Socks for beginners

July 1, 2013

Socks for beginners- Adult

MATERIALS:

100g sock (4ply) yarn

Set of 5 DPNs 2.5mm
36st to 4 in stocking stitch

Sizes

M (8 circumference), L (9 circumference)

CAST ON
1. Using long-tailed or other stretchy cast on, cast on 64 (72) st onto 1 DPN.
2. Work K1, P1 rib for 1 row across 1 DPN

START TO WORK IN ROUND

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

(k1, p1) 8 (9) times 16 (18) st on needle 1 (25%)

(k1, p1) 8 (9) times 16 (18) st on needle 2 (25%)
(k1, p1) 8 (9) times 16 (18) st on needle 3 (25%)
(k1, p1) 8 (9) times 16 (18) st on needle 4 (25%)
Join to work in the round being careful not to twist. Work in k1, p1 rib across all 4 needles.
At start of next round once you reach needle 1 again, place marker after 1st stitch to
identify needle 1.

Work in k1, p1 rib until cuff measures approx. 1 from cast on edge

LEG
Start to K plain across each needle. K each round until leg measures approx. 6 from cast on edge

HEEL FLAP
Heel flap is worked across 50% of stitches the 32 (36) st on needles 3 & 4. The heel flap is worked
back and forth across needles 3 & 4 (ignore needles 1 & 2 at this point)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Work across needle 1 & 2

Right Side
(Sl 1, k1) 8 (9) times across needle 3 and 8 (9) times across needle 4
TURN WORK
Wrong Side
p back across needles 3 & 4
Repeat steps until there are 16 (18) slipped stitches along each side of the heel flap ending
ready to start a wrong side row

HEEL TURN
You will now work a series of short rows to shape the heel at this point combine all stitches from
needle 3 and 4 onto 1 needle

Louise Tilbrook Designs

Page 1

Socks for beginners

July 1, 2013
1.
2.
3.
4.

Wrong side
Right side
Wrong side
Right side

Sl 1, p16 (18), p2tog, p1, turn

Sl 1, k3, ssk, k1, turn
Sl 1, p to within 1 stitch of small gap, p2tog to close that gap, p1, turn
Sl 1, k to 1 stitch of gap, ssk, k1, turn

Repeat rows 3-4 until all stitches have been worked

PICK UP STITCHES FOR GUSSET

1. With RS facing and an empty DPN, pick up and knit each of the 16 (18) slipped stitches along
side of heel flap
2. Pick up 1 st at top of gusset and then k across needles 1 & 2
3. With empty DPN pick up and knit 1 st at top of gusset, then pick up and k 16 (18) slipped
stitches along other side of heel flap, then 10 (12) st from needle 3 onto same needle
4. Needles 1 & 2 hold stitches for top of foot, needles 3 & 4 hold stitches for heel and gusset.

GUSSET DECREASES
Round 1

Needles 1 & 2 k across

Needle 4

Round 2

Needle 3

k1, ssk, k to end

k to last 3 st, k2tog, k1

k all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 16 (18) st remain on needle 3 and 16 (18) on needle 4
Continue to work in the round until foot measures 1.5 less than desired length try it on and
slightly stretched it should reach the base of your big toe. This is the point as which toe decreases
are started.

TOE DECREASES
Round 1

Round 2

Needle 1

k1, ssk k to end

Needle 2

k to last 3st, k2tog, k1

Needle 3

k1, ssk, k to end

Needle 4

k to last 3 st, k2tog, k1

k plain across all needles

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 24 (28) st remain in total

Louise Tilbrook Designs

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Socks for beginners

July 1, 2013

GRAFT TOE KITCHENER STITCH

Rearrange stiches onto 2 DPNs 12 (14) on each. Cut yarn leaving an 8 tail and thread through
tapestry needle
Hold 2 needles parallel to each other one closest to you (front) and one behind (back)
Set up for Kitchener stitch

Inset needle into 1st st on DPN closest to you as if to purl and pull through
Insert needle into 1st st on DPN furthest away from you as if to knit and pull through
Always take care to take the yarn under the needles

Start grafting
1. Insert needle into 1st st on front DPN as if to knit, drop stitch from DPN and pull yarn
through.
2. Insert needle into the new 1st st on front DPN, as if to purl and pull yarn through leave this
st on needle.
3. Insert needle into 1st st on back DPN as if to purl, drop st from DPN and pull yarn through.
4. Insert needle into new 1st st on back DPN as if to knit and pull yarn through leave this st on
DPN
Continue until all stitches have been worked, thread yarn back through last st, Insert needle through
to inside of sock. Turn inside out and weave in the end.
Front needle Knit on/Purl off
Back needle Purl off/Knit on

TOP TIPS
1. To avoid ladders (gaps) forming between needles try to pull working yarn a little tighter
when working first few st on a needle. Dont worry though most gaps disappear on
blocking.
2. To avoid gaps at the top of the gusset, pick up 1 extra stitch at each side of the heel flap
3. When working Kitchener stitch try not to pull the working yarn too tightly

Louise Tilbrook Designs

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