Sock knitting made easy!

Using these instructions combined with our sizes table you'll be able to knit socks in which ever size you desire. We show you a basic sock pattern taking you through step by step. Before you begin, please knit a gauge square. If your knitting is too tight change to a larger size needle. If it is too loose, change to a smaller size needle.

Instructions

Cast on the number of stitches required for the desired shoe size (see table). Divide stitches over 4 needles. Knit circularly. For example, for a man's sock in shoe size 42-43 (UK 8-9, US 9-10) cast on 64 sts, distribute 16 to each needle. The join is between the 1st and 4th needle and corresponds to the centre of heel. Begin with needle 1 and selected pattern, knit leg until the desired sock height has been reached (e.g. 20 cm (7 7/8")) in K2 P2.

1. Begin heel

Ignore stitches on 2nd and 3rd needles. The heel is begun with the 1st and 4th needles only. Transfer these sts (e.g. 32) to one needle, knit in St st until the desired no. of rows (e.g. 24) has been reached (see table).

2. Turning heel

Divide the heel stitches into 3 (near) equal groups (e.g. 11, 10, 11) and work in St st. Knit the first section across, continue across the second section until last st of that section (e.g. 21st st). Slip this last st over onto the right hand needle as if it was going to be knit as a K1. Then K1 from the next section and slip the Sl st back over the K1. Turn the piece. Slip the first st and purl to the last st of the second section (e.g. 10 sts). Knit the last st of the second section together with the following st from the next section. Turn the piece. Continue in this manner until all the sts from the side sections are used. Finish on the right side.

3. Heel flap

Divide the sts for the heel flap between 2 needles, the middle of the heel is where the round begins. Now pick up the desired no. of sts (see table) from the flap side (depth of heel) (e.g. 16 sts. Knit the sts on the 2nd and 3rd needle then again pick up the same no. of sts from the other flap edge. In the next round all the new stitches are knitted by knitting into the back of the st rather than the front so producing a crossed reinforced stitch.

4. Instep

The thickest part of the foot has now been reached. There are more sts on the 1st and 4th needles than on the 2nd and 3rd needle. In the following rounds the no. of sts is decreased back down to the original no. *This is done by knitting together the two sts at the end of the 1st needle. At the beginning of the 4th needle two sts are knitted together as follows:- slip the first of the two sts as if it were going to be a K1, then K1 and slip the Sl st back over this st. Knit two rounds.** Repeat the decrease sequence from * to ** until the original no. of sts remain (e.g. 64). Continue knitting until the desired foot length has been reached (approx. 6 cm (2 1/2") less than the foot length). The sts on the 1st and 4th needle are usually knitted in St st, the sts on the 2nd and 3rd needle in the same pattern chosen for the leg section.

5. Toe shaping

*Knit the sts on the first needle until the last 3 sts. Knit 2nd and 3rd to last sts together, K1. Knit the 1st st of the 2nd needle, then knit the next two sts together as follows:- slip the first of the two sts as if it were going to be a k1, then K1 and slip the Sl st back over this st, knit the remaining sts on the 2nd needle. Knit the 3rd needle as the 1st needle, the 4th needle as the 2nd needle.** After the first decrease round (* to **) knit three straight rounds. After the 2nd, 3rd decrease round knit 2 straight rounds. After the 4th, 5th and 6th decrease rounds, knit one straight round. Then continue with decrease rounds until only 8 sts remain. Thread a doubled length of yarn through these stitches, pull tight and sew closed.