Sleeping Socks: A quick and practical knitting recipe

Click to watch the video

Sizes: US women’s shoe size 7 (women’s 9, men’s 10)

Materials:

  • 1-2 skeins hard-wearing high twist Aran-weight yarn, similar to Country Classic Yarn for Sox
  • Removable stitch markers for marking sections, beginning of round, etc.
  • Size US 4 or 5 needles in the configuration you prefer for small-diameter knitting

Procedure:

  1. Cast on 40 (40, 44) stitches using a loose method such as German Twisted Cast-on.
  2. Join to work in the round and establish 2×2 ribbing.
  3. Work 11 (12, 14) rows in ribbing.
  4. Switch to stockinette stitch and knit 42 (46, 54) rows for the leg.
  5. Work the short-row heel of your choice. I like a garter-stitch short row heel and you can find a tutorial from Knit Purl Hunter: Part 1, Part 2. Work the first part of the heel until you have 4 (4, 6) stitches remaining in the center, then work the second section.
  6. With the heel complete, continue working in the round for the length of the foot 37 (43, 47) rows.
  7. Begin decreasing for the toe every-other round by 4 stitches. (From the beginning of the round: SSK, knit across bottom of foot, K2tog, SSK, knit across top of foot, K2tog.)
  8. Continue decreases until you have 6 (6, 12) stitches remaining at center of toe.
  9. Measure out 2-3 feet of yarn for grafting and cut working yarn. Use Kitchener stitch to graft the live stitches closed.
  10. Weave in ends and enjoy or gift the socks.

Published by Sarah Scully

Sarah is a librarian as well as an avid knitter and occasional knitwear designer. She also enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, reading, painting, and writing with fountain pens.