One plain, no purl! These socks make a virtue out of avoiding the knit stitch’s less loved twin, leveraging garter stitch for elasticity and textural variation while providing a deeply relaxing project. Juicy colours with a zingy accent ensure that plain isn’t boring.

The socks are worked cuff down, starting with a long strip of Garter Stitch grafted closed to create a ring. Stitches are then picked up and worked down in Stockinette Stitch for the leg and foot. The Garter Stitch short-row heel creates a cushy fabric and good fit. Finally, the wedge toe cinches it all shut. Sized from baby to large adult.

This knitting pattern includes detailed written directions, modification notes, and front, side, and back images.

Sizes + Finished Measurements
Sizes: Baby (Child, Adult XS, Adult S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL).
Finished foot circumference: 3 ¾ (4 ¾, 5 ¾, 6 ½, 7 ½)(8 ½, 9 ½, 10 ¼, 11 ¼)“ / 9.5 (12, 14.5, 16.5, 19)(21.5, 24, 26, 28.5) cm.
Foot length: 4 ¼ (5 ¼, 6 ½, 7, 8 ¼)(9 ½, 10 ½, 11 ½, 12 ¾)” / 11 (13.5, 16.5, 18, 21)(24, 26.5, 29, 32.5) cm.
Meant to be worn with approx 10% negative ease—choose a finished size approx 0.5” (smallest sizes) to 1.25” (largest size) smaller than foot.

Yarn
Fingering weight / sock yarn in four colourways;
MC 45 (85, 135, 165, 205)(270, 320, 375, 440) yd / 45 (75, 125, 150, 185)(250, 295, 345, 400) m;
C1 15 (30, 40, 45, 55)(65, 70, 75, 85) yd / 15 (25, 35, 40, 50)(60, 65, 70, 75) m;
C2 10 (15, 15, 20, 30)(35, 40, 50, 60) yd / 10 (10, 15, 20, 25)(30, 40, 45, 55) m;
C3 5 (10, 15, 15, 20)(30, 35, 40, 45) yd / 5 (10, 15, 15, 20)(25, 30, 35, 45) m.

Shown in Knit Picks Hawthorne (affiliate)(fingering weight, 80% Superwash Fine Highland Wool, 20% Polyamide; 357 yards/100g): MC Camellia Kettle 28619, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 2) hank(s); C1 Turkish Delight Kettle 26691, C2 Cattail Kettle 28620, C3 Nymph Kettle 28624, 1 hank each.

Substitution Notes
Choose a fingering weight sock yarn. Look for a tight twist, multiple plies for a sock that will last. A wool blend with either nylon, mohair or silk make for a sturdy yarn. You could go stash diving to find a contrasting yarn for the heels, toes and cuffs.

Needles + Notions
2.25mm (US 1) DPNs or two circular needles for two circulars technique or 32”/80cm or longer circular needles for Magic Loop technique, or size to obtain gauge;
2mm (US 0) two DPNs, straight or circular needles, or one size smaller than size used to obtain gauge;
Yarn Needle;
Stitch marker.

Gauge
34 sts and 50 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch in the round, blocked.

Techniques
Knitting small circumferences in the round, decreases, provisional cast on, grafting garter stitch, basic sock construction, cuff down, short row heel, wedge toe.

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