Socks & Slippers

The leg is the first part that you will knit on the loom in a top down sock and the last in a toe up sock. It is knit using circular knitting and the length and stitch used will depend upon the sock. Suggested stitches include the double stitch, stitch patterns such as ribbing (k1 p1, k2 p2, etc.), and knit or knit tbl (e-wrap) stitches. For extra warmth in slippers, consider using the hat brim method at the top. This can only be used in toe down socks.

Some socks will also have a "cuff" section which is above the leg. For many socks, this section is the same pattern as the leg but for others, it varies, whether it varies in stitch pattern or color.

Size

The heel and turn heel are knit as short rows and are half of the size of the sock. So if the loom has 24 pegs, the heel will start with 12 and the turn heel will end with 12. Both will be worked with flat knitting method. They are knit with a single stitch stitch pattern such as Stockinette stitch and are worked by slipping the first stitch of every row. This makes it easier to pick up the gusset stitches and adds durability and padding to the area.

As the section is knit, a stitch is decreased on each side in each row in the heel and increased on each side in each row of the turn heel. Both are made up of one third the number of rows there are stitches across. So if you start with 12 stitches across, you would knit 4 rows, decreasing a stitch on each side as you go for the heel and you would knit 4 rows, increasing a stitch on each side as you go for the turn heel. If you start with 20, you would knit 6 or 7 rows for each, if you start with 30, you would knit 10 for each, and so on.

Placement

When knitting socks, the placement of the heel determines where the beginning of the round is:

• Heel centered: The round begins in the back of the leg with each section of the heel on either side
  
  
• Heel follows: The round begins on the side of the leg, prior to the beginning of the heel

Avoiding Holes

To avoid holes, the turn edge of the turn heel and sometimes the heel are knit with one of the methods discussed in the Short Rows section. One is not better than another so use the one that feels the most comfortable to you.

The gusset is the first section worked in the round after the turn heel in a top down sock and the section worked before the turn heel in a toe up sock. It will work the stitch pattern for the sock in the instep and will continue to work single stitch stitch patterns on the sole. To keep the gusset from forming holes and to add extra padding and strength, use a similar method of avoiding holes as discussed in Short Rows.

With the foot, you are back to knitting the entire loom using methods for avoiding holes as with Short Rows. The foot is knitted 2 inches shorter than the desired length to leave room for the toe. If you would like to change the size of a sock or slipper, add or subtract from the length of the foot. Some patterns that will give instructions for several different sizes but often all that is needed is either a different gauge loom or a different weight yarn in addition to changing the length of the foot. So the rule of thumb is:

• Larger socks: larger gauge loom, heavier weight yarn and/or longer foot section
  
  
• Smaller socks: smaller gauge loom, lighter weight yarn and/or shorter foot section

Methods

There are several different ways to knit a toe and turn toe. Here are four examples:

• Knit two flat pieces, each starting at half the size of the loom. Like the heel and heel turn, one-third the number of rows as stitches are worked. The toe and the turn toe are decreased one stitch on each side for each row. Each piece should come out to 2 inches in length. The two flat pieces are then sewn together with either a mattress stitch or via grafting. Be careful to hide the knot in a place that will not rub the foot.
  
  
• Knit the toe and turn toe just as the heal and turn heel as one piece. Each section is one-third the number of rows as stitches and the toe decreases one stitch on each side for each row whereas the turn toe increases one stitch on each side for each row. The graft bind-off, kitchener stitch method is then used to bind-off leaving no seam.
  
  
• Knit the sock on an adjustable loom which will allow you to decrease stitches while you knit circularly.
  
  
• Knit a tube and use the provisional bind-off method to gather the end. This will, however, leave bunching at the end of the toe.

Avoiding Holes

To avoid holes, the turn edge of the turn toe and sometimes the toe are knit with one of the methods discussed in the Short Rows section. One is not better than another so use the one that feels the most comfortable to you.

Sample Pattern

This simple pattern is a standard length, top down sock worked on a Knifty Knitter Blue Round Loom for women sizes 6-10 and is available in the Free Sock Patterns section. The pattern calls for a knit stitch in the Single Rib and Stockinette stitches not a knit tbl (e-wrap) stitch. It's a heavy duty sock great for kicking around the house or walking. If you would like to use a knit tbl (e-wrap) stitch, you will need to adjust for the gauge accordingly.

The Pattern

There are two different versions of the pattern: standard and "English." Choose the one that fits your reading patterns skill level. If you are not familiar with reading patterns and would like to use the standard pattern instead of the "English" pattern, see Reading Patterns & Charts.

Please note that the patterns are licensed differently:

• Standard Pattern. The first version assumes that you are an intermediate knitter and is a basic pattern without explanations. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.

  

• "English" Pattern. The second version assumes that you are a beginning knitter who knows how to work circular & flat knitting, basic stitches, long tail cast-on and graft bind off. The pattern includes links to stitches, cast-on, bind-off and other information on Loom Knitting Help and also notes which pegs you work and which direction for flat knitting. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License (by-nc-nd).

  

Requirements

You should be familiar with the following to work this pattern:

• How to work circular knitting and flat knitting
• How to work a knit stitch, a purl stitch and a slip stitch
• How to work short rows and how to avoid holes using the Catch method
• How to cast on (suggested: long tail cast-on)
• How to bind off using a graft bind-off, kitchener method