Everyday socks (Petite Knit)

The Everyday Socks are a simple, classic pair of socks designed for regular wear.

They’re worked from the cuff down to the toe in stocking stitch and can be knitted in one solid colour, simple stripes, or as a very effective way to use up smaller amounts of leftover sock yarn.

The heel is shaped using short rows, giving you a neat finish without needing to pick up stitches along a heel flap.

Yarn notes

This pattern is designed for a standard 4 ply sock yarn.

Look for a yarn with approximately:

• 200–220 metres per 50 g

• Good elasticity

• A smooth finish for comfortable socks

• Some added nylon or another strengthening fibre for durability

A traditional wool and nylon sock yarn is the best everyday option, particularly for areas that receive plenty of wear, such as the heels and toes.

You can use a pure wool 4 ply, but it may wear through more quickly unless it is a particularly strong sock yarn.

The most important thing is achieving the pattern gauge of 30 stitches over 10 cm on 2.5 mm needles.

Sizing

European shoe sizes

35/36 (37/38) 39/40 (41/42) 43/44

US women’s shoe sizes

5–6 (6½–7½) 8–9 (9½–10½) 11–12

Yarn requirements

The amounts below are for one complete pair of socks.

Using a 4 ply sock yarn with approximately 210 metres per 50 g:

• EU 35/36: approximately 195 m

• EU 37/38: approximately 205 m

• EU 39/40: approximately 210 m

• EU 41/42: approximately 230 m

• EU 43/44: approximately 240 m

One 50 g ball may be enough for the smaller sizes, but we recommend checking the metreage carefully.

For the larger sizes, or if you are knitting a longer leg, you may need more than one 50 g ball.

If you’re adding stripes, the total combined metreage should still meet the amount listed for your size.

Gauge

30 stitches × 40 rows = 10 × 10 cm in stocking stitch on 2.5 mm needles.

Sock fabric should be firm and dense rather than loose. A tighter fabric will generally fit better and last longer.

Needles and notions

• 2.5 mm double-pointed needles, or

• A 2.5 mm circular needle with a 60 or 80 cm cable for Magic Loop

• Stitch markers

• Tapestry needle

We also recommend the ChiaoGoo 23 cm circular needles available at The Wool Shop. These short circular needles can make knitting the leg and foot of a sock faster and more comfortable if you enjoy working with a very small circumference.

You may still need double-pointed needles or Magic Loop for the toe shaping, depending on your preferred method.

Difficulty

★★★☆☆

Intermediate

A quick tip before you start

Choose a proper sock yarn rather than simply picking any 4 ply yarn.

The added strength in a sock-specific yarn makes a real difference once the socks are being worn inside shoes and washed regularly.

If you are using several colours, weigh your yarn before and after each section. It’s a simple way to keep track of how much each stripe uses, especially if you’d like both socks to match.