These Ribby Socks have an intricate pattern, but no one will guess that they're a cinch to make!

Free Ribby Socks Knitting Pattern

These funky socks feature a simple ribbing pattern that knits up quickly and shows off the beauty of handpainted yarn. A perfect first sock project!

Size

Women's size medium

Instep circumference: 8" (20cm)

Cuff length: 6" (15cm)

Foot length: 9" (23cm)

What You'll Need

Yarn: Worsted weight self-striping yarn, about 312 yards (285m)

We used: Artyarns Supermerino (100% superwash merino wool; 104 yards [95m] per 50g skein): #123, 3 skeins

Needles: US size 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed, set of 5

Notions: Open-ring stitch markers; tapestry needle

Gauge

24 stitches and 32 rounds=4" (10cm) in circular stockinette stitch (knit every round)

Making the Socks (make 2)

Leg

Loosely cast on 50 stitches and divide onto 4 needles as follows: 12 stitches on needles #1 and #4 and 13 stitches on needles #2 and #3. Join stitches into a circle, being careful not to twist stitches. Place open-ring stitch marker in first stitch on needle #1 to denote beginning of rounds. Move marker upward every few rounds.

Note: Needles #1 and #4 will hold the heel stitches while needles #2 and #3 will hold the instep stitches.

Establish ribbing pattern as follows:

Round 1: Needle #1 -- purl 1, (knit 3, purl 2) two times, knit 1; needle #2 -- knit 2, (purl 2, knit 3) twice, purl 1; needle #3 -- purl 1, (knit 3, purl 2) twice, knit 2; needle #4 -- knit 1, (purl 2, knit 3) twice, purl 1.

Repeat round 1 until leg measures 6" (15cm).

Heel

Knit all stitches on needle #1. Turn work; purl all stitches on needles #1 and #4, working them all onto a single needle. These 24 stitches will form the heel flap.

Row 1 (right side): *Slip 1, knit 1; repeat from * 11 times more, turn.

Row 2: Slip 1, purl 23, turn work.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 fourteen times more (30 rows total).

Turn heel

Row 1: Knit 15, work slip slip knit decrease, turn work.

Row 2: Slip 1, purl 6, purl 2 together, turn work.

Row 3: Slip 1, knit 6, work slip slip knit decrease, turn work.

Row 4: Repeat row 2.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked. There are now 8 heel stitches left.

Shape gusset

Turn work and knit the 8 heel stitches. With the same needle, pick up and knit 15 stitches along the right side edge of the heel flap. Work across stitches on needles #2 and #3 in ribbing pattern as established (26 instep stitches). With the empty needle, pick up and knit 15 stitches along the left side edge of the heel flap, then knit 4 stitches from needle #1. Place stitch marker in next stitch to denote beginning of rounds. The heel stitches should now be divided evenly on needles #1 and #4 (19 stitches on each), and 13 stitches remain on each of needles #2 and #3. (64 stitches total)

Round 1: Knit to last 3 stitches on needle #1, knit 2 together, knit 1. Work across needles #2 and #3 in ribbing pattern as established. At the beginning of needle #4, knit 1, work slip slip knit decrease, knit to end of needle.

Round 2: Knit all stitches on needle #1, work in established rib pattern on needles #2 and #3, knit all stitches on needle #4.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until there are 12 stitches on each of needles #1 and #4. There are now 50 stitches total.

Foot

Continue working the stitches on needles #2 and #3 in established rib pattern, and knit all stitches on needles #1 and #4 until the foot measures about 2" (5cm) shorter than desired finished length.

Shape toe using the star method as follows:

Round 1: *Knit to last 2 stitches on needle, knit 2 together; repeat from * across all needles.

Round 2: Knit all stitches.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until there are 2 stitches left on needles #1 and #4 and 3 stitches each on needles #2 and #3. (10 stitches total)

Next round: Needle #1 -- knit 2; needles #2 and #3 -- knit 1, knit 2 together; needle #4 -- knit 2. (8 stitches remain)

Remove marker. Break yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches. Pull tight to close toe. Weave in all yarn ends to wrong side of work.

Looking for a perfect hiking sock that will keep your feet warm and comfortable? See the next page to try our Bulky Boot Socks.

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