Ever since I was a child we used to make at least some of our holiday gifts. One year it was aprons stamped with designs carved from potatoes. Drawings and simple beaded jewelry figured heavily over the years, as well as “coupons” – like “one free hug,” “mow the lawn,” “wash dishes,” etc.
These days, both my mother and I knit, so it’s often an exchange of hand-made accessories. But one can only mange so many scarves, hats, and gloves in one’s wardrobe. The item I most like to make (and give) is socks, and early this year I finally found the perfect yarn + recipe to make comfortable, long-lasting sleeping socks.
If you are an experienced sock knitter, then my notes should contain enough information to knit a pair for someone on your gift list. And if there’s enough interest I might make a detailed pattern available for sale in the future.
Sleeping Socks
Materials:
Yarn for Sox by Country Classic – available at Coveted Yarn as of this writing.
1 ball for women’s size 7-9 foot. 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 balls for larger (men’s) sizes.
Needles:
US 5 or 6 – gauge should be firm but not constricting.
Method:
Cast on an even number of stitches and knit ribbing for the cuff. I used 40 for the women’s size and 44 for men’s, but adjust to fit your recipient. Switch to plain stockinette and continue down the leg until you are 1 inch from the bottom of the heel.
Knit a garter stitch short-row heel on half the stitches. In my opinion, Knit Purl Hunter has the best video tutorial on this method. Check out Garter stitch short-row heel, Part 1 and Garter stitch short-row heel, Part 2.
Continue with the foot in stockinette until you are 1 or 1 1/2 inches from the end of the toe. Begin a standard decrease toe (decrease 4 sts every-other row) until you have reduced the number of stitches by half. Graft closed with Kitchener Stitch. Weave in ends. Giftwrap and present to recipient – I don’t even bother blocking these!
