How to Knit Socks

Knitted socks can be made in a variety of yarn weights and styles to accommodate the latest fashion trends and weather changes. In today's craft retail stores such as Joann Fabrics, you can find yarn specifically designed for sock knitting. In this step by step tutorial, you find out how to knit socks that fit 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 shoe sizes.

This do it yourself project is suitable for knitters that are comfortable with the basic knit and purl stitches as well as working in the round with double pointed needles. You should also be familiar with how to increase and decrease stitches. The more advanced stitches needed for this project are described in Step 1 below. To start making this pattern, you need the following materials: a set of size 2 double pointed knitting needles, 5 ounces of sport weight yarn, yarn needle and stitch holders. It is also a good idea to use a stitch counter to keep up with rounds.

It should take anywhere from 24 to 32 hours to make a pair of socks with the lighter weight yarn in this article. Because it takes quite a long time to knit socks, it is recommended that you place your loops on stitch holders when taking a break from the project. This prevents the loops from becoming stretched out of shape.

The sock pattern below is adapted from a vintage, public domain design printed in Botany College Hand Knits, Volume II. http://freevintageknitting.com/print/422 It has been modified with a cable stitch pattern for added visual interest. If you need more assistance with cables, read the How to Knit a Cable Stitch article.

• Gauge

The gauge dimensions are 1 inch wide by 1 inch tall. Size 2 needles and sport weight yarn were used to create the gauge.

• Make a chain with 8 loops.
• Row 1: Knit 8.
• Row 2: Purl 8.
• Row 3 - 8: Repeat rows 1 and 2.

• Terms:
• Knit 2 Together Decrease:

1. Place your right needle tip through the next 2 stitches from left to right like you would for a knit stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the loop through. You have decreased one stitch.

• Purl 2 Together Decrease:

1. Place your right needle tip through the next 2 stitches from right to left like you would for a purl stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the loop through. You have decreased one stitch.

• Slip 1 Purlwise:

1. Insert the right needle as if to make a purl stitch. Don't yarn over.
2. Move the loop to the right needle.

• Slip, Knit, Pass Stitch Over:

1. Place the right needle in the next loop like you would for a knit stitch then slip it to the right needle without stitching it.
2. Create a knit stitch in the next loop on the left needle.
3. Use the tip of the left needle to hook the initial stitch and drag it over the last loop placed on the right needle. You have decreased 1 stitch.

• Cable 4 Front: Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• Cable 4 Back: Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• Cuff Instructions:
• Cast 56 stitches onto 3 needles. This cast on should not be too tight. Join.
• Round 1: Sequence: Knit 2 then purl 2. Repeat the sequence across the row. This is the first ribbing round.
• 56 stitches
• Round 2 through 8: Repeat round 1.
• 56 stitches
• Round 9: Sequence: Knit 1, purl 2, knit 8, purl 2 then knit 1. Repeat the sequence across the row.
• 56 stitches
• Round 10 and 11: Repeat round 9.
• 56 stitches
• Round 12: Sequence: Knit 1, purl 2, cable 4 back, cable 4 front, purl 2 then knit 1. Repeat the sequence across the row.
• 56 stitches
• Round 13 through 15: Repeat round 9.
• 56 stitches
• Round 16: Sequence: Knit 1, purl 2, cable 4 front, cable 4 back, purl 2 then knit 1. Repeat the sequence across the row.
• 56 stitches
• Round 17 through 19: Repeat round 9.
• 56 stitches
• Round 20: Repeat round 16.
• 56 stitches
• Round 21 through 23: Repeat round 9.
• 56 stitches
• Round 24: Repeat round 12.
• 56 stitches
• Repeat rounds 9 through 24 for around 6 inches. Once this is done, knit 2 entire rounds.

• Heel Instructions:

Slip the last 28 stitches to two needles evenly. These 28 stitches represent the foundation of the instep that you will work later. The leftover stitches are kept on one needle. They are the foundation for the heel stitches. Now, you work on just the heel stitches.

• Row 1: Knit 2 together, knit 24 then knit 2 together. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise then purl 25. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 3: Sequence: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 1. Repeat the sequence across the row. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 4 through 28: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Turn.
• 26 stitches
• Row 29 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl 14, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 25 stitches
• Row 30: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 5. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 24 stitches
• Row 31: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 6, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 23 stitches
• Row 32: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 7. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 22 stitches
• Row 33: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 8, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 21 stitches
• Row 34: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 9. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 20 stitches
• Row 35: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 10, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 19 stitches
• Row 36: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 11. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1. Turn.
• 18 stitches
• Row 37: Slip 1 purlwise, purl 12, purl 2 together then purl 1. Turn.
• 17 stitches
• Row 38: Slip 1 purlwise then knit 13. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Turn.
• 16 stitches

Using the inside loops of the heel selvage, pick up 14 loops. To do this, hold the needle with the heel stitches on it in your right hand. Then, hold the empty needle in your left hand and pick up an edge loop on the heel flap side. Knit this loop as normal. Continue across until 13 more stitches are picked up. You now have 30 stitches on the heel needle.

Knit across the first instep needle with an empty needle. Place the new empty needle aside for now. Using the new instep needle just worked, knit across the last instep needle. You should have 28 stitches on one instep needle at this point. Use an empty needle to pick up 14 of the edge loops on the free side of the heel. Slip them from front to back on the needle. Knit across these new loops with the last empty needle. There are 14 stitches on this third heel needle. Finally, knit across the first 8 stitches of the first heel needle. This marks the midpoint of the heel. You should have one needle with 28 instep stitches and two needles with 22 heel stitches each. This makes a total of 72 stitches.

• Round 1: Knit across the round.
• 72 stitches
• Round 2: Knit 19, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 19.
• 70 stitches
• Round 3: Knit across the round.
• 70 stitches
• Round 4: Knit 18, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 18.
• 68 stitches
• Round 5: Knit across the round.
• 68 stitches
• Round 6: Knit 17, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 17.
• 66 stitches
• Round 7: Knit across the round.
• 66 stitches
• Round 8: Knit 16, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 16.
• 64 stitches
• Round 9: Knit across the round.
• 64 stitches
• Round 10: Knit 15, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 15.
• 62 stitches
• Round 11: Knit across the round.
• 62 stitches
• Round 12: Knit 14, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 14.
• 60 stitches
• Round 13: Knit across the round.
• 60 stitches
• Round 14: Knit 13, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 13.
• 58 stitches
• Round 15: Knit across the round.
• 58 stitches
• Round 16: Knit 12, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 12.
• 56 stitches
• Round 17: Knit across the round.
• 56 stitches
• Round 18: Knit 11, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 11.
• 54 stitches
• Round 19: Knit across the round.
• 54 stitches
• Round 20: Knit 10, knit 2 together then knit 30. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 10.
• 52 stitches
• Continue to go around and knit each stitch until the length of the foot of the sock is complete except for 1 3/4 inches. The toe will take up that last part of the length.

• Round 1: Knit 9, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 23, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 9.
• 48 stitches
• Round 2: Knit across the round.
• 48 stitches
• Round 3: Knit 8, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 21, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 8.
• 44 stitches
• Round 4: Knit across the round.
• 44 stitches
• Round 5: Knit 7, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 19, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 7.
• 40 stitches
• Round 6: Knit across the round.
• 40 stitches
• Round 7: Knit 6, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 17, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 6.
• 36 stitches
• Round 8: Knit across the round.
• 36 stitches
• Round 9: Knit 5, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 15, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 5.
• 32 stitches
• Round 10: Knit across the round.
• 32 stitches
• Round 11: Knit 4, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 13, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 4.
• 28 stitches
• Round 12: Knit across the round.
• 28 stitches
• Round 13: Knit 3, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 11, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 3.
• 24 stitches
• Round 14: Knit across the round.
• 24 stitches
• Round 15: Knit 2, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 9, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 2.
• 20 stitches
• Round 16: Knit across the round.
• 20 stitches
• Round 17: Knit 1, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 7, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 1.
• 16 stitches
• Round 18: Knit across the round.
• 16 stitches
• Round 19: Knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over. Knit 5, knit 2 together then knit 2. Slip 1, knit 1 and pass the stitch over.
• 12 stitches
• Round 20: Knit across the round.
• 12 stitches

Cut a 12 inch tail and sew the last 12 stitches closed. Weave in the ends. Then, repeat the tutorial to make a second sock. Make sure to always block knitted garments once you are done with the project. To learn more about blocking, read the How to Teach Yourself to Knit article.