It has been on my to-do list for quite some time to delve into the world of sock crocheting. And not a nice, thick bed sock or slipper, but just a sock that can also be worn in everyday life and does not feel like a second shoe. Actually, a sock that comes so close to a knitted sock. After many tests, experiments, and, above all, a lot of calculations, I have found the ultimate manual for crocheting such a sock. There is no standard crocheted sock size – after all, every foot is different, right? By following this pattern step by step and clearly measuring and calculating your steps, you will create the perfect sock for your foot - or perhaps someone else’s!

General information about the pattern:

Yarn requirements: For a basic crochet sock, any sock yarn will do - whether it is hand-dyed or just a standard ball from the factory. As long as your sock yarn has a ratio of about 360-420 meters per 100 grams, you have the right thickness of yarn. Always choose a yarn that contains a small percentage of nylon to make the sock more durable. Most sock yarns already have this.

The amount of yarn required also depends mainly on your shoe size. Crocheting socks always require more yarn than knitting socks, and a good benchmark is that you need one and a half times as much yarn for a crocheted sock as for a knitted sock. However, tests show that for this basic pattern up to a shoe size EU 38/39 ( UK 4.5/5.0 – US 5.5/6.0), 100 grams of sock wool are sufficient. Each size above requires approximately 110-150 grams of sock wool. It also varies a bit by the length of leg and toe pieces you choose. You are always safe with 150 grams of sock wool.

In my examples, I used two types of hand-dyed sock wool. The mixed version is made with a skein of sock wool from the Apmezga brand, the dark blue version is made with the Supersock Merino from the La Bien Aimee brand in the color Amege.

The crochet examples are for my giant feet in shoe size 46 – which used a total of 130 grams of sock wool for a pair.

Crochet hooks needed: For the basic sock pattern, you will need a 2.5mm crochet hook for the cuff. For the rest of the sock use a 4.0mm crochet hook.

Size: A crocheted sock does not follow standard stitch counts for shoe sizes. So, there is no standard table of sizes. The entire pattern guides you step by step to determine the correct stitch numbers and lengths in the sock. Take note that the patterns math only works in measuring with centimeters. You can edit the length of your leg or feet as you please. The patterns also tell you how to do this.

!!!The patterns calculations and math will not work with inches. So, therefore please refer to centimeters even if this is not the way used as math in your part of the world. It is necessary to let the calculations work for a good outcome. Most of the time, measurement tapes hold centimeters and inches and it should be no problem!!!

Some important things to know:

• As already mentioned, crocheting a sock is done by measuring and calculating. Every foot is different and sometimes your instep is slightly thicker than your anckle. Or your toes are slightly longer than someone else’s. With this pattern you can take all of this into account. However, measure precisely, a wrong measurement can already cause your sock to not fit properly because calculations will be different.

• Fortunately, crochet is not tied to a needle, so try on your sock regularly while crocheting to see if everything is still in place.

• The sock is crocheted with single crochet and therefore does not require extensive knowledge of crochet stitches.

• I tried by means of photos and instructions to get the pattern as clear as possible. Read the pattern carefully and study the photos clearly to understand what it means if it is not clear.

• For this pattern it is useful if you have a measuring tape or centimeter that is flexible. It needs to contain a centimeter’s indication as well. In addition, two stitch markers are also useful to have - although you can also solve this with a small strand of scrap yarn.

• In the pattern, I also continuously use an example to calculate or stitch numbers. This is just to help you understand how the pattern works. This example is not indicative of your sock size, so do not use these numbers as this is only suitable for my foot.

• In the leg and foot section, always crochet single crochet in the rounds without joining rounds. This creates a seamless effect. In rows of, for example, the border and the heel, turn after each row and crochet a chain to turn.

The pattern is available as a digital download in Dutch and English (US). After purchase, you can download a PDF file. The pattern is also available as a booklet - only in the Dutch language for now.

Test versions are also made by Tineke Tap and Anja van Ochten.