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.
Worked in the round from the toe-up, this versatile sock pattern offers a seamless knitting experience. While the pattern comes with instructions for a short row heel, it’s adaptable to your personal preferences and unique 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.
I designed the sock pattern for the magic loop knitting method in mind. However, you can also work on double-pointed needles or mini-circulars instead if you prefer (just use extra markers to denote 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, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11]” / 15 [16.5, 18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm circumference — choose a size that will give you 1-1.5” / 2.5-4 cm of negative ease. The finished measurements provided are actual measurements and do not factor in your negative ease.
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers (1)
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
US1 (2.25 mm) 40” (100 cm) circular needles, or the size required to obtain gauge
YARN REQUIREMENTS
200-500 yds / 183-458 m of fingering weight yarn (depending on the length of your foot and leg)
SUGGESTED YARN
Turtlepurl Yarns – Striped Turtle Toes
75% SW Merino 25% Nylon
450 yds (411 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g)
Colour: Imposters
https://turtlepurl.com/
GAUGE
32 stitches by 40 rounds in stockinette = 4” / 10 cm, after blocking. Gauge is crucial in obtaining the correct fit. Changes in gauge will cause a size difference for your finished socks.
ABBREVIATIONS
*: Repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed.
BOR: Beginning of round.
Cm: Centimetre(s).
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.)
M: Metres.
Mm: Millimetre.
Oz: Ounce(s).
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.
Yds: Yards.
TOE-UP DIRECTIONS
Using Judy’s Magic Cast-on, cast on 28 stitches (14 stitches on each needle). Knit across 1 round, working through the back loop on your second needle. Place a stitch marker to denote the BOR.
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.
Continue working Rounds 3-4 until you have 48 [52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88] stitches. The first half of your stitches will be for your instep and the second half for the sole of your sock.
FOOT
Round 1: Knit across round.
Continue working Round 1 until your foot measures 1.5 [1.75, 2, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 2.75, 3]” / 4 [4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6, 6.5, 7, 7, 7.5] cm less than your desired foot length.
SHORT ROW HEEL
Continue across the instep as established. You will work inward toward the centre of your heel, working the stitches on your second needle flat using short rows.
Row 1 (RS): K23 [25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43], w&t.
Row 2 (WS): P22 [24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42], 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.
Continue working Rows 3-4 until you have 8 [9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 15] wrapped stitches on each side of your heel; 8 [8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14] unwrapped stitches in the centre. Now, begin working back towards the outside stitches of the heel. You will wrap 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.
Continue working Rows 1-2 until you have 1 wrapped stitch on each end. 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 length before the cuff measured from the deepest part of the heel.
Round 1: Knit across round.
CUFF
Round 1: *K2, p2; rep from * across round.
Continue working 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
After weaving in all your ends, soak your socks in water for 20 minutes with a gentle soap or wool wash. To dry your socks, either use sock blockers or lay them flat. Give your socks enough time to air dry completely.
Now, dance like nobody’s watching while wearing your new hand-knit socks! ♥