How to Knit Socks for Beginners (Free Pattern and Video Tutorial)

The Simple Shortie Socks are the perfect pattern for knitting beginner socks. Knit in worsted weight yarn, these shortie socks knit up so quickly. The ankle length means you get into sock construction with the heel and gusset right away.

Consider this pattern and video tutorial a crash course in sock knitting!

Skills Needed to Knit Socks

This pattern is for advanced beginners. To knit this pattern successfully, you should be comfortable with the:

• long tail cast on
• knit stich
• purl stitch
• knitting in the round on double pointed needles (DPNs)
• and have an adventurous attitude towards new techniques

Buy the PDF Sock Pattern

While the pattern instructions for the Simple Shortie Sock are free below, you can purchase the printable pattern PDF file by clicking the button above or visiting the shop page. The PDF is ready to be printed and marked up by you.

Upon purchase, the pattern file will be delivered to you by email. Thank you for your support!

Bonus Color Blocking Video and Tutorial

The PDF pattern includes bonus instructions and and a video tutorial on how to customise your socks with:

• stripes
• different coloured heel
• different coloured toe
• how to change colors cleanly in the rib
• how to create a jogless join when making color changes

Changing colors in the round presents unique challenges. In the bonus color block tutorial I’ll show you how to avoid jogs in the round and how to knit clean color transitions in the rib cuff for a professional finish.

Grab the Simple Shortie Sock PDF pattern and bonus Color Block tutorial and video by clicking the button below.

Sock Materials

• Yarn: 50 (80, 110, 150, 190, 197) yds / 45 (75, 100, 135, 175, 180) meters of Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran in color 828 (1 ball is 50% wool/50% acrylic; 197yds/180m; 100g/3.5oz)
• set of 7 or 8” 3.75mm DPNs (or needle size to get gauge)
• set of 7 or 8” 3.5mm DPNs (optional for ribbing) – locking stitch marker
• tapestry needle
• scissors
• measuring tape
• locking stitch marker (optional)

Gauge: 23 sts/ 30 rounds = 4” in stockinette stitch in the round on larger double pointed needles

Recommended Sock Yarns: Choose a wool or wool and acrylic blend yarn. Wool provides warmth and stretch while acyrlic provides durability. Avoid 100% acrylic yarns as they don’t have much stretch; acrylic socks tend to grow baggy with wear. Below are some recommended yarns:

• Valley Yarns Northampton (100% wool) (Lovecrafts)
• Valley Yarns Superwash (100% merino wool) (Lovecrafts)
• Sirdar Country Classic Worsted (50% wool/50% acrylic) (Lovecrafts)

Choosing a Sock Size:

This pattern includes six sizes, from Baby to Adult Large. To choose a size, measure the circumference of the ball of the foot. Note down this number.

If knitting for a baby, toddler or child, subtract 0.5” from this number.

If knitting for an adult, subtract 1” from this number.

This is your unique sock measurement. This measurement should match closely with the finished foot circumference of the sock (see below)

Finished Sock Measurements:

Finished Foot Circumference: 4.8 (5.5, 6.3, 6.9, 7.6, 8.3)” to fit Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)

Socks are meant to be worn with a negative ease of 0.5” for baby, toddler and child sizes and 1” for adult sizes.

How to Knit Socks Video Tutorial

Watch how to knit the Simple Shortie Socks from beginning to end in this comprehensive video tutorial

Pattern Notes:

These socks are knit in worsted weight yarn without any heel reinforcement, which means they’re not very hard-wearing. Treat the shortie socks like house cats – they’re best for lounging at home and not out and about in shoes!

2×2 Rib in the Round:
Round 1: *K2, P2; repeat from * to end of round
Repeat Round 1

Turn Work: Turn the knitting to the opposite side of the work and knit on that side

Simple Shortie Sock Pattern Instructions

Rib Cuff

With smaller DPNs and stretchy cast on, cast on 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48) sts, PM, join in the round.

Knit in 2×2 rib for 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2)”

Heel Flap

Switch to larger DPNs and K14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts and place on hold onto scrap yarn. These are the instep stitches.

The remaining sts are the heel sts. You will work them back and forth in rows over the next 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts as follows:

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, knit to end

Row 2 (WS): Sl1, purl to end

Work rows 1-2 a total of 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) times

Heel Turn

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, K6 (8, 10, 12, 12, 14) sts, ssk, k1, turn work

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyif, P1 (3, 5, 7, 5, 7) sts, p2tog, p1, turn work

Row 3 (RS): Sl1, knit to 1 stitch before the gap, ssk, k1, turn work

Row 4 (WS): Sl1 wyif, purl to 1 stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn work

Work rows 3-4 a total of 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) times. 8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts remain

Next row (RS): knit across all sts

Gusset

Pick up and knit 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts along the edge of the heel flap with the same needle that is holding the heel sts (Needle 1)

Knit across 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) instep sts. This is Needle 2.

Use a third needle to pick up and knit 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts along the other edge of the heel flap. This is Needle 3.

With Needle 3, knit 4 (5, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts from Needle 1, PM. This is the beginning of the round.

Needle 1 and 3: 12 (14, 16, 18, 19, 21) sts
Needle 2: 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts
Total sts: 38 (44, 50, 56, 60, 66) sts

Round 1: knit all sts

Round 2:
Needle 1: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: knit across the needle
Needle 3: k1, ssk, knit to end
(2 sts decreased)

Work Rounds 1-2 a total of 5 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) times. [28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48) sts]

Foot

Knit all stitches across all three needles until the foot is 1 (1.5, 1.5, 1.7, 1.7, 2)” less than the desired foot length.

Toe

Round 1:
Needle 1: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Needle 3: k1, ssk, knit to end of needle
(4 sts decreased)

Round 2: knit across all sts

Knit Rounds 1-2 a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 5) times. 16 (16, 20, 24, 28, 28) sts

Knit Round 1 another 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) time(s). 12 (12, 16, 16, 20, 20) sts

Knit across Needle 1 and Needle 2

Slide all sts on Needle 1 and Needle 3 onto one needle.

Now there are two needles, each holding 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) sts

Grafting the Toe

With these two needles parallel to each other, position the needle with the working yarn in the back.

Measure out a 15” length of yarn and cut loose. Thread a tapestry needle with yarn and graft the stitches together with Kitchener Stitch. Please watch the tutorial video above for a detailed tutorial on Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in ends and knit a second sock following these same instructions.

Customise Your Shortie Socks

Want to customise your socks with stripes, color blocks, a different colored heel or toe?

Grab the Simple Shortie Socks PDF pattern, which includes bonus instructions and a video tutorial on how to knit socks with clean color changes and jogless joins.

If you’re on Ravelry (like Facebook for knitters), add your pattern to the project page here!

Abbreviations

DPN(s): Double pointed needle(s)
K: knit
P: purl
P2tog: purl two stitches together
PM: place marker
RS: right side of knitting
Sl: slip the stitch(es)
SSK: slip 1 st, slip 1 st, knit 2 slipped sts together
St(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side of knitting
Wyif: with yarn in front
* *: repeat instructions between asterisks the number of times indicated

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