Traditional Toe Socks - Size Small
- Sz 6 double pointed knitting needles (4)
- 100 m/110 yds bulky yarn
- tapestry needle
Cable cast on 32 stitches (this helps keep the cuff from flaring or rolling). Slip 8 stitches from the end of the needle onto another needle. Slip 9 stitches from the other end of the needle onto another needle. This will leave you 16 stitches on the center needle -- needle B.
Begin a knit 2, purl 2 rib in the round. Continue ribbing for about 2-2.5". Make sure to end ready to work on needle B -- the needle with 16 stitches.
Start working across needle B in a slip 1, knit 1 pattern. When you've reached the end of the needle, turn your work, and begin the slip 1, knit 1 pattern back across. Continue this slip 1, knit 1 pattern until you've worked 16 rows.
Now to turn the heel! Knit 10 stitches across needle B, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work without working the remaining stitches. Put a stitch marker here. Now, slip 1 stitch, knit 5 across, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work again. Place another stitch marker. Slip one stitch and knit to within 1 stitch of your stitch marker. Remove the stitch marker by sliding the stitch before the marker onto your other needle. Once you've slid the stitch marker off, transfer the stitch back to the original needle and knit it and the second stitch together. Knit one more, place a marker, and turn. Continue working back and forth until you've worked all of the stitches. You should now have a perfectly cupped heel!
After the heel has been completed, it's time to work on the body of the sock. To join the two pieces, grab a crochet hook. (Some people can pick up stitches along the gusset with just needles, but that requires a level of coordination that I do not have.) Along the side of your newly formed heel flap, you'll see a row of elongated stitches. Slide your crochet hook through the first (hook going toward the middle of the flap), loop the yarn around it and pull it through the stitch. Take this loop and slide it onto another knitting needle. Repeat this process until you've picked up 8 stitches along the flap.
Combine the stitches on the needles holding the ribbing and knit across. Now, you're on the other side of the heel flap where you'll repeat the same process outlined above. Once you've picked up 9 stitches, knit 5 of the 10 stitches on the next needle onto the needle you just worked -- this will be needle C. Slide the remaining 5 stitches onto the following needle -- this will be needle A -- and knit around.
After completing a knit round, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit 1 more. Knit across needle B. Knit 1 on needle C, knit 2 together, and knit the rest of the stitches. I'll call this a 'reduction' round. Once you've completed this 'reduction' round, knit another knit round. Alternate reduction and knit rows until needles A and C have 8 stitches remaining. You have now completed the gusset shaping and can move on to the body of the sock.
Knit around all needles until the sock, from the back of the folded heel flap to the needles, measures 8".
Now to shape the toe. Knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit one. On needle B, knit one, knit 2 together, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of the needle, knit 2 together, knit 1. On needle C, knit 1, knit 2 together, and knit to the end of the needle. This is a reduction round. Following the reduction round, knit a knit round, and alternate the two until you are left with 4 stitches on needles A and C and 8 stitches on needle B. Slide the stitches from needles A and C onto one needle so that they lay parallel to needle B.
Cut the yarn so that you're left with a 12" tail and graft the toes.
A couple of notes on this tutorial: I started these socks as a 'stash buster' project using Lion Brand Landscapes yarn (50% wool, 50% acrylic) I got on deep discount at Tuesday Morning. I would recommend DPKNs that are, at least, 8" long. If you are unsure how to graft the toes, this tutorial is very straightforward. For stitch markers, check out Etsy for interesting, inventive, and reasonably priced sets.
Begin a knit 2, purl 2 rib in the round. Continue ribbing for about 2-2.5". Make sure to end ready to work on needle B -- the needle with 16 stitches.
Start working across needle B in a slip 1, knit 1 pattern. When you've reached the end of the needle, turn your work, and begin the slip 1, knit 1 pattern back across. Continue this slip 1, knit 1 pattern until you've worked 16 rows.
Now to turn the heel! Knit 10 stitches across needle B, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work without working the remaining stitches. Put a stitch marker here. Now, slip 1 stitch, knit 5 across, knit 2 together, knit one more, and turn your work again. Place another stitch marker. Slip one stitch and knit to within 1 stitch of your stitch marker. Remove the stitch marker by sliding the stitch before the marker onto your other needle. Once you've slid the stitch marker off, transfer the stitch back to the original needle and knit it and the second stitch together. Knit one more, place a marker, and turn. Continue working back and forth until you've worked all of the stitches. You should now have a perfectly cupped heel!
After the heel has been completed, it's time to work on the body of the sock. To join the two pieces, grab a crochet hook. (Some people can pick up stitches along the gusset with just needles, but that requires a level of coordination that I do not have.) Along the side of your newly formed heel flap, you'll see a row of elongated stitches. Slide your crochet hook through the first (hook going toward the middle of the flap), loop the yarn around it and pull it through the stitch. Take this loop and slide it onto another knitting needle. Repeat this process until you've picked up 8 stitches along the flap.
Combine the stitches on the needles holding the ribbing and knit across. Now, you're on the other side of the heel flap where you'll repeat the same process outlined above. Once you've picked up 9 stitches, knit 5 of the 10 stitches on the next needle onto the needle you just worked -- this will be needle C. Slide the remaining 5 stitches onto the following needle -- this will be needle A -- and knit around.
After completing a knit round, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit 1 more. Knit across needle B. Knit 1 on needle C, knit 2 together, and knit the rest of the stitches. I'll call this a 'reduction' round. Once you've completed this 'reduction' round, knit another knit round. Alternate reduction and knit rows until needles A and C have 8 stitches remaining. You have now completed the gusset shaping and can move on to the body of the sock.
Knit around all needles until the sock, from the back of the folded heel flap to the needles, measures 8".
Now to shape the toe. Knit to within 3 stitches of the end of needle A, knit 2 together, knit one. On needle B, knit one, knit 2 together, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of the needle, knit 2 together, knit 1. On needle C, knit 1, knit 2 together, and knit to the end of the needle. This is a reduction round. Following the reduction round, knit a knit round, and alternate the two until you are left with 4 stitches on needles A and C and 8 stitches on needle B. Slide the stitches from needles A and C onto one needle so that they lay parallel to needle B.
Cut the yarn so that you're left with a 12" tail and graft the toes.
A couple of notes on this tutorial: I started these socks as a 'stash buster' project using Lion Brand Landscapes yarn (50% wool, 50% acrylic) I got on deep discount at Tuesday Morning. I would recommend DPKNs that are, at least, 8" long. If you are unsure how to graft the toes, this tutorial is very straightforward. For stitch markers, check out Etsy for interesting, inventive, and reasonably priced sets.