Knitting women's socks

Knitting women's socks

In this tutorial, you will learn how to knit elegant women's socks in a jacquard pattern. The step-by-step guide is for advanced knitters and covers all essential techniques, from the cast-on and cuff to the rounded toe.

What is required?

Note:

The sizes for the women's socks are separated by slashes. If only one measurement is provided in the instructions, it applies to all sizes.

Tension/Gauge: Knitted with 2.5 mm needles in jacquard pattern:
32 stitches x 38 rounds = 10 x 10 cm

Tip: If you have more stitches, you will need a larger needle. If you have fewer stitches, you should use a smaller needle so that your tension matches the one specified. This ensures that the finished women's socks are the correct size.

Techniques & Patterns Used:

Ribbing pattern: For the ribbing pattern, knit alternately 1 stitch knit and 1 stitch purl.

Stockinette stitch: Knit all stitches in knit rows and purl all stitches in purl rows. When knitting in the round, knit all stitches to obtain an even surface.

Jacquard pattern: For the jacquard pattern, the number of stitches must be divisible by 4. Knit in the round in stockinette stitch according to the chart and repeat the 4-stitch repeat continuously.

Double stitch:

To knit a double stitch, place the yarn in front of the work, slip the first stitch, and pull the yarn firmly backward so that the stitch appears doubled. When knitting later, the double stitch is worked as a knit 2 together to turn it back into a single knit stitch.

Step 1 – Cast on

Cast on 64/64/68 stitches in the color cyclamen and distribute the stitches evenly across 4 double-pointed needles: 16/16/17 stitches per needle. Join the stitches in the round, taking care not to twist the cast-on edge. This is the first important step to ensure a uniform women's sock without any twists.

Step 2 – Knit the cuffs

Start the cuff of your women's socks with 2 rounds in cyclamen, followed by 10 rounds in light gray in rib stitch (1 stitch knit, 1 stitch purl alternating). Make sure that the cuff is about 2.5 cm high.

Step 3 – Knit the leg

Begin the shaft of your women's socks by knitting 3 rounds in light gray in stockinette stitch. Then continue in the Fair Isle pattern using the colors light gray, cyclamen, and white. Knit rounds 1 through 15 of the chart a total of three times. Follow this with 4 rounds of stockinette stitch in light gray.

Step 4 – Start boomerang heel

The boomerang heel of your women's socks is worked in light gray in stockinette stitch over the stitches of the 1st and 4th needles. Combine the stitches from these two needles onto one needle. Use stitch markers to mark the beginning and end of the new needle.

Upper part of the boomerang heel:

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Work a double stitch, purl the remaining stitches, turn.

Row 3 (RS): Work a double stitch, knit all stitches up to the double stitch, turn.

Row 4 (WS): Work a double stitch, purl all stitches up to the double stitch, turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there are 10/10/11 double stitches, 12 single stitches, and another 10/10/11 double stitches on the needle.

Then, work 2 rounds in knit over all stitches on all needles. In the first round, the double stitches are knitted together as one stitch each.

Step 5 – Finish knitting the boomerang heel

Divide the stitches on the 1st and 4th needles into 3 sections using stitch markers:

Count 10/10/11 stitches from the first marker and place the second.

Count 12 stitches from the second marker and place the third.

The last 10/10/11 stitches are between the third and fourth marker.

(Marker 1 to 2 = right third / Marker 2 to 3 = middle 12 stitches / Marker 3 to 4 = left third)

Continue working the boomerang heel:

Row 1 (RS): Knit to the second marker, then knit the middle 12 stitches and the first stitch of the left third, then turn.

Row 2 (WS): Work a double stitch, purl the stitches of the middle third and the first stitch of the right third, then turn.

Row 3 (RS): Work a double stitch, knit all stitches including the double stitch and one additional stitch of the left third, then turn.

Row 4 (WS): Work a double stitch, purl all stitches including the double stitch and one additional stitch of the right third, then turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches of the right and left thirds are on the needle as double stitches.

Step 6 – Knit the foot

Knit 30 rounds in stocking stitch in light gray over all stitches, distributing the stitches evenly across 4 needles in the first round. Then work rounds 1 to 15 of the jacquard pattern in the colors light gray, cyclamen, and white.

After that, continue knitting in light gray until the foot reaches a length of 16/17.5/19 cm from the center of the heel.

Step 7 – Knitting the toe

For the toe of the sock, in the 1st round, knit the second and third to last stitches together on the 1st and 3rd needles (right-leaning decrease). On the 2nd and 4th needles, slip the 2nd stitch, knit the next stitch, and pass the slipped stitch over (left-leaning decrease).

Work the next two rounds without decreases. Repeat the decreases in the 4th, 6th, and 8th rounds. After that, repeat the decreases in every round until only 2 stitches remain on each needle.

Cut the yarn after 15 cm and pull it through the remaining 8 stitches using a tapestry needle. Pull the yarn tight and weave it in on the inside of the sock.

Step 8 – Weave in ends

Weave in all yarn ends carefully on the inside of the sock to achieve a clean finish. Knit the second sock following the exact same instructions to obtain a matching pair.

Knitting women's socks

Knitting socks is not just a creative hobby, but also an enriching experience that expands your technical skills. With this guide, you have created a practical garment while learning various techniques, such as Fair Isle knitting and the boomerang heel.

Hand-knitted socks are warm, comfortable, and offer endless possibilities for personalization. Experiment with different colors, patterns, and yarns to create unique designs that reflect your personal style.

Whether you are knitting for yourself or making a thoughtful gift for friends and family – hand-knitted socks are always a hit. Use this opportunity to further deepen your knitting expertise and try out new techniques. Have fun sock knitting!

Kerstin "Stine & Stich"

Since 2010, I have been sharing my passion for needlework on my blog “Stine & Stitch”. There, I write about the garments and accessories I have sewn, knitted, and crocheted. The name “Stine” is a short form of Kerstin, while “Stitch” originally stood for a sewing stitch and now refers to a knitting stitch as well. I was inspired by the television moments I shared with my daughters while watching “Lilo & Stitch.”

With over 40 years of knitting experience, I learned needlework from my grandmother and never stopped. What once began as a hobby turned into my profession in 2017. Today, I not only write knitting books but also work for renowned yarn manufacturers and producers of needlework accessories.

I live in Schleswig-Holstein, where the proximity to the Scandinavian countries influences my designs. I most enjoy creating small, colorful jacquard patterns that are versatile. It thrills me to see my designs in various color combinations on Instagram and to discover how colors influence the mood and effect of my work.