In light of the “stay at home” order during the COVID 19 crisis, I find that socks have become the new shoes! Even late night host Jimmy Fallon has acknowledged this trend in his weekly thank you notes - “Thank you, socks, for being the new shoes!” Why not put your knitting skills to work and make some comfy, stylish, hand-knit socks for friends and family or even yourself?

I love this pattern because it’s subtle enough to be worn everyday, yet the spiral design adds a touch of flair. The socks are knit in a classic top down method with standard 1x1 ribbing at the top, a stockinette heel flap, and a rounded wedge toe finished off with Kitchener stitch to close.

This pattern is completed using size US1 knitting needles and fingering weight sock yarn. I chose to use Premier Yarn Wool-free Sock Yarn, as I’m allergic to wool, but any fingering weight yarn would work. The pattern is also perfect for self striping yarn if you prefer to add even more personality to your design.

Specifications

Sizes

Stitch counts in the pattern are listed for S (M, L); model is female wearing size M.

Gauge

8 sts = 1”

Materials

Yarn: Fingering weight yarn, about 350 yds. I used ~1.5 skeins of Premier Yarn Wool-free Sock Yarn in Blue for cast on 64 st size.

Needles: US1 40″ circular needle (for magic loop) or set of double pointed needles

Additional supplies: yarn needle, scissors, 2 stitch markers

Abbreviations

k - knit
p - purl
K2tog - knit 2 together
p2tog - purl 2 together
ssk - slip 2 stitches knitwise to right needle. Insert left needle through the front loops and knit tog.
PM - place marker

Instructions

(A PDF of this pattern can be found on Etsy)

Ribbing

Cast on 56 (64, 72) stitches. Join to knit in the round.

Rd 1-12: k1, p1 - repeat around.

Main Pattern

For each round, repeat the pattern below until the end of the round

Rd 1: p1, k6, p1

Rd 2 (and all even rows): k

Rd 3: k6, p2

Rd 5: k5, p2, k1

Rd 7: k4, p2, k2

Rd 9: k3, p2, k3

Rd 11: k2, p2, k4

Rd 13: k1, p2, k5

Rd 15: p2, k6

Rd 16: k

Repeat rows 1-16 three more times or until sock reaches desired length, ending on row 15 of pattern.

Heel flap

Heel flap should consist of 28 (32, 36) sts. If you are using the magic loop method, it is worked across needle 1 only.

Row 1: p3, k across, turn

Row 2: k3, p across, turn

Repeat rows 1-2 15 more times (32 rows total)

Heel Turn

Row 1: sl 1, k 16 (18, 20), ssk, k1, turn

Row 2: sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: sl 1, knit to one stitch before gap, ssk, k1, turn

Row 4: sl 1, purl to one stitch before gap, p2tog, p1, turn

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked, but do not slip first stitch on last purl row.

Knit across then pick up 17 sts along the side of the heel flap (i.e. gusset sts), pick up an extra stitch in the ladder between the stitches on the row below, (18 stitches picked up. ) PM. Knit across instep stitches. PM. Pick up an extra stitch in the ladder between the stitches on the row below, and then pick up 17 sts on the other side of the heel flap (18 sts picked up). Adjust your stitches so that the beginning of the round is now located at the center of the heel.

Gusset

Rd 1 (and all odd rounds): k to within 3 stitches of the first marker, k2tog k1. Knit in pattern across instep stitches until you reach the second marker; k1, ssk, knit remaining stitches in the round.

Rd 2 (and all even rounds): K around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 56(64, 72) gusset sts total remain.

Instep

Redistribute the sts so that needle 1 carries the instep and needle 2 carries the sole stitches (remove markers as they are no longer needed).

Continue knitting the instep stitches in pattern and the sole stitches in stockinette until the foot is 1.5 (1.75, 2) inches shorter than your desired finished length.

Toe Shaping

Row 1: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts on instep needle, k2tog, k1. K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts on sole needle, k2tog, k1. Row 2: Knit

Knit these two rows 5(6, 7) times until 36(40, 44) total stitches remain then repeat Row 1 4(5, 6) more times until 20 total stitches remain.

At this point you should have 10 remaining stitches on each needle. Try on the sock to ensure it is the length that you want, then cut the working yarn leaving a long tail of about 12” to sew up the last few stitches. Use kitchener stitch to close the toe. If you are not familiar with kitchener stitch, you can find a great video tutorial here. Weave in ends.

***You may make and sell products from my patterns but if you do I ask that you link back to my post. Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own, or attempt to sell this pattern. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.

Easy Knit Spiral Socks