A Family of Purple Knit 56 stitch super easy socks
Super easy sock pattern for new sock knitters
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Our Christmas plans this year got completely messed up and I wasn't looking forward to a lot of driving. So I consoled myself with the plan to knit socks - small, portable, useful, interesting. I had in my stockpile some recycled wool from the op-shop - several large balls that cost me a total of 50c. The wool was a horrible purple colour - nothing you would give a sane person to wear in their shoes! However, I've been needing some socks to wear to the gym in my joggers. Unusually, I decided to make these socks for me. Click image to see more detail |
Materials
The wool is a light double knit/ 8 ply.
Needles
Usually you make the rib of a garment a bit tighter to fit snugly. But as the ribbing on socks is around the fattest part - the cuff - you start with a larger needle. Then you change to a smaller needle for the leg and ankle.
For most people, most of the wear in a sock occurs
at the back of the heel
on the ball of the heel
the ball of the foot
the toe of the foot
at the nail end of the big toe.
To counteract this wear we use a smaller needle making a denser fabric. So for the heel you use a smaller needle, and for the toe end of the sock.
For the foot of the socks you use a slightly larger needle as the wear is a little less there.
So the needles are
Number 9/ 3.75mm/ US 5
Number 10/ 3.25mm/ US 3
Number 11/ 3mm/ US no equivalent - use Number 10
Number 12/ 2.75mm/ US 2
Measurements
I am 5' /153cm tall and wear a size 8.5B shoe English fitting.
Technique suggestion
Slip the first stitch on each knit row, and then knit as usual. On each purl row, slip the first stitch knit-wise, then purl as usual.
Directions
Cuff
Using No 9 needles; cast on 56 stitches.
Rib
sl 1, then rib as k1 p1 for 14 rows/ about 2 inches/ 6cm or as many as you like.
Leg
Change to No 10 needles. Stocking Stitch for 40 rows/ 4 inches/ 10 cm or as long as you want it. This will take you to the ankle.
Heel shaping - First side
Change to No 12 needles. Use the slip first stitch technique.
k14 then turn and purl back.
k13 then purl back.
k12 then purl back. keep doing this until there are 3 stitches on the needle.
Now, k3, then pick up the loop between the last knitted stitch, and the next one on the left-hand needle, and knit these two stitches together. This prevents a hole in your knitting, where you are picking up the stitches on the left-hand needle.
Purl back.
k4, then pick up as before and knit with the 5th stitch.
Purl back.
k5, and continue until you have all 14 stitches back on your needle.
Knit across all the stitches.
Second side of heel
p14 then turn and knit back.
p13 then knit back.
p12 then knit back. Keep doing this until there are 3 stitches on the needle.
Now, p3, then pick up the loop between the last knitted stitch, and the next one on the left-hand needle, and purl these two stitches together. This prevents a hole in your knitting, where you are picking up the stitches on the left-hand needle.
Knit back.
p4, then pick up as before and purl with the 5th stitch.
Knit back.
p5, and continue until you have all 14 stitches back on your needle.
Foot
Change to No 11 needles. Stocking stitch for 40 rows or as long as you need, to make the foot of the sock.
Toe
k10, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k26, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k10
Purl back.
k9, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k24, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k9
Purl back.
k8, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k22, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k8
Purl back.
k7, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k20, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k7
Purl back.
k6, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k18, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k6
Purl back.
k5, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k16, k2t, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k5
Purl back.
Cast off
Sewing up
Sew across the toe casting off.
Now sew from the toe along the underside of the foot, up the heel and the back of the foot, and up the back of the leg. Thread the ends in without making a knot, as this will make the sock uncomfortable.
How do they look?
Neat! I can make a pair of these in a day if I sit at it. More usually, I can make two pairs in a week. They are firm and suitable for under your joggers or work boots.
Enjoy, and pass on to other knitters or make for your local op-shop and church sale.
