The "Perfect" Baby Sock Pattern

      As some of you may know many of my closest friends and family seem to have caught the baby bug which means that as a knitter I'm left with no choice but to pick up my handy dandy needles and cast on. My favorite baby knits to give as gifts are baby socks, not only because they are quick and useful, but because they are mindless. They don't require much thought or attention which means that you can get through a pair or four while binge watching your favorite shows on Netflix... Or sitting at the park breathing in fresh air and enjoying the beauty of nature the way God intended. Your choice.

   The only problem I've come across in the baby sock knitting department is that there seems to be a lack of patterns for practical, everyday, unisex baby socks. There are loads of patterns for converse shaped, lacy, lady bug footwear for babies but if you're looking for a traditional sock then the pickings can be pretty slim. 

   After spending an hour surfing the web in search of that perfect pattern I'd used a few years back, I realized that I was going to have to come up with my own. Shortly after coming to this realization I decided that the reason no one had ever taken the time to write this '"Perfect" Baby Sock' pattern was because baby socks are so quick and simple to make that taking the time to write it out would be a waste of time. Well hello there my name is Denine and I enjoy wasting time. So here we are.

I did, however, figure that sizing up would be so simple that I only wrote a pattern for a newborn sock. The sock will be knit over 32 stitches and the stitches will be divided over three double pointed needles as following: 8sts on needle, 16sts on needle 2, and 8sts on needle 3, there is a turned heel which will result in picking up slipped stitches. This will increase the number of  total stitches from 32 to 40 but after completing the foot shaping you will end up back at 32 stitches. As long as you are aware of the stitch ratios you can easily up or downsize. 

Here's an example:

    Say you want to make a pair for a baby that no longer fits newborn socks. You measure your baby's foot and ankles, or you find a baby growth chart online, and decide to cast on 40sts instead of 32. 

1. You'll distribute your stitches as following: 10sts on the 1^st needle. 20sts on the 2^nd  needle , and 10sts on the 3^rd needle. 
2. You'll knit a 1/2in (12.7mm) 1x1 rib cuff 
3. Then you'll knit your heel over the 20sts on needle 2
4. You'll end up picking up 10 slipped stitches around your heel flap but you'll shape the foot which will bring you back down to 40sts
5. You'll knit the length of the foot
6. And lastly, you'll shape your toes, decreasing until you've reached 10sts, then you'll use the Kitchener Stitch method to close off your toe

  Simple right? Here's the pattern:

*Prefer PDF patterns? Follow the link to the ravelry download page below➡ available with or without photos*

      The "Perfect" Baby Sock

By Denine Currie

Materials:

• Approx. 230yds (210m) of Sock Yarn
• A pair of Size 1 (2.25mm) Double Pointed Needles
• A tapestry needle

 Size:

• Newborn

Abbreviations + Stitch Explanations:

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side
• Sl: Slip 1(stitch)
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• SSK: Slip 1, Knit 1, then slip the previously slipped stitch over the knitted stitch
• K2Tog: Knit two together
• P2Tog: Purl two together

Instructions (Make 2):

Cast on 32 sts with 8sts on 1^st needle, 16sts on 2^nd needle, and 8sts on 3^rd needle 

Leg:

 Work in 1x1 rib for 7 rounds (1/2 in, 12.7mm) 

Work in stockinette stitch for 18 rounds (1 1/2 in, 38.1mm).

Next Row: Knit across the first and second needles then turn your work.

Heel Flap (Worked Exclusively Over Second Needle):

Row 1: (WS) Sl 1, purl to end (16sts)

Row 2: (RS) Sl 1, knit to end (16sts)

                  Alternate between the two until you’ve knit 16 rows with 8 stitches slipped on either side, Then knit one more row. You should end your heel flap on Row 1, which is a wrong side row.

Heel Cup:

Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, Knit 7 sts, SSK, K1, turn work.

Row 2: (WS) Sl 1, P1, P2Tog, P1, turn work.

Row 3: (RS) Sl 1, Knit to one st before turn gap, SSK, K1, turn work.

Row 4: (WS) Sl 1, Purl until one st before turn gap, P2Tog, P1, turn work.

Alternate between decrease rows 3 and 4 until each stitch has been worked over and your turn gaps disappear. (8 sts)

Knit one complete round (over all three needles) picking up the eight slipped stitches on either side of the heel flap (you will have picked up 16 slipped stitches in total). (40 sts)

Next Redistribute Your 40 Stitches As Follows: 
1^st Needle: The first 4 stitches of the heel cup + the 8 upcoming slipped stitches you picked up along the heel flap. (12sts total)
2^nd Needle: The next 16 stitches. (16sts total)
3^rd Needle: The remaining 8 stitches from the opposite side of the heel flap + the remaining 4 stitches from the heel cup. (12sts total)

(12 + 16 + 12) 

Foot Shaping (Decreases):

Row 1: knit to the last 3sts on the first needle, K2Tog, K1, Knit across second needle, K1, SSK, the first 3sts of the third needle then knit to the end of round.

Row 2: Knit all

Alternate between rows 1 and 2 until there are 32sts left on your needles

Foot:

Knit straight for 7 rounds

Toe Decreases:

Row 1: Knit to last 3sts on first needle K2Tog, K1, on second needle K1, SSK, Knit to last 3sts, K2Tog, K1, on third needle K1, SSK, Knit to end of round

Row 2: Knit 1 round

Alternate between rounds 1 and 2 until there are only 8sts remaining (2sts on the 1^st needle, 4sts on the 2^nd needle , and 2sts on the 3^rd needle). Combine the stitches from needles 1 and 3 onto one needle so that there are only two needles left with 4 stitches each. 

*Short Toe Version: Alternate between rounds 1 and 2 until there are only 16sts remaining (4sts on the 1^st needle, 8sts on the 2^nd needle , and 4sts on the 3^rd needle). Combine the stitches from needles 1 and 3 onto one needle so that there are only two needles left with 8 stitches each. *

Cut yarn leaving an 8in yarn tail and use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the toe. 

Weave in any loose ends. Make 2.

The "Perfect" Baby Sock Pattern ©2019 [Knits In by Denine] Knits & Designs

     Simple right? I finished my first pair in a little over an hour. For all I know, or even more likely than not, there are multiple everyday baby sock patterns somewhere hidden in the vast inter-webs that I'm just not seeing simply because the cutesy ones are more popular. Regardless, these socks are the perfect accessory for those precious little newborn feet. If the babies in your family tend to be a little larger as they do in my family then go up a few stitches or two the way I mentioned before, also If you knit a pair or two make sure to post a picture and tag me either on Instagram @by_denine or on Twitter @bydenine.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF version➡ Available with and without photos.

I hope you enjoy this pattern!

**Update (05/07/17): More details were added to make this pattern even more beginner friendly. If you are still having trouble following the pattern then please feel free to contact me. I'd be more than happy to help!**