Simple Toe-Up Socks Knitting Pattern

By
Sarah E. White
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Sarah E. White
Sarah E. White is a highly regarded knitting expert with over two decades of hands-on crafting and writing experience. She has authored three books on the subject, including "Quick and Easy Baby Knits," and was an editor for the website Love to Know Crafts.
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Updated on 10/19/19
Person wearing colorful handmade socks

The Spruce / Sarah E White

Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

These simple toe-up socks are a great way to learn the techniques needed for toe-up sock knitting. Worked in the round, they're nothing but knits, with no pesky stitch patterns to track. Pick a fun self-striping sock yarn, and you can let the colors create the patterning. It feels like they go faster than cuff-down socks, and because you can try them on at every stage, they are sure to fit perfectly.

Sizing / Finished Measurements

Designed to fit the average woman's foot.

Circumference: 8 inches

Foot Length: 9 inches

Leg Length: 7 inches

Gauge

30 stitches and 44 rounds = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch worked in the round.

Abbreviations

  • dpn(s) = double-pointed needle(s)
  • k = knit
  • k2tog = knit 2 sts together as one
  • kfb = knit through front and back loop of same stitch
  • p = purl
  • rep = repeat
  • rnd(s) = round(s)
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • [ ] = repeat instructions within brackets as directed

Notes

Socks are worked in the round on double-pointed needles from toe to cuff. You may wish to review the kfb increase before beginning.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • US 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed knitting needles
  • Yarn or tapestry needle
  • Scissors

Materials

  • 270 yard fingering weight sock yarn

Instructions

  1. Toe

    Beginning with three dpns and using the Turkish cast-on, cast on 16 sts.

    Rnd 1: *kfb, knit to last st on needle, kfb; rep from * on second needle—4 sts increased.

    Rnd 2: knit.

    Adding dpns when it becomes difficult to work on just two, rep these two rnds until there are 60 sts, keeping the increases above one another so they line up all the way along the toe.

    1:51

    Watch Now: How to Knit in the Front and Back

  2. Foot

    Work even in Stockinette stitch until piece measures 7 inches, or about 2 inches shorter than desired foot length.

  3. Heel Turn

    The heel turn is where the sock body, specifically the stitches that will be part of the heel, changes direction. This heel turn is made with short rows, rows worked only partway before turning.

    Tip

    If you used more or fewer stitches on your sock, adjust the short rows. Start with half your stitches, work wraps on 2/3 of the stitches, leaving 1/3 in the middle unwrapped.

    Begin by putting 30 stitches onto one needle for the heel flap, and 15 on each of two other needles for the instep. You will work back and forth on just the flap stitches to shape the heel.

    Row 1 (RS): knit to the last st, wrap and turn (w&t).

    Row 2 (WS): purl to last st, w&t.

    Row 3: knit to 1 st before last wrapped st, w&t.

    Row 4: purl to 1 st before last wrapped st, w&t.

    Working one fewer stitch on each side, rep last two rows until 10 stitches have been wrapped on each end, 10 unwrapped stitches in the middle.

    Next row (RS): knit to the first wrapped stitch, lift the wrap from the near side and work it together with the stitch it wraps; turn the work.

    Next row: purl to the first wrapped stitch, lift the wrap from the far side and work it together with the stitch it wraps; turn the work.

    Continue in this manner, working one more stitch each row and working the wraps and stitches together as you go, until you've worked across all the sts, ending on a RS row.

    Tip

    When working the wrap together with the stitch, insert the needle under just one strand of the wrap, then into the stitch as usual. The goal when working the two together is for the wrap to end up on the inside of the sock, invisible from the right side.

  4. Leg

    Rejoin with stitches on other needles and continue working in the round from this point for the leg of the sock.

    Work in stockinette stitch for 6 inches, or 1 inch shorter than the desired length. Work ribbing at the top of your sock to prevent them from sliding down:

    All rounds: [k2, p2] 15 times.

    Rep last rnd for 1 inch.

  5. Finishing

    Bind off loosely. Try a really stretchy bind off technique to make sure top of cuff won't be too tight for your legs. Weave in ends.

Watch Now: How to Knit in the Front and Back