Basic freaking socks

So... it's been awhile. Yeah. Since my last post, I've fallen in love, made a bunch of plans, gotten my heart broken, and started school. I've also learned some new knitting techniques. Having made socks and mittens, I feel as if I can conquer the world. I want to share that feeling with YOU. You need to know how to cast on, how to knit, and how to purl. The rest is a bit challenging, but it is by no means insurmountable.

I started my first pair of socks with a skein of super-fine yarn and the pattern that came with it. I felt that I needed some extra instructions, because I didn't understand the process of turning the heel or of picking up stitches along the heel flap. I found an excellent tutorial, Silver's Sock Class. Step 6 shows how to turn the heel, step 7 shows how to pick up stitches and knit the gussets, and step 10 shows Kitchener stitch in a much better manner than I could explain! This tutorial is awesome. Thanks to Silver, I [heart] sock-knitting.

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Ashleigh's Basic Freaking Socks

I hate complications. They always seem to find me, though. That’s why I’m really happy with this sock pattern that I developed. I took the best parts of two different patterns and smooshed them together to form what I believe (for now) to be the perfect basic sock, even if its origins are a bit complicated. If you are new to sock knitting, these babies will make you happy.

What you need
1 set of 4 dpns in US size 6
worsted weight yarn (I used Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe in Snapdragon; one 177-yard skein makes a pair of socks with enough left over for, say, a coffee cup cozy.)
darning needle

Gauge
Looks like 11 sts x 15 rnds = 2" square. This pattern as I wrote and knit it fits a ladies' size 8 or 8-1/2.

Cuff
Cast on 40 sts and divide as follows: 14 sts each on needles 1 and 3, and 12 sts on needle 2. Join and be careful not to twist your cast-on round. Work in K2P2 ribbing for 7-10 rounds, depending on your preference, then knit 21 rounds of stockinette (or however many rounds will make the cuff the length that you want). End by knitting across the first 11 stitches on needle 1.

Heel flap
Redistribute stitches as follows: slip 11 stitches from needle 3 to needle 1, and rearrange remaining 18 stitches on needles 2 and 3. On needle one, you will have 22 stitches; on needle 2, you will have 9 stitches; on needle 3, you will have 9 stitches as well. You may let needles 2 and 3 hang down, or you may place the stitches on waste yarn, according to your preference. You will be working back-and-forth with the 22 stitches on needle 1 to make the heel flap.

Row 1: P2tog, P2 to end, ending with P2tog. (16 sts)
Row 2: Sl1, K1 to end
Row 3: Sl1, P to end

Work rows 2 and 3 for 10 times total. Repeat row 2 one time more.

Turn heel
Row 1: P8, P2tog, P1, leaving remaining 5 sts unworked. Turn.
Row 2: K3, K2tog, K1, leaving remaining 4 sts unworked. Turn.
Row 3: P4, P2tog, P1, leaving remaining 3 sts unworked. Turn.
Row 4: K5, K2tog, K1, leaving remaining 2 sts unworked. Turn.
Row 5: P6, P2tog, P1, leaving remaining st unworked. Turn.
Row 6: K7, K2tog, K1, turn.
Row 7: P10
Row 8: K10

(Pause and admire your lovely heel!)

Gussets
With right side facing you, and using spare needle, pick up and knit 11 sts along side of heel flap. Slip these stitches onto needle 1. With spare needle, knit across the 18 sts on needles 2 and 3. With spare needle, pick up and knit 11 sts along the other side of heel flap; with the same needle, knit 5 sts from needle 1. Needle 1 now has 16 sts, needle 2 has 18 sts, and needle 3 has 16 sts, for a total of 50 sts.

Knit one round, and make sure your stitches aren’t too loose.

Round 1: On needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. On needle 2: K across. On needle 3: K1, SSK, K to end of needle. (48 sts)
Round 2: Knit.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 5 times total (40 sts remain).

Instep
Knit stockinette stitch for 35 rounds, or until foot measures 2” less than the total length needed.

Toe
Redistribute stitches as follows: 10 sts on needle 1, 20 sts on needle 2, and 10 sts on needle 3.

Round 1: On needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. On needle 2: K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. On needle 3: K1, SSK, K to end of needle.
Round 2: Knit.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 7 times total (12 sts remain). Knit across needle 1, arrange 6 sts onto each of 2 needles, and graft closed with Kitchener stitch.

Repeat for second sock!

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Yes, your socks will look a bit funky when you're done. I understand why people use sock blockers for aesthetic purposes. However, the fit is unbeatable!



I really love how these socks turned out. They are chunky and breathable (thank you, wool and bamboo), and I think they will be nice to wear in transitional weather. I'm sending these beauties to my sister in Georgia.

As you gain confidence in your sock-knitting abilities, you can throw in stripes and lace borders and all sorts of embellishments. Enjoy!