What I have been asked for the most, when working on the Owl About Yarn stand at festivals, is a plain beginner sock pattern. Knitters loved my fancy socks, but didn’t feel ready to tackle anything other than a vanilla one for a first attempt. So here it is, as requested!

This pattern is in three parts. The first part explains the basics of sock construction, and how to get a good fit. It then introduces some modifications and some things to think about. This information should enable you to knit your first plain pair of socks with confidence, and feel ready to move up a level after that. It’s written in a chatty way, so that the pattern sections themselves can be concise and easy to knit from. The second and third parts are a basic pattern for a fingering-weight, top-down, heel flap and gusset sock using double pointed needles and magic loop respectively.

I would love to see your As Requested socks, so if you share them on social media please use #asrequestedsocks or earburn me on Ravelry. Should you have any questions, please email me at hipinsandneedles@gmail.com

Skills Required
Casting on, knitting and purling in the round, picking up stitches, decreasing, Kitchener stitch

Yarn & Notions
100g (approximately 400m / 437 yds) of sock-weight yarn. Sample uses Owl About Yarn Sparkle Owl Sock in ‘Tara’ (75% superwash British BFL, 25% nylon)
2.25mm (US 1) double pointed needles / 80cm circular needle OR the size required to meet gauge
Stitch marker or scrap of waste yarn

Gauge
8 stitches and 14 rounds to 1 inch / 2.5cm in stocking stitch

Size
56 (64, 72) stitches