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Basic ankle socks

This is my favorite recipe for simple knitted summer socks that I love to wear with sneakers. I have written the pattern for fingering weight yarn but it can easily be adapted to different yarn weights.

Sizes: XS (S, M, M2, L) / 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts. The length of the foot can be adjusted.
Yarn: Fingering weight sock yarn

The pattern is available for free below.

Sizes

Select size with approximately 0.8″ [2cm] of negative ease. Measure your foot circumference around the ball of the foot.

56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts. Length of foot can be adjusted.

Foot circumference (unstretched)

7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)″ [17.5 (19, 20, 21, 22.5) cm] around

Gauge, notions, needles

Gauge

32 sts and 40 rows per 4″ (10cm) in stockinette after blocking.

Recommended needles

US 0 30″ [2mm 80cm] or longer circular needles.

Adjust needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

Other

Measuring tape, scissors, piece of scrap yarn, tapestry needle

Yarn

Yarn used in the sample

Sample uses fingering cotton sock yarn Reagia Cotton Tutti Frutti (420m (459 yds) / 100 g). The yarn is has plenty of delicious self-striping color. You can purchase the yarn from Lovecrafts and Etsy.

Yardage

Reagia Cotton Tutti Frutti

1 skein (420m (459 yds) / 100 g)

Or a similar amount of fingering weight sock yarn (420m (459 yds) / 100 g)

Other suitable yarns

Easy ankle socks pattern

Abbreviations

Knitting abbreviations used in this pattern you can find here.

About the pattern

This pair of summer socks is knitted toe-up in one piece. The pattern is written for the magic loop method (for 2 needles) but can easily be adjusted for double-pointed needles (4 or 5 needles) as well.

This pattern is suitable for self-striping yarn because the heel construction does not break the striping pattern.

1. Cast on

CO 20 sts (10 sts / needle). Sample uses the Turkish cast-on method.

Divide the stitches evenly on two needles. Knit one round.

2. Shape the toe

Increase round

Needle 1: k1, m1r, k to 1 st from end, m1l, k1.
Needle 2: Work the same way as Needle 1.

A total of 4 sts increased.

Increase every other round until you have a total of 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts (or until you reach the desired circumference).

Measure the length of your toe and write it down. This measurement is used for calculating the heel placement.

In the example, the toe measures 1.5″ (3.5 cm).

3. Work the foot

Knit in the round until your work measures

Desired lenght of socks foot - the length of your toe after increases

I recommend making the sock 0.5″ (1 cm) shorter than the foot you are knitting it for.

If you are gifting the socks you can use this size chart for estimating the foot length based on shoe size.

For instance if my foot length is 24.5cm I need to knit until my work measures 24.5cm – 3.5cm – 1cm = 20cm.

4. Place stitches for the cuff

on a scrap yarn

Needle 1: Take a piece of scrap yarn in a different color and leaving the working yarn aside, use it to k the sts on Needle 2. Then, transfer all those sts back to the left needle (without twisting) and k over the scrap yarn using the working yarn.
Needle 2: k all sts.

5. Heel

Needle 1: k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: Work the same way as Needle 1.

Decrease every other round until you have a total of 20 sts (10 sts / needle) remaining.

6. Close the heel

Graft the heel using the Kitchener stitch.

This is how the heel looks like after you have closed it.

7. Unravel the stitches placed

on the scrap yarn

Unravel the scrap yarn and place the stitches evenly on two needles. You should have now a total of 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts (or a similar amount as you had for the body of your slipper).

This is how your work should look like after removing the scrap yarn.

8. Make the back of the heel

In order to improve the fit of the slippers, we are going to make the back of the heel a little bit higher by knitting a few extra rows.

With the back of the heel and RS facing you attach the yarn to the work.

Row 1 (RS): K to the end of the needle, pick up and knit 1 st between the needles. Turn your work.
Row 2 (WS): P to the end of the needle, pick up and knit 1 st between the needles. Turn your work.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 twice more. A total of 62 (66, 70, 74, 78) sts.

Turn your work and k one round.