Mens Knitted Socks

Actually, these work for men and women!

What You’ll Need to Make These Socks

• Size 2 DPNs
• Size 3 DPNs* (see notes below)
• Stitch Marker
• Stitch Holder
• 2 skeins Sock Yarn (approx 200 yds each)

Gauge:

1″ = 6 sts and 9 rows in St st on size 3 needles

Yarn and Knitting Needle Choices

For this pattern, I used a wool yarn that has 10% nylon mixed in for stretch. Any sock weight yarn will work well with this pattern, however.

*Also, if the recipient of the socks has a more narrow foot, I’d recommend using just the size 2 needles for the entire thing and not switch up to size 3 when you get past the cuff.

Begin Knitting the Cuff

Loosely cast on 63 sts with size 2 DPNs, joining the first and last stitches so you have 62 sts left. Continue to knit in the round with a rib knit (k1, p1) until the cuff reaches 8 inches long, or about 79 rows.

Forming the Sock Heel

1. Switch to Size 3 DPNs. (Again, if you’re knitting for a narrow foot, you might want to keep using the size 2 needles)
2. Separate the heel sts from the instep sts: place 30 sts onto a stitch holder. The other 32 sts will be worked into the heel.
3. K the 32 heel sts in St st for 20 rows.
4. NR: (RS) k across
5. NR: (WS) p10, k12, p10
6. Repeat the last 2 rows for 2 more rows.

Note: In this next part, the center of the heel is going to be knitted in a garter stitch.

7. RS: k22, skp, turn
8. WS: Sl1, k12, p2tog, turn
9. RS: sl1, k12, skp, turn
10. Repeat the last 2 rows until you have 14 sts remaining.

Shape the Gusset

11. On RS: Knit even. On the same needle, pick up 16 sts along the side of the heel. This is Needle 1.
12. Return the stitches from the stitch holder to a needle. These will become the instep. k1, p1, (k2, p1)* repeat until you have 1 st left on that needle, then k1. This is Needle 2.
13. Pick up 16 sts along the other side of the heel. This is Needle 3.

Decrease the Gusset

14. N1: p16, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, p1 (k2, p1)* repeat until you have 1 st left on that needle, then k1.
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

15. Next Round:
    N1: Knit even
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k to last st, p2

16. Next Round:
    N1: p16, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, p1 (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

17. Next Round:
    N1: k even
    N2: k1, p1, (k2,p1)*, k1
    N3: k to last 3 sts, p3

18. Next Round:
    N1: p17, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k1, skp. k to end

19. Next Round:
    N1: K even
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k1, skp, k to last 4 sts, p4

20. Next Round:
    N1: p18, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

21. Repeat the top 2 rounds 4 more times. You should have now decreased down to 62 sts.

Knitting the Foot of the Sock

22. Now we’re done decreasing the gusset, but we want to continue the area that has garter stitching so it covers the whole bottom of the foot:
    N1: k to end
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k to last 6 sts, p6

23. Next Round:
    N1: p 20, k to end
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k to end

24. Next Round:
    N1: k to end
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k to last 8 sts, p8

25. Next Round:
    N1: p22, k to end
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k to end

26. Repeat the last two rounds until the sock is 2 inches shorter than the final length. For example, a mens size 11(US) sock will have 62 rows.

Decrease the Sock Toe

26. Split the heel sts evenly between N1 and N3.
    N1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, p1, (k2, p1)*, k1
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

The rest of the toe is knitted in St st.

27. Next Round: k even

28. Next Round:
    N1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k1, skp, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

29. Continue decreasing by repeating the last 2 rounds until you have 30 sts. There will be 14 sts on top and 16 on the bottom. If you finish off the sock with a Kitchener Stitch, you’ll need to decrease the bottom one more time to have 14 stitches on the top and the bottom:

    N1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    N2: k across
    N3: k1, skp, k to end

30. Finish off the sock with a Kitchener Stitch. You can finish off your sock with another preferred method, of course.

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Knitting Abbreviations Used

RS – Right Side
WS – Wrong Side
N1 – Needle 1
N2 – Needle 2
N3 – Needle 3
k – knit
skp – slip, knit, pass – slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
p – purl
sts – stitches
St st – Stockinette stitch

Need help with other abbreviations? Visit our Abbreviations page!