Favorite SocksBY KRISTIN LEHRER

My Simple Sock Recipe

Skill Level
Just about every knitter you meet will have a go-to
ADVENTUROUS "recipe" for knitting plain and simple socks.
BEGINNER
While I love mixing things up, I always come back to
Techniques knitting my socks cuff down, with a reinforced heel-flap
and short row heel turn.
- KNIT & PURL
- DECREASES If you're new to knitting socks, this can sound
- KNITTING IN THE intimidating. Fret not! I'm here to walk you through the
ROUND process step-by-step. Also, be sure to checkout my
- SHORT ROWS accompanying video tutorial on YouTube.
- KITCHENER STITCH
After knitting this pattern, I hope you'll come to love sock
knitting or that it helps you discover your own favorite
way of knitting socks!

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Materials
YARN: Share Your FOs
Any 100g skein sock or fingering yarn,
at least 400 yards/365 meters
Share your finished socks and see
Samples shown in Voolenvine Yarns, others on Instagram and social
Footsie - "Faerie Hair" and "Jilted Rose" media using hashtags:
#FavoriteSocksPattern,
SUGGESTED NEEDLE SIZE: #VoolenvineYarns, #Voolenvine
US 1.5 (2.5mm), 24"-32" circulars or 4 dpns

GAUGE:
32 sts x 46 rnds = 4x4 inches Abbreviations
(10x10 cm) knit in the round and blocked
BOR: beginning of round
SIZING:
dpns: double pointed needles
Adult Small (Medium, Large)

NOTIONS: k: knit
- Stitch markers
- Darning needle k2tog: knit the next 2 sts together

p: purl

p2tog: purl the next 2 sts together

pm: place marker

rnd/rnds: round/rounds

RS: right side

sl1p: slip 1 st, purl-wise

sm: slip marker

ssk: slip 1 st as if to purl, slip the next st as

if to purl, then knit them together, from
the right needle

st/sts: stitch/stitches

WS: wrong side

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Cast On Heel Flap

Using a long tail or German twisted cast on The heel flap is knit flat across the first 28
method, cast on 56 (64, 72) sts. (32, 36) sts. Remove BOR marker. 

Pm to mark BOR, join work in the round, Row 1 (RS): *Sl1p, k1, repeat from * across
taking care not to twist your stitches. first 28 (32, 36) sts. Turn work.

Divide sts evenly on needles: Row 2 (WS): *Sl1p, purl across first 28 (32,
36) sts. Turn work.
If using Magic Loop: 28 (32, 36) sts on each
needle A and B. For all sizes, repeat Rows 1-2 20 times
total, or until heel flap measures about 1.5-
If using dpns: 14 (16, 18) sts on each needle. 2” (4-5cm).

Cuff NOTE: Do not skip slipping the first stitch

of each row! They create selvage stitches,
which you'll be picking up and knitting
Knit a 2x2 ribbed cuff as follows: *K2, p2;
into when it's time to knit the instep.
repeat from * for 15-20 rnds or until desired
length.
Heel Turn
Leg Row 1 (RS): K16 (18, 21) sts, ssk, k1. Turn
work.
Knit plain stockinette stitch, in the round,
until leg measures about 6" (15cm) from cast
Row 2 (WS): Sl1p, p5 (5, 7) sts, p2tog, p1.
on edge, or until desired length.
Turn work.

Row 3: Sl1p, knit to 1 st before the “gap”,

ssk, k1. Turn work.

Row 4: Sl1p, purl to 1 st before the “gap”,

p2tog, p1. Turn work. 

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all stitches on

either side of the "gaps" are worked,
ending with Row 4. On this final row, K14
(16, 18) sts, pm for BOR, knit to end of
heel flap.

Note: The final "gaps" worked will not

have a stitch after to knit or purl. Don't
worry! Simply turn work and continue.

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Pick-up the Gusset Stitches

After completing the heel turn, your needles should be ready to work up the sides of the
heel flap. Here's where all those slipped stitches come into play!

You should have about 20 selvage stitches along each side of the heel flap. Don't worry
about stitch count. After picking up and knitting them, you'll have more stitches on your
needles than you cast on, regardless. We'll fix that in the next section. In the meantime, let's
shape the heel and join our stitches for knitting in the round again:

Step 1: Pick up and knit into the selvage stitches up along the first side of the heel flap by
inserting the left needle under both selvage stitch "legs" and then knitting it with your right
needle. After the very last selvage stitch is worked, pm.

Step 2: Knit across 28 (32, 36) sts across the top of the foot, pm.

Step 3: Pick up and knit into the selvage stitches along the second side of the heel flap.

Step 4: After the final selvage stitch has been worked, knit to BOR.

Note: Depending on whether using Magic Loop or using dpns, this section may require you
to re-organize your stitches to knit comfortably.

For Magic Loop, I recommend keeping 28 (32, 36) sts "top of foot" sts on the cord, and
dividing the sts at the bottom of the foot evenly on the needles. Instead of markers, you
might find it helpful to use the loops to separate the top and bottom of the foot.

If using dpns, divide 28 (32) 36 "top of foot" sts on one needle, and bottom of foot sts evenly
on two needles.

If things feel weird, fret not! Knitting in the round will feel less wonky as you continue to
decrease stitches in the next section.

Instep Decreases
Now, we'll decrease one stitch at each side of the foot, every other round, until our stitch
count is back down to our original cast on number.

Rnd 1: Knit to 3 sts before next marker, k2tog, k1, sm, knit 28 (32, 36) sts across the top of the
foot, sm, k1, ssk, knit to BOR.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Repeat Rnds 1-2 until you have a total of 56 (64, 72) sts on your needles, your original cast on
stitch count.

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Foot Finishing
Once you're back down to your original cast Divide your stitches evenly on two
on stitch count, it's time to knit the foot. needles. Cut the yarn leaving about a 10"
(4cm) tail and thread your darning
Simply knit plain stockinette in the round, needle.
slipping markers as you come to them, for
several inches. Graft the toe stitches together using the
Kitchener Stitch. (Step-by-step
Once you've knit a good length, try on your instructions are available on page 6.)
sock. If your knitting has reached the tip of
your little pinky toe, you'll know it's time to Congrats! You knit a sock!
start decreasing for the toes. If not, keep
knitting or rip back until it is. Weave in your ends with a darning
needle and block if desired. I

Toe Decreases recommend soaking in lukewarm water

then, after 10 minutes, gently press out
For the toe, you'll be decreasing two excess water with a clean towel. Lay flat
or hang on sock blockers to dry.
stitches on each side of the foot (4 sts
total), every other round. 
Now it's time to cast on that second
sock!
Rnd 1: *Knit to 3 sts before next marker,
ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog; repeat from * once PRO TIP: Avoid SSS (second sock
more, knit to BOR. syndrome) by casting on the second
sock immediately after you finish the
Rnd 2: Knit. first sock.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until you have 28

sts total remaining.

Note: 28 sts is only a suggestion. For a

wider toe, stop decreasing earlier. For a
narrower, pointy toe, keep decreasing
until desired.

Thank You!
All images and text © Kristin Lehrer 2020. All Rights Reserved.
This pattern is for personal use and may not be sold.
Please contact the Kristin Lehrer for pattern support and permissions via email
[email protected]
On Instagram: @Voolenvine
On Ravelry as Voolenvine
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/Voolenvine

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MY FAVORITE SOCKS KRISTIN LEHRER

Kitchener Stitch
I love the seamless join the Kitchener stitch creates. While you need to give this part your full
attention, with a little practice, this technique is easy to memorize!

Like turning the heel, I recommend finding a quiet nook, and taking this section slow, one
step at a time.

Divide your stitches evenly on two needles. Cut the yarn leaving about a 10" (4cm) tail and
thread your darning needle.

NOTE: From here on, I'll be referring to the needle closest to you as "Needle A" and the
needle furthest from you as "Needle B".

Hold your needles together, tips facing right. The working yarn should be hanging down
from Needle B.

Setup Needle A: Insert darning needle, as if to purl, into the first stitch. Pull yarn through,
leaving that stitch on needle.

Setup Needle B: Insert darning needle, as if to knit, into the first stitch. Pull yarn through,
leaving that stitch on the needle.

Step 1 (Needle A): Insert darning needle, as if to knit, into the first stitch and lift it OFF the
needle.

Step 2 (Needle A): Insert darning needle, as if to purl, into the next stitch, leaving it ON the
needle, pulling yarn through.

Step 3 (Needle B): Insert darning needle, as if to purl, into first stitch, lifting it OFF the
needle.

Step 4 (Needle B): Insert darning needle, as if to knit, into next stitch, leaving it ON the
needle, and pulling yarn through.

Repeat Steps 1-4 until one st remains on each needle. Repeat setup for Needles A and B.
Remove your needles, giving the tail a gentle tug and using your darning needle to pull it
through to the inside of the sock.

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