Attention, fellow knitting enthusiasts! Ever envisioned adorning your family’s feet with warmth and style, all while showcasing your knitting prowess? We present to you a complimentary sock pattern that is bound to leave you (and your family) in awe!
Behold… Unity! This delectable sock pattern transcends the ordinary – it boasts a captivating cable panel gracefully meandering along the exterior of each sock, imparting an air of elegance and charm to your family’s tootsies.
Picture those chilly winter evenings, with the entire family nestled by the fireplace, indulging in hot cocoa and donning matching Unity socks. It’s a scene straight out of a dream, isn’t it? Well, it’s time to transform that dream into reality, and all it takes is a few clicks to obtain this delightful pattern and set your hands (and needles) in motion.
So, what’s holding you back? Your family’s feet are growing colder by the minute, yearning for the snug embrace of Unity socks. Don’t let them down – seize your free copy now and begin your journey to foot-warming, fashion-forward family bliss!
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. 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.
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
Intermediate
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, cable needle, stitch markers (3)
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
US1 (2.25 mm) 40” (100 cm) circular needles, or the size required to obtain gauge
YARN REQUIREMENTS
MC: 200-500 yds / 183-458 m of fingering weight yarn (depending on the length of your foot and leg)
CC: 44 [50, 56, 62, 68, 75, 81, 88, 95, 103, 110] yds / 40 [46, 51, 57, 62, 69, 74, 80, 87, 94, 101] m of fingering weight yarn
SUGGESTED YARN
Turtlepurl Yarns – Striped Turtle Toes
75% SW Merino 25% Nylon
450 yds (411 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g)
Colour: Joy
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.
MODIFICATIONS
Want to substitute the heel? Check out my FREE Back to Basics: Socks pattern – simply swap out the foot and leg directions from this pattern into it and your measurements are ready for you! https://rhyflowerknits.com/BTB-socks
ABBREVIATIONS
*: Repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed.
1/2 LPT: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at front of work, p2, then k-tbl from cable needle.
1/2 RPT: Slip next 2 stitches to the cable needle and place at the back of the work, k1-tbl, then p2 from the cable needle.
2/1 LC: Slip the next 2 stitches to the cable needle and place it at the front of work, k1, then k2 from the cable needle.
2/1 RC: Slip the next stitch to the cable needle and place it at the back of the work, k2, then k1 from the cable needle.
BOR: Beginning of round.
CC: Contrast colour.
Cm: Centimetre(s).
Dec: Decrease.
Inc: Increase.
K1-tbl: Knit through the back loop.
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.
MC: Main colour.
Mm: Millimetre.
Oz: Ounce(s).
P: Purl.
Pm: Place marker.
Rep: Repeat.
RS: Right side.
Sm: Slip marker.
St (Sts): Stitch(es).
W&T: Wrap the stitch with the working yarn and turn the work.
WS: Wrong side.
Yds: Yards.
DIRECTIONS
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. (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. Cut CC and join MC.
FOOT
Right foot setup: K6 [8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26], pm, p1, k3, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k3, p1, pm, knit to end of round.
Left foot setup: K1, pm, p1, k3, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k3, p1, pm, knit to end of round.
Round 1: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Rounds 2-4: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 5: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 6: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Rounds 7-8: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 9: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 10: Repeat Round 7.
Round 11: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 12: Repeat Round 2.
Round 13: Repeat Round 5.
Rounds 14-15: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 16: Repeat Round 6.
Round 17: Repeat Round 9.
Rounds 18-20: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Continue working Rounds 1-20 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, then drop MC and join CC. You’ll continue working with your CC from here. 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. 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 length before the cuff measured from the deepest part of the heel.
Round 1: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Rounds 2-4: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 5: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 6: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Rounds 7-8: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 9: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, 2/1 LC, k1-tbl, 2/1 RC, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 10: Repeat Round 7.
Round 11: Knit to marker, sm, p1, 1/2 LPT, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, 1/2 RPT, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 12: Repeat Round 2.
Round 13: Repeat Round 5.
Rounds 14-15: Knit to marker, sm, p3, k1-tbl, p1, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p1, k1-tbl, p3, sm, knit to end of round.
Round 16: Repeat Round 6.
Round 17: Repeat Round 9.
Rounds 18-20: Knit to marker, sm, p1, k1-tbl, p3, k3, k1-tbl, k3, p3, k1-tbl, p1, sm, knit to end of round.
CUFF
Cut MC and join CC. If desired, you can maintain the established cable panel through the cuff.
Round 1: *K1, p1; 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
Weave in all your ends, then soak your socks in water for 20 minutes using a gentle soap or wool wash. Block your socks with sock blockers or lay them flat to dry. Allow the socks to fully air dry.
Now, put on your new hand-knit socks and dance like nobody is watching!