Easy Sock Knitting Pattern

Materials: 2x 2.5mm circular needles
1x 50g skein solid sock yarn
1x 50g skein variegated sock yarn (1-3" color repeats)
tapestry needle or small crochet hook

This pattern was used in Sock Madness 1 several years ago. It is an easy pattern, relying on variegated yarn, rather than complicated stitches, to create interest. Alternating the solid yarn helps prevent pooling or flashing-- color blobs, in other words. If you haven't knit socks before, a short row heel can seem less intimidating than a gusset, too.

In order to prevent a jog where you change colors, simply pick up the stitch below at the point of the color change, and place it over the first stitch of the new color. Because the color changes are only a few rows apart, I carried the yarn up the inside.

With solid color (S) figure eight cast on 8 stitches. Knit around one time.
Rounds 1-3- *kfb, knit across. Kfb, k1* both needles
Round 4 and even rounds- knit
Rounds 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17- *kfb, knit across. Kfb, k1* both needles (56 stitches)
Note- This is a stripe pattern, so simply adjust stitch count as necessary to fit your size and gauge. This will fit a US Women's size 7.5-8.

Begin stripe pattern:
Rounds 1-4- knit variegated yarn (V)
Round 5- knit solid yarn (S)
Round 6- Knit V
Rounds 7-10- Knit S

Repeat pattern 6 times or to fit.

Working only on the heel needle:
Row 1 (WS)- purl across, do not work the last stitch, slip it to right needle, move yarn to back of work, slip it back to left needle (yarn should be wrapped around the stitch), turn.
R2 (RS)- knit across, do not work the last stitch, slip it to right needle, move yarn to back of work, slip it back to left needle (yarn should be wrapped around the stitch), turn.
R3- purl across, do not work the last previously worked stitch, slip it to right needle, move yarn to back of work, slip it back to left needle (yarn should be wrapped around the stitch), turn. There should now be two wrapped stitches at this end of work.
R4- knit across, do not work the last previously worked stitch, slip it to right needle, move yarn to front of work, slip it back to left needle (yarn should be wrapped around the stitch), turn. There should now be two wrapped stitches at this end of work.

Continue in this manner until there are 9 wrapped stitches at each end. Continue several more times if you prefer a deeper heel.

Begin heel turn.
Row 1 (WS)- Purl across unwrapped stitches (10), at the first wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the stitch. Wrap the adjacent stitch once more and turn.
Row 2 (RS)- Knit across unwrapped stitches (11), at the first wrapped stitch, pick it up and knit it together with the stitch. Wrap the adjacent stitch once more and turn.
Continue in this manner until all wrapped stitches have been picked up and worked.

Leg-
Working in the round once again, work stripe pattern in reverse.
Rounds 1-4- knit solid yarn (S)
Round 5- knit variegated yarn (V)
Round 6- Knit S
Rounds 7-10- Knit V
Repeat 4 times or until leg is the desired height. Four repeats will be a shortish sock, as seen in the photo.

Cuff-
R1-10- k2, p2 rib
Bind off loosely. I bind off two stitches then pick up the bar between the second and third stitch (i.e. the adjacent bar) and bind it off around to create a stretchy top.