Plain Ol’ Socks

Another free pattern from The Wee Sheep!

I’ve made many a pair of socks, carrying patterns around with me, which can be a process when you only have the chance to whip off a row or two at a time.  I finally decided to be brave and crate my own basic sock pattern so that I wouldn’t have to cart around an extra piece of paper.  I hope you find this pattern easy to memorize, so you can quickly and easily make some simple, plain ol’ socks to enjoy!

Materials

I used two skeins of Sensations Socks & More (2.12 oz/60 gms, 262 yeards/240 meters) in colorway #1138.  Any sock yarn will work, however, so pick your favorite!

Set of four US 2 (2.75mm) double pointed or circular needles.  The pattern is written for DPN’s.

Tapestry needle

Stitch marker if desired

Sizes

My socks fit a mens US size 10.5 (9 inch foot).  You can size it up or down as needed.

Tension/Gauge

32 sts per 4 in/10 cm.  Row gauge is not needed as length is variable.

Abbreviations

CO- cast on

k- knit

p-purl

k2tog- knit two stitches together

p2tog- purl two stitches together

ssk- slip two stitches knitwise and knit together

sts- stitches

Leg

CO 72 sts using long tail cast on.  Join for working in the round, evenly spacing sts acrross 3 DPN’s and placing st marker at the end of the row if deisred.  Work in k2, p2 rib for 1 inch. On next row knit all sts.  Continue knitting until leg is desired length (my leg length is approximately 9 inches).

Short-row Heel (Please refer to The Knitter’s Compainion by Vicki Square for more details)

Short-row Decrease

Move sts on needles until you have 36 sts on one needle (N1) and 18 sts on each of the other two needles (N2, N3).  Working only with N1, k 35 sts.  Bring yarn to front, slip next st, bring yarn to back and turn work.  One wrapped st.

Slip first st and p 34 sts.  Bring yarn to back, slip next st, bring yarn to front and turn.  One wrapped st on each end of N1.

Slip first st, k until one st before wrap.  Bring yarn to front, slip st, bring yarn to back, turn.

Slip wrapped st, p until one st before wrap.  Bring yarn to back, slip st, bring yarn to front, turn.

Repeat last two rows until 12 unwrapped sts remain on N1.  Turn.

Short-row Increase

On next row, k to first wrapped st.  Insert needle under wrap knitwise and k2tog.  Turn.

P to first wrapped st.  Lift back of wrap onto needle and p2tog.  Turn.

Repeat last two rows until all wraps have been re-incorporated into knitting.

Foot

Begin to k all sts on N1, 2 and 3 in the round.  You should continue to have 36 sts on N1, and 18 sts on N2 and 3.  K in the round until two inches less than your desired foot length (I stopped at approximatley 7 inches).

Toe

N1: k1, k2tog, k across to last 3 sts, ssk, k1

N2: k1, k2tog, k across

N3: k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1

Next round k all sts.

Repeat these two rounds until you have 12 sats on N1 and 6 sts on N2 and 3.

Finishing

Move N3 sts onto N2.  Cut a long tail and graft toe using kitchener stitch.  Weave ends. Repeat for second sock.

Block and enjoy!  If you find errors, please let me know!

**This is a free pattern.  You may use it for al the non-commercial purposes you like.  You may not reproduce this pattern to sell, and you may not sell what you make with it.