Holiday Snowflake Knit Socks
Nothing feels more like fall and winter than an cozy pair of handmade knit socks. I love this pattern because the elegant snowflake design gives these socks a touch of holiday flair without a ton of complicated color work. 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.
SPECIFICATIONS
SIZES
One size: should fit most adult foot sizes, especially if knit with stretchy yarn.
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 Green (Main color) and about half a skein in white.
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
Using white yarn, cast on 64 stitches. Join to knit in the round.
Rd 1-12: k1, p1 - repeat around.
MAIN PATTERN
The main tube portion of this sock is composed entirely of knit stitches (stockinette) in the round; the pattern is formed by the color work. Chart provided below.
Change to main color yarn (green)
Rd 1-2: k around
For the next 19 rounds, follow the colorwork in the chart below. Repeat the 16 stitches in each row of the chart 4 times total to complete each round (16 x 4 = 64 stitches per round)
Rd 22-60: using main color, green, knit around until sock reaches the desired length.
HEEL FLAP
Heel flap should consist of 32 sts. If you are using the magic loop method, it is worked across needle 1 only.
Switch to white yarn.
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, k18, 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 in main pattern 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
Switch to main color (green) yarn.
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 until first marker. Knit in pattern across instep. Knit from second marker to end of round.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 64 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 1.5-2 inches shorter than your desired finished length.
(Optional) For last 3 rounds of the instep, knit as follows:
Rd 1: Alternate green, white, green, white etc. every other stitch
Rd 2-3: Knit around using main color (green)
TOE SHAPING
Switch to white yarn.
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 6 times until 40 total stitches remain then repeat Row 1 five 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.