Free Knitting pattern – Everyday Holly Socks

Do you love knitting socks? Have you mastered knitting vanilla socks and want something just a step beyond that? If you can knit and purl, you can do this! These socks are so simple to do and give a subtle ribbing texture.

Important info

Required materials:

Yarn – 100g/462 yd of fingering weight yarn

Sample shown in pictures:

• Soft Sock base in the Everyday Holly colorway from Holly Jolly Fiber Co. (this is KnitPicks Stroll that I had hand-dyed in my old shop)
• 75/25 Fine Superwash Merino/Nylon blend

I highly recommend using a yarn that is a blend of wool + nylon. The nylon helps with the sturdiness of the fiber so that they last you a long time.

Needles – Size US 1 (2.25mm) circular needles on a 32-inch cable for the magic loop method

Notions – Scissors

• Tapestry needle for the Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends
• Stitch marker

Gauge – Approximately 9 stitches per inch in stockinette

Abbreviations and Stitch Information –

Rd – Round

CO – Cast on

St – Stitch

K – Knit

P – Purl

Sl – Slip (purlwise with yarn in the back unless otherwise noted)

SSK – Slip, slip, knit (slip 2 stitches knit wise, then knit them both together through the back loops)

K2tog – Knit 2 stitches together

P2tog – Purl 2 stitches together

Instep – Front and/or top of sock

Sole – Back and/or bottom of sock

Size Information – Small(Medium, Large) with a foot circumference of 8-9” (9-10”, 10-11”). Please note that these are for the circumference of the foot – not the foot length. I recommend allowing for about 1-2 inches of negative ease so that the socks fit well and hug your feet.

Pattern

CUFF

CO 56(64, 72) sts using the long tail cast on method.

Rounds 1-20: (K1, P1) Repeat all the way around.

PATTERNED SECTION

Rd 1: (K3, P1) Repeat to the end of round.

Rd 2: K every st all the way around.

Rd 3: (K1, P1) Repeat to the end of round.

Rd 4: K every st all the way around.

Rd 5: (K1, P3) Repeat to the end of round.

Rd 6: K every st all the way around.

Repeat rounds 1-6 nine and ½ more times, stopping after you’ve worked the last round of the leg across the front of the sock, giving you a total of 59 ½ rounds worked for the leg portion.

You are now ready to begin working along the back of the sock to complete the heel portion.

SLIP STITCH HEEL FLAP

For this portion, you will only be working along the back of your sock. You can just leave the front of your sock be for now.

The slip stitch heel flap will be worked along the 28(32, 36) stitches on the back side of your sock.

Row 1 (RS): (Sl1 with yarn in the back, K1) Repeat to the end of row.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 with yarn in the front, P to the end of row.

Repeat these 2 rows 14(16, 18) times, until you end up with a total of 28(32, 36) rows on your heel flap.

Now time for some magic!

HEEL TURN

Row 1 (RS): Sl1 with yarn in back, K 14(16, 18), SSK, K1, turn your work.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 with yarn in front, P3, P2tog, P1, turn your work.

Row 3 (RS): Sl1 with yarn in back, K to 1 st before space, SSK, K1, turn your work.

Row 4 (WS): Sl1 with yarn in front, P to 1 st before space, P2tog, P1, turn your work.

**On the very last time working Row 4, you will PURL the very first stitch, NOT slip it.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked.

Your last row will be a wrong side row, and you will have a total of 16(18,20) stitches left on the heel turn.

GUSSET

Now you’re ready to pick up gusset stitches!

You will begin working on the back of your sock for the gusset.

K across 8(9, 10) stitches of the heel turn.

Place a marker. This will now count as the beginning of round.

K across the remaining 8(9, 10) stitches on the heel turn.

Pick up 14(16, 18) stitches along the side of the heel flap.

Once you have picked up these, pick up 1 more in the ladder below.

Staying in pattern, K across the instep of your sock.

You are now on the other side of your gusset.

Pick up 1 stitch from the ladder below again.

Pick up 14(16, 18) stitches along the side of the heel flap.

Knit across to the marker.

It’s time to start decreasing!

Don’t forget to stay in pattern along the instep portion of your sock.

Round 1: K to the last 3 stitches before the instep. K2tog, K1.

                Follow the patterned portion as you work across the instep.

                K1, SSK, knit to the end of round (stitch marker).

Round 2: K all stitches.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you are back to your original stitch count of 58(64, 72).

FOOT

Now that you’re back to your original stitch count, continue working the established pattern until you have reached your desired foot length.

When trying to figure out when you should stop before knitting the toe decreases, subtract about 1.25(1.5, 1.75) inches from the total length that you’re aiming for and stop there.

TOE

Round 1: K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches before sole begins, K2tog, K1

                   K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches before instep begins, K2tog, K1

Round 2: K all stitches.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you have 14(16, 18) stitches left on each needle.

Repeat round 1 over and over until you have 8 stitches left on each needle.

Use the Kitchener stitch to close the toe.

Now you can weave in your ends! You did it! Enjoy your new handmade socks!