This comfortable basic sock knitting pattern is an excellent choice for you. It works wonderfully with the wide range of self-patterning sock yarns that are available. The stocking stitch sock has a ribbed cuff, a well-fitting heel flap and turned heel with the shaping of a gusset and finished by a round toe. An excellent choice if you are knitting your first sock.
Materials
- 100 g of 4-ply sock yarn
- 2.75mm set of 5 double-pointed needles (DPNs)
- 3.25mm double pointed needle for casting on
- tapestry needle
Although I used hand-dyed 4-ply sock yarn for knitting this sock, the pattern can be used for any lovely 4-ply sock yarn that you have in your stash. Other choices are mentioned in the links below.
Abbreviations:
k – knit; p – purl; ssk – slip, slip, knit; p2tog – purl 2 sts together; sl 1 – slip 1 stitch; st – stitch;
Cuff and Leg
Cast on 60 sts using the 3.25mm needle. (I always use a larger needle to cast on).
On the first row using 2.75mm needles, divide over 4 needles, 15 sts on each. Join into a circle, being careful not to twist the stitches.
- Work 14 rounds of k1, p1 rib.
- K 42 rounds (or as long as you want your sock to be).
Heel Flap
Preparation – Place the stitches from needles 1 and 2 onto one needle (30 sts) then,
- Row 1: k2, (sl 1, p1, across to last two sts), k2, turn
- Row 2: k, turn
Rep these two rows a total of 16 times (32 rows)
Turn Heel
- Row 1: p17, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 2: sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn
- Row 3: sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 4: sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn
- Row 5: sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 6: sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, turn
- Row 7: sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 8: sl 1, k11, ssk, k1, turn
- Row 9: sl 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 10: sl 1, k13, ssk, k1, turn
- Row 11: sl 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn
- Row 12: k16, ssk, k1 (18 sts)
Instep
Pick up and knit 17 sts along the side of the heel flap, k30 sts across the top of the sock (needles 2 and 3), pick up and knit 17 sts along the side of the heel flap, then k9 across the sole (bottom of sock).
(Needle 1: 26 sts, Needle 2: 15 sts, Needle 3: 15 sts, Needle 4: 26 sts)
K 2 rounds (starting and ending at the centre bottom of the sock). On the first round, k into the back of each of the 17 picked up and knitted sts as this creates a twist in the st and stops any little gaps from forming).
Gusset Decreases
- Round 1: k to 3 sts before end of needle 1, k2tog, k 1, k30 sts across needles 2 & 3, k1, ssk, k to end of needle 4.
- Round 2: k
- Rep these rounds until there are 15 sts on each needle.
Foot
- Work 42 rounds for UK size 5 or 6, European size 38 or 39.
Round Toe
Evenly spread decreases during the decrease round:
- Round 1: k4, (k2tog, k5) 8 times.
- K 2 rounds
- Round 4: k4, (k2tog, k4) 8 times.
- K 2 rounds
- Round 7: k4, (k2tog, k3) 8 times.
- K 2 rounds
- Round 10: (k2, k2tog) 9 times
- K 2 rounds
- Round 13: (k1, k2tog) 9 times
- K 1 round
- Round 15: k2tog to end (9 sts)
Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a 12″ (30 cm) tail. Thread the tail onto the tapestry needle and draw it through the remaining sts. Tighten and fasten off. Weave in ends.
Any sock yarn can be substituted successfully for knitting this sock.
Please let me know what you think of the pattern.
Thank you for this pattern. I really like the round toe but I think you have a typo in round 7 of the toe. I have done this several times and need to start that round with knit 3. I knit all my socks 2 at a time on 2 circular needles.
It is a very long time since I have knitted these socks. I’ll need to have a look, thank you for drawing this to my attention.
I am working on the toe now and K4 and the start does work out. There should be 36 stitches at the end of this round.
Could I do the round toe socks on a 9″ circular needle. Thank you.
Hi Jill, You could knit the socks on the 9″ circular needle but you’ll probably still need double pointed needles for doing the toe shaping as the number of stitches decrease. I haven’t any actual experience using this length of needle, so hopefully, someone who has knit the socks using the short sock needle could let us know what they did? Nicolette
when i use my 9 or 10″ needles for sox, I do the shortest short rows with the magic loop method using my same needle. it take some practice, but it’s doable and you only have to do it for a few rows. piece of cake!!
Hi there. Can you post a video for the Toe section? I am from Germany and Have Problems reading the Pattern but really love the idea of the rounded Toe. Thanks in Advance.
Hi…I am trying to knit a sock for size 8 foot for a woman. The wool I have is Red Heart super saver stripes. Medium 4. I want to knit a fine sock not bulky. What size needles would you us and how many stitches on needle
Thanks Roz
sorry – i forgot to say that i added 3 rows on the foot before i started the toe for a size 9us.
hi, nicolette – thank you so much for this pattern!! it’s so easy to follow, and my socks came out so beautiful! the best part of your pattern is that it shows us how to knit ROUND TOES, and these look so much nicer than others that i’ve knit with a kitchener toe. i’m just floored. how excited am i! thank you for being so generous. i haven’t been able to catch up on your writing lately, so i hope your health is good, and that you’re feeling well these days. thank you again!
I am confused about the heel flap preparation. Seems like, since I’m starting on the knit side, I should be starting the heel flap with no purl stitches. Also seems like on the purl side, I should be purling all the way across.
Thank you for your help.
I had a problem with this myself. I knitted across one row and started row 1 of heel flap on the WS. I won’t do the k2 border next time because I feel like it is easier to pick up the slip sts plus I dont like the way the right side looks with the bumps that appear from the knit stitches after pick up. Otherwise the pattern is gre a t and inlive the rounded toe.
I need your advice please. I’m having a problem with the heel flap….do I slip the stitch as if to knit or purl?
Slip the stitch purl wise. Hope you’re enjoying sock knitting. Nicolette
Thank you for this pattern. I have been knitting socks for about a year and have been looking for another way to finish the toe this looks so much better and easier than the squared off toe.
So pleased you enjoyed this toe shaping Margaret. Many thanks, Nicolette
I was very happy to find your round toe directions for 60 stitch socks. I wasn’t sure how to go about figuring it out myself. I had patterns for 64 and 56 stitch socks but not 60 which I am currently knitting. It worked out great! Thanks!
I found your pattern with a google search and am going to use your round toe for the sock I presently have on the needles. Is there a way to adjust the decreases for a 64 or 72 stitch sock? Thanks for your help! Kate
Hi Kate, thanks for your question. I designed the round toe for the sock several years ago and only did it for the 60 stitch cast on. I haven’t looked at trying to do any adjustments to it for other sizes of sock. I will, but I can’t this week, as I am on holiday in Connemara and my mum and sister are looking after the yarn shop for me. Nicolette
Thank you Nicolette! Enjoy your time in Connemara! I would so love to take a trip there someday!
I’m back from my holiday in the West of Ireland and catching up on emails and comments. Thank you so much. I hope you do take a trip to Connemara some day. It really was an amazing holiday. Co Kerry was busier with longer day trips around parts of the Ring of Kerry. Connemara was a slower more relaxing pace, with shorter trips to beautiful places like Kylemore Abbey, and walks on the sandy beaches… We came back from Connemara feeling rested and recharged.
Hi Kate,
I do a round toe for 64 sts that looks just like the construction for a regular toe pattern.
I Dec 1 round and K 3 rounds, three times total. You will have 52 sts remaining. Now work decreases on all rounds till you have a total of 16 sts left on all needles together. Then graft the toe.
Be sure to work your foot length a 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer as this Round Toe pattern works up to about 2 inches long. I like a roomy toe–wide and long.
This is my favorite toe pattern as I have wide feet and it fits and feels better than others I have tried
Hope this Round Toe pattern will work for you.
Happy sock knitting! Joyce in Utah
Joyce in Utah
A lovely easy sock pattern. It is simple in style and is great for showing off those lovely sock yarns that are out there. I just finished a pair of socks in Superba poems in partie. The colours are amazing and are shown off really well with this pattern.
Thank you. So pleased you enjoyed knitting the pattern. There really is such an amazing choice of sock yarn in every colour combination imaginable!
I came across your website this evening and have really enjoyed all the info you have posted regarding knitting socks and sock yarn. You’ve done a fabulous job. Wish I had found you a years ago when I 1st started trying to knit socks. It took me forever to figure it all out. I finally started out making baby booties and had that Ah Ha moment when I realized the only difference between socks and booties was Size!
Again thank you and I have book marked you so I can visit your pages again.