Something Simple

I am a Knitting Addict. There. I said it. I am constantly knitting or thinking about knitting. When not doing either of those two things, I am online looking for new and wonderful yarns and patterns. There is a sizeable amount of money that goes into my habit problem favorite pastime. Don't tell Alex. I would like to keep the numbers a secret for as long as possible...

More often than not, there are no less than five projects on the needles at any given time. This does not include socks. Those are my favorite wooly item to stitch up. They are quick, portable, and make great conversation starters; assuming that the person who stares at your handknit sock does not make some smart-ass comment about how you can buy the same thing at the store for less time, money and effort.

I have decided to share my simple, plain vanilla sock pattern with you all. It is a quick knit with no special stitches involved. The pattern here is written sort of roughly and for those that already have a basic understanding of knitting/knitting socks. If you are a new sock knitter, I recommend this book to you. It's how I learned, and it was very helpful. Enjoy!

Ten-Forty Socks:

Needles: size 2

Yarn: Any sock or fingering weight

Other: I recommend an easy care fiber if you plan to wear them often, but it is entirely up to you.

Cuff: Cast on 64 stitches using your favorite cast-on method and needles (i always use the long-tail cast-on and double pointed.) K2 P2 for 10 rows.

Leg: Knit around and around for 40 rows

Heel Flap: Knit 16 stitches. Turn your sock and purl 32 stitches. Place the remaining 32 stitches on a holder or spare needles. 

Set-Up Rows: Turn your sock so the right side is now facing you. Slip the first stitch, K1 (SL1, K1, SL1 K1). Repeat the (_) until you have reached the end of the row. You should end on a K1. Turn work and Slip the first stitch. Purl all the way across.

1) S1, K1 all the way across (end on a knit stitch)

2) S1, Purl all the way across

Repeat above two rows until there are 16 selvedge stitches. End on a purl Row.

Turn Heel: Knit 18 stitches, SSK, K1. Turn sock. S1 stitch, Purl 5 stitches, P2tog, P1. Turn. S1, knit to gap, SSK, K1. Turn, S1, Purl to gap, P2Tog, P1. Turn. Continue in this manner until there are only 18 stitches left on your needles.

Gusset: K9 sts onto a new needle. Knit next 9 sts and then pick up 18 sts along the heel flap. You should have a total of 27 stitches now. With a new needle, knit across the 32 stitches you held in reserve. Using a new needle, pick up and knit 18 stitches along the heel flap and then the remaining 9 stitches left on the last needle. Mark the end of your round with something (a piece of yarn a paper clip, a stitch marker, etc). Knit 1 full round.

1) Knit to the last 3 sts on needle. K2tog, K1. Knit across 32 stitches, K1, SSK, Knit to end of the row. Row 1 complete.

2) Knit all the way around.

Repeat above 2 rounds until you have 64 stitches remaining.

Foot: Knit around and around for 40 rows.

Toe: 

1) Knit to the last 3 sts of your needle. SSK, 1. K1 (needle 1)
 K1, SSK, Knit to the last 3 stitches. K2tog, K1 (needle 2)
 K1 SSK, Knit to the end of round. (needle 3)
This is your decrease round.

2) Knit around

Repeat above two rounds until you have 32 stitches remaining. Repeat Row 1 only until there are 12 stitches remining. Sew up using Kitchener Stitch or favorite method.

I have a small foot, so these are custom fitted to my size, but are easily adjusted in the leg and foot lengths to fit anyone.