocking. Gauge is crucial in obtaining the correct fit. Changes in gauge will result in a size difference for your finished socks.
ABBREVIATIONS
CC: Contrast colour.
Dec: Decrease.
Inc: Increase.
K2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec.)
K: Knit.
M1L: From the front, lift the horizontal strand between stitches with the left needle. Knit through the back loop. (1 st inc.)
M1R: From the back, lift the horizontal strand between stitches with the left needle. Knit through the front loop. (1 st inc.)
MC: Main colour.
P: Purl.
Rep: Repeat.
RS: Right side.
Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knitwise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops. (1 st dec.)
St (Sts): Stitch(es).
W&T: Wrap the stitch with the working yarn and turn the work.
WS: Wrong side.
DIRECTIONS
Using Judy’s Magic Cast-on and your CC, cast on 16 stitches (8 stitches on each needle). Knit across 1 round, working through the back loop on your second needle. Place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Rounds 1-2: *K1, M1R, knit to the last st on the needle, M1L, k1; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc.)
Round 3: *K1, M1R, knit to the last st on the needle, M1L, k1; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc.)
Round 4: Knit across round.
Repeat Rounds 3-4 until you have 40 [44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76] stitches. The first half of your stitches will be for your instep and the second half for your sole. Cut CC and join MC.
FOOT
Round 1: Knit across round.
Repeat Round 1 until your foot measures 1.5 [1.75, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 2.75, 3]” / 4 [4.5, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 6.5, 7] cm less than your desired foot length.
SHORT ROW HEEL
Work across the instep stitches as established. Drop MC and join CC. You’ll continue working with your CC from here. You will be working inward toward the center of your heel, working the stitches on your second needle flat using short rows.
Row 1 (RS): K19 [21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37], w&t.
Row 2 (WS): P18 [20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36], w&t.
Row 3: Knit to last st before the previous w&t, w&t.
Row 4: Purl to last st before the previous w&t, w&t.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until you have a total of 7 [8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13] wrapped stitches on each side of your heel; you’ll have 6 [6, 8, 8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12, 12] unwrapped stitches in the center. You’ll now begin working back towards the outside stitches of the heel. You will be wrapping the stitch after the one you work together with its wrap, so now this stitch has two wraps on it.
Setup Row 1 (RS): Knit to wrapped st, knit both wrap and the st together, w&t.
Setup Row 2 (WS): Purl to wrapped st, purl both wrap and the st together, w&t.
Row 1: Knit to wrapped st, knit both wraps and the st together, w&t.
Row 2: Purl to wrapped st, purl both wraps and the st together, w&t.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until you have 1 wrapped stitch on each end. Cut CC and continue working heel with MC. Facing the RS, knit both wraps and the stitch together. Knit to the last stitch of the heel and, again, work the wraps and the stitch together. You’re now back at your original beginning of the round and are prepared to resume working in the round again.
LEG
Resume working in the round, as established, using your leg directions, until your leg measures your desired leg length before the cuff.
Round 1: Knit across round.
CUFF
Cut MC and join CC.
Round 1: *K1, p1; rep from * across round.
Work Round 1 until your cuff measures 2” / 5 cm or your desired cuff length. Bind off using a Stretchy Bind-off, remember you’ll want your bind-off to be stretchy enough to get your sock on and off comfortably.
FINISHING
Weave in all your ends and soak your socks in water for 20 minutes with a gentle soap or wool wash. Block your socks with sock blockers or lay them flat to dry. Let air dry completely. Happy Knitting!