House Socks

Wear these thick socks around the house to keep your toes toasty — or use them to show off your House colors.

Seed stitch provides interesting detail while keeping this project simple. These socks are worked up in worsted weight yarn and are a great way to use leftovers.  Whether you are showing team spirit or going for a mismatched punk look, these socks will fly off your needles in a weekend!

 

SKILL LEVEL Advanced beginner

 

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

These socks will fit an average woman’s foot. Leg is approximately 8.5” around. Add or subtract stitches in multiples of 2 to fit wider or narrower legs and feet. 

 

MATERIALS

Yarn:  Worsted weight wool in 2 or more colors, 1 skein (50-100g) of each color.

Spring green / light blue / dark brown sample was knit with Lion Brand Wool-Ease (green and brown) and Plymouth Encore (light blue).

Needles & Notions: 

• US 5 (3.75 mm), or size needed to get gauge; five DPNs or two circular needles
• Tapestry needle

 

GAUGE  5.75 stitches and 7.5 rows = 1” in stockinette stitch

 

PATTERN NOTES

• These socks are knit at a tight gauge to give them durability.
• When changing colors, it is recommended that you cut yarn and weave in ends rather than carry the yarns on the inside of the sock.
• After picking up stitches for the gusset, on the first round knit the picked up stitches through the back loop to twist and tighten them up. 

DIRECTIONS

Leg

Using MC, CO 48 sts and distribute evenly over your needles (if using DPNs, needle 1 [N1] is the beginning of the round)

Knit 6 rows

Using MC, *K1, P1 for 1 row

Knit around for 5 more rows

Alternating between MC and CC, repeat the leg directions from the * until you have 9 stripes or have reached the desired leg length. End stripe pattern with CC.

Heel Flap

Using MC, K one round

For the rest of the heel flap you will now be working back and forth over half of your stitches.

K 12, turn work (this centers your seam at the back of the leg)

*Sl1, P23, turn work

Sl1, K23, turn work

Repeat from the * 7 times, or until heel flap is at least 2 inches long.

Sl1, P23, turn work

Turn Heel

Sl1, K12, ssk, K1, turn work

Sl1, P3, p2tog, p1, turn work

Sl1, K4, ssk, K1, turn work

Sl1, P5, p2tog, p1, turn work

Sl1, K6, ssk, K1, turn work

Sl1, P7, p2tog, p1, turn work

Sl1, K8, ssk, K1, turn work

Sl1, P9, p2tog, p1, turn work

Sl1, K10, ssk, K1, turn work

Sl1, P11, p2tog, p1, turn work

Fourteen sts remain after turning heel.

Gusset

Sl1, K13 (heel sts)

With the same needle (N1), pick up approximately 9 stitches along side of heel flap

Using two other needles (N2 and N3), knit across 24 instep sts

With a different needle (N4), pick up approximately 9 stitches along side of heel flap

Also with N4, K7 from the end of N1 (this divides the heel sts in half)

*Decrease round:

N1: knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, K1

N2 and N3: knit

N4: K1, ssk, knit to end

Resting round:

Knit all stitches

Repeat decrease round and resting round from * until N1 and N4 have 12 sts each (or desired st count for foot).

Foot

Continue working in MC. Knit all stitches until foot is 2.5” shorter than desired length of foot.

Toe

Switch to CC if desired and K one round

*Decrease round:

N1: knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, K1

N2: K1, ssk, knit to end

N3: knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, K1

N4: K1, ssk, knit to end

Resting round:

Knit all stitches

Repeat decrease round and resting round from * until 24 sts remain (6 per needle). Foot stitches have been decreased by half.

Now work the decrease round every row until only 4 sts remain (1 per needle).

Finishing

Leaving a 6” tail, cut the yarn and thread with a tapestry needle.

Draw the needle through each remaining st, working in the same direction you were knitting (usually clockwise). Poke the needle to the inside of the sock and weave in the end.

 

KEY

CC = contrasting color

CO = cast on

DPN = double-pointed needle

K = knit

k2tog = knit two sts together

MC = main color

N = needle

P = purl

p2tog = purl 2 together

sl1 = slip 1 knitwise

ssk = slip knitwise twice, then knit the two slipped sts together

sts = stitches

 

Many thanks to the test knitters: Abbey Buckley, Casey Braun, Alison Denomme, Heidi Lemon, Allison Phelps, Michelle Flemming, and Melissa White. Thanks to Charlotte Mayhew for pattern editing.

 

Copyright © 2012 by Carol Ullmann for Entangled Designs. 

This pattern is intended for private, non-commercial use only. It is expressly forbidden to sell or distribute the pattern, its photographs, or items made from this pattern without the written consent of the designer.