Ok… I know what you are saying: that I am nuts… With Christmas just 12 weeks away (OK, I said it) you are thinking what can I make that is fabulous and priced right… so I say SOCKS… Yes I am obsessed and I haven’t made anything since I started on my sock spree 6 months ago. I knit whenever I have down time: soccer games, doctor’s office … and I have been making on the average ONE pair of socks a week. This is using a size 2 needle and using a simple pattern with funky yarn. I have this great easy sock pattern that I have revised and rewritten and want to share with you. I know that at this time of year you can be under pressure trying to figure out what to make. So, before we begin, these are the yarns that I have found work very well with my pattern: Seacoast handpainted yarn, J-Knits Super Wash, Sisu, Fleece Artist sock yarn, Austermann Step, Lana Grossa, and any of the Regia yarns that are on my website.
DONNA’S EASY SOCK PATTERN: FREE SOCK PATTERN
Using the cable cast on method cast on 64 stitches on a size 2 needles, divide between three needles, (16,32,16) sts. Work around in a K2P2 pattern for 2 inches. Change to stockinette stitch and work unitil piece measures 5 1/2-6″ or until desired length.
HEEL: Knit the stitches from needle no.1 onto needle no. 3. Begin working reinforcing thread (if you are using 100% wool yarn) together with the sock yarn. Proceed to work back and forth across these 32 stitches for the heel as follows:
Row 1: Slip 1 st as if to purl, purl to the end.
Row 2: *Slip 1 st as if to purl, knit1, repeat from* to end.
Repeat these two rows for 32 rows. End with a knit row. Turn the heel using short rows as follows:
Row 1: Purl 18, p2 tog,p1 turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 as if to purl, knit 5 SSK, K1 turn.
Row 3: Slip 1, purl 6 p2 tog, p1 turn.
Row 4: Slip 1, knit 7, SSK K1, turn.
Row 5: Slip 1, purl 8, p2 tog, p1, turn.
Continue in this manner until all stitches have been worked. The last row should be a knit row (18 stitches). Stop carrying the reinforcing thread.
GUSSET: Using a spare needle, pick up and knit 14 stitches on the left side of the heel. Work evenly across the instep stitches on needle no.2. With another size 2 needle pick up and knit 14 stitches across the right side of the heel and knit nine stitches off the needle. Place the remaining nine heel stitches on the first needle used to pick up and knit (needle no.1) ( 23,32,23) sts. Shape instep gusset as follows:
Round 1: Knit to last 3 stitches on needle no. 1 k2 tog, k1. Knit across needle no. 2. On needle no.3 k1, ssk, knit to the end.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until 64 stitches remain (16,32,16) sts. Continue to work evenly until the foot measures about 1″ less than desired foot length. Begin carrying reinforcing thread along with sock yarn again.
Toe: Round 1: Knit to last 3 stitches on needle 1, k2 tog. k1. On needle no. 2 k1, ssk, knit to the last 3 stitches, k2 tog, k1. On needle no. 3, k1, SSK, knit to end.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until 28 stitches remain. Knit the stitches from needle no. 1 onto no. 3. Graft the toe stitches together using the kitchener stitch.
YAHOO YOU ARE FINISHED! That wasn’t so hard now?
Thanks for the sock challenge and for sharing your pattern!
Basically I make socks the same way, only I cast on fewer stitches, 48 to be exact. If I cast on more, since I knit loosely, I wind up with a gigantic sock that I cannot wear. I usually work on #2 needles, though on some yarn I do use a #1. However, I cast-on with #4 needles, working with them for about an inch and a half, then changing to the #2s. This makes the top loose enough to slip on without problems.
I use a long tail cast-on, casting 16 stitches on each of 3 needles*, then join them and do a 3-1 ribbing, saves times and the effect is a tad looser, but still works.
*After you cast on 16 on first needle, hold your second needle with same thumb and 2nd and 3rd fingers and below and slightly forward of top needle, snugging up the first cast-on stitch so the needles are close but not touching. Continue until you have your 16 stitches, then repeat with the 3rd needle.
Without changing position of needles, switch them to left hand, then flip the 2nd (middle) needle over and your stitches will be lined up to join.
Happy knitting….Capi
Hello, and thanks for the pattern. This is my first attempt at making socks and I’m using a cotton/wool Sockotta self-patterning yarn. It looks great in this pattern.
I do have two questions, both pertaining to the heel:
When beginning the heel, the patterns says to knit the stitches from N1 onto N3. Since I have just finished with N3, don’t these new knit stitches from N1 actually make it 1 row longer/higher for half of this “row” that is all now on one needle? Or just that just not matter?
Also on the heel, when the pattern says “slip one stitch as if to purl,” is the yarn forward as it would be for a purl stitch?
Thanks!