How to Knit Socks for Beginners the Easy Way

Who said that socks are boring? Roll up your jeans and make a fashion statement with these cosy, snowy white, winter socks which can also be used as Christmas stockings. The pattern is for an intermediate level. However it is easy enough to get you started on your journey to becoming a dedicated sock knitter.

Here is what you need for a small sized (15 inch) pair of socks, equivalent to a 4 - 6 for women and 7 - 9 for men.

1 skein of fine sock thread.

While you can use any kind of wool for sock knitting, a lot of knitters prefer yarn with a durable nylon thread to make the socks washable and increase their durability. Without the nylon, it is best to use an additional, fine nylon thread just for the heels and toes.

For the green and red chequered pattern you can use any yarn remainders, which are similar in strength and suitable for your needles.

1 set of double pointed needles, size US 1

1 set of double pointed needles, size US 2

1 yarn needle

We have used a long-tail or an Old Norwegian cast-on for the stretch. With the white yarn and your size 1 needles, cast on 68 stitches, divide them between 3 needles evenly, and join to make the round complete.

Vertical ribbing rows: * p2, k2; rep from *

Knit this ribbing pattern until your WIP measures 2 inches. Now switch to your size 2 needles and knit five rows around.

Now we work our color inlay. Here is a tip: leave your yarn loosely behind the slipped stitches to ensure that the sock won't be too tight and the sock is warped.

Color rows 1 and 2: using the green thread, * k2, slip 2 with yarn in back; rep from *

Color row 3: knit again with your white color, knit stitches

Color rows 4 and 5: using red color, * slip 2 wyib, k2; rep from *

Color row 6: using red color, all knit stitches

Color Rows 7 & 8: using color B, * k2, slip 2 with yarn in back (wyib); rep from *

Knit color rows 1 - 8. Clip the tails of your color B & color C yarns, since you're done with them. Using color A, knit 10 (15; 20) rows in stockinette.

When these rows are finished, we start elaborating the heel.

With that in mind, k17.

Turn work around and, using the same needle, p34.

The 30 stitches you just completed form the beginning of your heel. Now you can transfer the remaining 30 stitches to a stitch holder or yarn scrap. First, we will complete your heel.

Heel row 1 (right side): * slip 1 stitch purlwise (slip 1) with yarn in back (wyib), k1; rep from *

Heel row 2: slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), p till the end of row

Knit heel rows 1 and 2 17 times. This is the point where we will start the heel turn, knitting short rows to complete the shape.

Just knit the following two transition rows:

Transition 1ow 1 (right side): k19, ssk, k1, turn

Transition row 2: slip 1 wyif, p5, p2tog, p1, turn

You are almost there. Note that you'll be bridging the gaps made by the turns with your ssk and p2tog stitches.

Turn row 1: slip 1 wyib, knit to one stitch before gap from turn on previous row, ssk, k1, turn

Turn row 2: slip 1 wyif, purl to one stitch before gap from turn on previous row, p2tog, p1, turn

Knit turn rows 1 and 2 until you have worked all of your heel stitches. When finished with this section of the pattern there will be 20 stitches remaining on your heel. Now, we will start working on the gusset, which will give our WIP the right angle.

Gusset set-up row: with your first needle, knit across all heel stitches. Then, pick up 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap, placing each stitch in one of your slipped edge stitches, and the final, picked-up stitch in that corner where the heel connects to the upper part of the foot. With your second double pointed needle, knit across instep (34 held stitches). With the 3rd dpn, pick up 18 stitches along the other edge of the heel flap, placing the first picked-up stitch in the corner where the heel connects with the top of the sock, and then knit across the first 10 stitches from the first dpn. Now the round will begin at the center back of the heel once again. You should now have 28 stitches on your first needle, 34 stitches on your second needle, and 28 on your third.

Complete the gusset set-up row.

Gusset row 1: knit until you have 3 stitches left on your first needle, k2tog, k1; knit across second needle; k1, ssk, knit until end of third needle

Gusset row 2: knit

Knit gusset rows until you have 17 stitches left on each of your first and third needles. Now we continue in stockinette stitch, with no further decreases until the WIP measures roughly 8 inches, counting from the back of the heel.

Last not least all that is left are the toe decreases.

Toe 1 row 1: knit until 3 stitches remain on your first needle, k2tog, k2; on second needle, k1, ssk, knit until 3 stitches remain on second needle, k2tog, k1; on third needle, k1, ssk, knit until end of needle Toe row 2: knit

Knit rows 1 and 2 until 36 stitches remain. Now we work on toe row 1 only (no toe row 2!) until 16 stitches are left. Knit the stitches from needle 1 onto needle 3, so that there are only 8 stitches left on each of the two needles. Use the Kitchener Stitch to craft the final stitches. Finally, tuck in the yarn ends, and weave them in with your yarn needle. You have completed one, seamless sock! Now make another.