This is a simple pattern for a top-down sock in stocking stitch. It has an extra-stretchy cuff worked in K2 P2 rib, and a heel flap done in basic heel stitch.
This pattern has been written for my Mum, Joan, who is an expert in knitting toe-up socks but isn’t yet comfortable improvising a pattern for top-down socks. We are currently test-knitting this pattern. The pattern will be re-formatted and have new photos and sizes added once the test-knitting is complete. For now, if you use this pattern, please tell me about any errors or confusing sections that you find. I love feedback, no matter whether it’s positive or negative. Size
To fit a woman’s foot 8.5" long, and 8.5" around at the ball of the foot.
Although I am Australian and deeply in love with the metric system, for some reason I always do sock calculations in inches. Please forgive this eccentricity!
S = slip (always slip purlwise unless specified otherwise)
SSK = slip slip knit = slip one stitch knitwise, slip one stitch purlwise, insert the left needle through the front of the two slipped stitches and knit them off together
st = stitches
INSTRUCTIONS
Cuff
Using 2.25 mm double-pointed needles and the long-tail method, cast on 85 st.
Tip: To avoid a too-tight cuff, cast on using a larger needle or using two needles held together.
Divide stitches evenly over three circular needles and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches.
Round 1: * K2, P1, P2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. There should now be 68 st in total.
Round 2: * K2, P2. Repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat round 2 and continue working in K2 P2 rib until ribbed cuff measures 1.5” from cast-on edge.
Leg
K every round.
Continue until leg measures 6” from cast-on edge, or desired length to top of foot.
Heel flap
You will work the heel flap back and forth on half of the sock’s stitches. Rearrange your st on the three working needles so that 34 st are on one needle (needle A), and 17 st on each of the other two (needles B and C).
Working on only the st from needle A, start the heel flap.
Row 1: K2, * S1, K1. Repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: S1, P to end of row.
Row 3: * S1, K1. Repeat from * to end of row. (Right side.)
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have worked 35 rows in total for the heel flap, ending with a right-side row.
Heel turn
Start with the wrong side facing. The heel turn is worked with short rows.
Row 1: S1, P18, P2tog, P1. Turn your work ready to knit back in the other direction, leaving the remaining 12 st on needle A unworked for now.
Row 2: S1, K5, SSK, K1. Turn.
Note: As you continue to work the heel turn, you will notice an obvious gap in each row as you approach the correct place to do the decrease. Each heel turn row decrease is worked across the two stitches on either side of the gap.
Row 3: S1, P until one st before the gap, P2tog, P1. Turn.
Row 4: S1, K until one st before the gap, SSK, K1. Turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches are worked. 20 st remaining after heel turn is complete.
Pick up stitches for gusset
From this point you will rejoin the heel section with the rest of the sock st remaining on needles B and C, and start working in the round again.
Rearrange st as follows. Split heel stitches evenly across two needles: needle A is the left-most group of 10 stitches and needle D is the right-most group. Move stitches from top of foot (previously needles B and C) onto one needle (needle B).
With the right side of the heel flap facing you and working with needle A, pick up 17 st evenly along the left edge of the heel flap, plus 2 more st at the point where the heel flap joins the leg of the sock. (These two extra stitches help to prevent gaps appearing at the top of the gusset in the finished sock.)
K all st from needle B across the top of the foot.
Picking up the new stitches onto needle D, pick up 2 st at the point where the right edge of the heel flap joins the leg of the sock, and then 17 more st evenly along the right edge of the heel flap. K to end of st on needle D, which should be the middle of the heel turn.
You should have 92 st total, arranged as follows: 29 st on needle A, 34 st on needle B, 29 st on needle D.
Gusset
Round 1: K to 3 st before end of needle A, K2 tog, K1, K across all st on needle B, K1, SSK, K to end of needle D.
Round 2: Repeat round 1.
Round 3: K all st.
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until 68 st remain in total.
Foot
K every round.
Continue until foot measures 7” long from the start of the heel turn, or 1.5” less than desired total foot length.
Toe
Start the round at the middle of the sole, on needle A.
Round 1: K to 3 st before end of needle A, SSK, K2, K2tog, K to 3 st before end of needle B, SSK, K2, K2tog, K to end of needle D.
Round 2: K all st.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 44 st total remain.
Repeat round 1 only until 20 st total remain.
Rearrange st onto 2 needles so that there are 10 st on each needle.
Graft st together using kitchener stitch.
Finishing
Work the second sock in the same way as the first.
