Knitting For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon

This basic sock pattern is written from the toe up in fingering weight yarn and a variety of sizes, with the Easy Toe cast-on and a short-row heel. You can substitute any of the toe and heel methods you prefer for the toe and heel in this sock.

image0.jpg

Specifications

  • Size: Child Med (Child Lrg/W Sm, W Med, W Lrg/M Sm, M Med, M Lrg)

  • Materials: 200 (250, 300, 350, 400, 450) yards of fingering weight yarn

    US 1 (2.25mm) dpns, two circulars, or one long circular needle, or size to obtain gauge

  • Gauge: 8 sts and 10 rounds = 4 inches square in St st.

Pattern stitches

  • 2 x 2 ribbing

    Round 1: * K2, p2 *, rep from * to * around.

    Rep round 1 for patt.

  • Flat stockinette stitch

    Row 1: Knit.

    Row 2: Purl.

    Rep rows 1 and 2 for patt.

Start with the Easy Toe:

image1.jpg
  1. Provisionally cast on 10 (10, 12, 12, 12, 12) sts with waste yarn.

  2. Work 4 rows in flat St st.

  3. Rotate the work so that the provisional cast-on is at the top. Undo the provisional cast-on and place the live sts evenly onto 2 empty dpns. You are now ready to begin working in the round.

  4. Round 1:

    Needle 1: K1, m1, k 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5). Take up an empty needle.

    Needle 2: K 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5), m1, k1. Take up an empty needle.

    Needle 3: K1, m1, k 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5). Take up an empty needle.

    Needle 4: K 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5), m1, k1. Take up an empty needle.

    Place a marker in the work to indicate beg of round.

  5. Round 2:

    Needle 1: K1, m1, k to end of needle.

    Needle 2: K to last st, m1, k1.

    Needle 3: K1, m1, k to end of needle.

    Needle 4: K to last st, m1, k1.

  6. Round 3: Knit.

  7. Rep rounds 2 and 3 as set until you have 52 (56, 60, 64, 68, 72) sts total.

Work the foot

Now you start working the foot. Work even in stockinette stitch on these stitches until piece measures 5.5 (6.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) inches from the tip of the toe, or 2 inches less than desired total foot length. Here you can incorporate different stitch patterns, such as ribbing, lace, or cables to add interest to the sock.

Work the short-row heel

Work the heel over 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts.

  1. Row 1 (RS): K 25 (27, 29, 31, 33, 35) sts onto one needle. Wrap the next st and turn.

  2. Row 2 (WS): P 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) sts. Wrap the next st and turn.

  3. Row 3: K to 1 before previously wrapped st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  4. Row 4: P to 1 before previously wrapped st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  5. Rep rows 3 and 4 until 12 (12, 14, 14, 14, 14) sts remain unwrapped in the
    middle of the heel.

Pick up wraps

  1. 1,Row 1 (RS): K to wrapped st. Pick up wrap and work together with st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  2. Row 2 (WS): P to wrapped st. Pick up wrap and work together with st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  3. Row 3: K to double-wrapped st. Pick up both wraps and work together with st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  4. Row 4: P to double-wrapped st. Pick up both wraps and work together with st. Wrap the next st and turn.

  5. Rep rows 3 and 4 until you have worked all wrapped sts. On last pair of rows, pick up double wraps and work together with last heel st, then wrap the following st and turn.

  6. Work 1 round even, picking up single wraps at sides of heel.

  7. Work even on these 52 (56, 60, 64, 68, 72) sts until leg measures 4.5 (5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7) inches from end of heel or desired length of leg minus 1 inch.

  8. Work 1 inch of 2 x 2 ribbing. Bind off all sts loosely using one of the methods from pages. 131–133.

  9. Repeat all steps for second sock.

  10. Weave in ends and block.

If there are any holes or gaps at the top of the heel, you can close them up by running a bit of yarn around the gap and tightening to close it up. Weave in the ends and block normally.

About This Article

This article can be found in the category: