Basic Warm Socks

I have just finished these in time for summer! Going to have to wait until next winter to use them!

This pattern can be used to make socks of any size using whichever wool and needle combination you like. 
You start at the toe and increase until you have the desired width. Then you keep working in rounds until it's the right length. Add the heel and again keep going until it's as high as you like. You only need to count stitches and rounds for the second sock (just to make sure they are identical!). The only difference between the right and left sock is half a round on the leg.

Needles:

I like to use 2 long needles with wire. But you can also use sets of double pointed needles (either 4 or 5). The choice is yours.

Wools:

I wanted mine to be very warm and to be used as slippers. So I decide to use 2 different wools together to make it extra thick. To give it some colour (and not have to keep changing wool) I used one multicoloured wool (various reds and white) and a plain thicker wool (just dark red).

The Pattern:

The toe

figure-of-eight Cast on

Cast on a total of 6 stitches (divided evenly on your needles). As I use 2 needles I like to figure-of-eight the wool over the needles and make sure the tail goes through each stitch. If you do this the tail and the working wool should come out on the same stitch. This way once you have done a few rounds you just need to pull the tail to close the hole. 

If you don't like this cast on, or you are using double pointed needles use whichever cast on you prefer. Just remember the leave a tail so you can sew up the hole afterwards.

If needed place 2 markers. The 1st between the last and first stitch. The 2nd between the third and fourth stitches. These mark the top and bottom of the sock. I don't use them as needle 1 is the top and needle 2 is the bottom.

Rnd 1: *Knit 1. increase by 1. knit 1. increase by 1. knit 1. MARKER. repeat from *.

Rnd 2: *Knit 1. increase by 1. knit 3. increase by 1. knit 1. MARKER. Repeat from*.

Rnd 3: On this round you need to decide which is top and which is bottom. On the top you only knit. But on the bottom you do 1 round knit, 1 round purl.

    TOP: Knit 1. increase by 1. knit until 1 before end. increase by 1. knit 1. MARKER

    BOTTOM: Knit/purl 1. increase by 1. knit/purl until 1 before end. increase by 1. knit 1. MARKER

Keep repeating round 3 until the socks has the correct width.

The foot

Just keep going around. Plain knit on top and alternating between knit and purl on the bottom. When the sock touches the ankle crease its time the start the heel. Make sure your last bottom round is a purl round and end after the next top round. (if you were to carry on your next stitch should be a knit on the bottom).

The heel

There are lots of differnts ways of doing heels. I like the "pyramid" way. But any heel type will work. So If you don't like this type of heel use whichever you prefer. 

Decrease (Dropping Stitches)

Row 1. knit all the bottom. Wrap the wool around the base of the next stitch. (the 1st top stitch). 

We now forget about the top of the foot and only work on the bottom in rows.

Row 2. Turn. knit until 1 before end. Wrap wool around base of next stitch. Turn.

 The last stitch (which has been wrapped around) is in NOT knitted, it's "dropped" It is sometimes easier to place these stitches on extra needles, I use the ends of my TOP needle. These stitches are not used until we start increasing, when we pick them back up.

Row 3. Knit until 1 before end (should be 1 less stitch than previous round). Wrap around last stitch. Turn

Keep going until you only knit 3 stitches.

Increase (Picking up Stitches)

Row 1. Knit 3. Now you pick up a "dropped" stitch. So as not the get holes in the heel you need to pick up the wool that is wrapped around the base of the stitch and place it on the needle with the stitch. Now knit the stitch and what you have picked up together.  

Before turning wrap around the base of the next drop stitch, but DON'T pick it up. Only pick up 1 stitch per row.

Row 2. Knit all stitches (should be 1 more than previous row). Pick up 1 "dropped" stitch (remember to pick up and knit both wraps). Wrap before turning.

Keep going until you have picked up ALL "dropped" stitches.

Once you have picked up the the last "dropped" you should be next to the top stitch with the wrap (from Decrease Row 1).

Keep knitting around the Top of the foot (picking up the wrap like before).

Stop when you get back to the heel.

The Leg

The leg is worked the same as the bottom. 1 round knit and 1 round purl. It is no longer important to know the top from the bottom. But you do need to know where to change from knit to purl. So now you only 1 marker (or just keep an eye on the stitches).


As the leg is knitted in rounds of either knit or purl you will end up with a seem. To make the socks mirror images make one A and one B. That way you both seems will be facing each other. 

Sock A

Seems facing each other

Purl over the back of the heel and continue with purl over the front. Change to Knit and do 1 round. Keep going, 1 round knit and 1 round purl, until the sock is as high as you would like.

Sock B

Purl over back of the heel. Knit 1 round (front & back). Purl 1 round. Keep going alternating rounds with knit and purl.


I made my legs high so that I could fold them down.

Cast off loosely.
Weave in the ends and if needed sew up the hole at the toe.