Back to Basics: Socks – Toe-Up Peasant Heel

Are you ready to take the plunge into the delightful world of sock knitting but don’t know where to start? Look no further—our Back to Basics: Socks pattern is exactly what you need to get your needles working and your feet cosy! Whether you’re brand new to knitting or have a little experience under your belt, this toe-up sock pattern will walk you through every stitch with ease and confidence.

Knitting socks for the first time can feel like a daunting challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! With our simple, clear instructions, you’ll be crafting your very own pair of socks in no time. The beauty of this pattern lies in its beginner-friendly approach, making it the perfect project for those who are eager to get started but may feel a little overwhelmed by all the sock knitting techniques out there.

This pattern is worked from the cuff down, making it easier to adjust the fit as you go, and it includes a peasant heel—a fantastic beginner-friendly choice that eliminates the need for complex shaping. The peasant heel provides a snug and comfortable fit while staying simple enough for someone who’s just starting their sock-knitting journey.

What’s more, Back to Basics: Socks is designed with flexibility in mind. You can easily adapt the pattern to your own size and preferences, whether you want to knit a pair of comfy slippers or socks that will fit perfectly into your shoes. The pattern comes with a variety of helpful tips, making it a great project for knitting newbies who want to improve their skills while creating something they can be proud of.

By the end of this project, not only will you have your very own pair of hand-knit socks, but you’ll also gain the confidence and experience to explore even more advanced sock patterns in the future. There’s something incredibly satisfying about knitting a pair of socks from scratch—each stitch will remind you of your growth as a knitter!

Are you ready to cast on and start your sock knitting adventure? Grab your needles, yarn, and the Back to Basics: Socks pattern, and let’s get started on the journey to mastering socks, one cosy stitch at a time. You’ve got this!

Pattern Notes for Back to Basics: Socks

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 peasant heel (afterthought heel using scrap yarn), 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).

Create a project page for your project here on Ravelry!

I can’t wait to see your Back to Basics: Socks come to life! Share your WIPs and FOs on social media using #rhyFlowerBlog and #BackToBasics—let’s celebrate your creativity together!

Tips & Tricks

For helpful resources on sock knitting, please visit: https://rhyflowerknits.com/socks/

Pattern Support for Back to Basics: Socks

Please see our Pattern Support page regarding pattern support for our freebie patterns; https://rhyflowerknits.com/pattern-support/

Skill Level

Beginner

Size Information

1 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] — larger sizes are in bold throughout the pattern to help differentiate the multiple sizes.

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, tape measure, scrap yarn, stitch markers (1)

Suggested Needles

US1 (2.25 mm) 40” / 100 cm circular needles, or size required to get gauge

Yarn Requirements

MC: 200-500 yd / 183-458 m of fingering weight yarn (depending on the length of your foot and leg)

CC: 44 [52, 60, 68, 77, 86, 96, 106, 116, 127, 138] yd / 40 [48, 55, 62, 70, 79, 88, 97, 106, 116, 126] m of fingering weight yarn

Suggested Yarn

Turtlepurl Yarns – Striped Turtle Toes
75% SW Merino 25% Nylon
450 yd (411 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g)
Colour: On the Beach
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 used in Back to Basics: Socks

*: Repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed.

BOR: Beginning of round.

CC: Contrast colour.

Cm: Centimetre(s).

Dec: Decrease.

Inc: Increase.

K: Knit.

K2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec)

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.

MC: Main colour.

Mm: Millimetre(s).

Oz: Ounce(s).

P: Purl.

Rep: Repeat.

Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knitwise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops. (1 st dec)

St(s): Stitch(es).

Yd: Yard(s).

Directions for Back to Basics: Socks

Using Judy’s Magic Cast-on and your CC, 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. (36 sts; 18 sts on each needle)

Round 3: *K1, M1R, knit to the last st on the needle, M1L, k1; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc; 2 sts  inc on each needle)

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. Cut CC and join MC. 

Foot

Round 1: Knit across round.

Continue working Round 1 until your foot measures 1 [1.25, 1.5, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 3]” / 2.5 [3, 4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5] cm less than your desired foot length, measured from the cast-on edge. Work the instep stitches as established; with your scrap yarn, knit to the end of your round. Slip the stitches worked with scrap yarn purlwise back onto the left needle and then pick back up with your MC/main yarn and knit to the end of the round. Your heel is now in place to return to later in the project. 

Leg

Resume working in the established pattern, using your leg directions, until your leg measures 1 [1.25, 1.5, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 3]” / 2.5 [3, 4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5] cm less than your desired length before the cuff, measured from your scrap yarn placement.

Round 1: Knit across round.

Cuff

Cut MC and join CC.

Round 1: *K2, p2; rep from * across round.

Continue working Round 1 until your cuff measures 1.5” / 4 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. Proceed to the heel directions.

Peasant Heel Directions

You’ll be working the stitches above and below the scrap yarn you placed earlier in your sock. With your sock toe pointing down, working right to left, pick up the right leg of all the stitches directly below the stitches of your scrap yarn. Rotate your work, so your toe is now pointing up, moving right to left, pick up the right leg of all the stitches directly below the scrap yarn. You’ll now have 24 [26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44] stitches on each needle.

Using your tapestry needle, pull out the scrap yarn. Join MC or CC and begin working in the round:

Round 1: *Pick up 1 st to close the gap, knit across the needle, then pick up 1 more st to close the gap; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc; 2 sts inc on each needle)

Round 2: Knit across round.

Round 3: *K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts on the needle, k2tog, k1; rep from * once more. (4 sts dec; 2 sts dec on each needle)

Continue working Rounds 2-3 until you have 40 stitches (20 stitches on each needle), then work Round 3 three more times; you’ll have 28 stitches (14 stitches on each needle). Cut yarn, leaving an 8” / 21 cm tail, and graft your heel closed.

Finishing your Back to Basics: Socks

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! ♥