Just Yer Basic Sport Sock Pattern Notes: This pattern is written with
instructions for a medium sock and a large
Alyson Johnson sock. If you are knitting for shapelier
calves/ankles, then the larger size will be
Yarn: more comfortable. Large size instructions
Sport Weight Yarn are indicated in parentheses. Please note,
(one skein - at least 225 yards) the socks shown are knit with shaping –
again, if you have shapely legs or thicker
calves with slender ankles, you may want to
Needles & Notions: add a bit of shaping by casting on more
3.25 mm (US Size 3) DPNs stitches and decreasing for shape, but I
(or size to achieve gauge) won’t cover that in the pattern.
Tapestry (darning) needle
Abbreviations:
Gauge: k knit
25 stitches/30 rows = 4” / 10 cm p purl
k2tog knit 2 together
Want to knit a FAST sock? Sometimes you ssk slip knitwise, slip knitwise,
just want something mindless and quick – a knit 2 slipped stitches
sportweight pair of socks can knit up in just a together through back loop
couple of days, and with a good yarn, you can sl Slip stitch purlwise
make a pair of comfy socks, fast! ** Any instructions between
asterisks are to be repeated
until end of row/round (or the
number of times specified)
Just Yer Basic Sport Sock, copyright 2007
Pattern by Alyson Johnson Page 1 of 3
Cuff/Leg:
Cast on 48 (56) stitches and divide evenly among four double point needles. (48 stitches = 12
stitches on each needle. 52 stitches = 14 stitches on each needle.) Join for working in the round.
You may wish to place a marker to note the beginning of your round – if you used a cast-on
method that leaves a tail, that can mark the beginning of your round. Knit as follows:
Ribbed Cuff:
*K2, P2* (Repeat to end of round)
Work ribbed cuff for 1.5 inches (about 15 rounds). Switch to stockinette (knit every stitch all the
way around.) Knit the length you desire. (A crew-length sock would measure about 7 inches, so
you would continue knitting in stockinette for 5.5” after your 1.5” ribbed cuff.)
Heel Flap:
The heel flap is worked over the first 24 (28) stitches of your round. The other 24 (28) stitches
are the instep stitches, which will be held in place on the needles while you knit the heel flap.
When you reach the end of your last round for the leg, continue as follows:
Set-up:
Row 1: Knit across 12 (14) stitches. Turn your work – you’ll knit the next row on the wrong
side (purl bumps) of the sock.
Row 2: Slip first stitch purlwise, purl across remaining 23 (27) stitches. (You’ll be working back
across the first and fourth needles of your round.) Turn your work – you’ll be knitting on the
right side again on the next row.
Row 3: Slip first stitch purlwise, knit across remaining 23 (27) stitches. Turn.
Row 4: Slip first stitch purlwise, purl across remaining 23 (27) stitches. Turn
Continue repeating rows 3 and 4 ten (12) more times. You should have 24 (28) rows in your
heel flap TOTAL (including your setup rows). Note: You will always slip the first stitch of the
row purlwise – this will make a nice neat little chain of stitches along the side of the heel flap for
you to pick up for the gusset.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: sl1, k13 (15), k2tog, k1, turn
Row 2: sl1, p5 (5), p2tog, p1, turn
You’ll notice that when you work across these stitches, there will be a gap between where you
decreased and the next stitch. You’ll decrease over that gap – so when you get to the stitch
before the gap, k2tog or p2tog on that stitch and the one after the gap, then
Row 3: sl1, knit to one stitch before gap, k2tog over gap, k1, turn
Row 4: sl1, purl to one stitch before gap, p2tog over gap, p1, turn
Continue in this manner, decreasing over the gap, until all stitches have been worked. You will
have 14 (16) stitches remaining.
Just Yer Basic Sport Sock, copyright 2007
Pattern by Alyson Johnson Page 2 of 3
Instep/Gusset:
Note: This part can get a little fiddly – you may find it will help if you have a few extra DPNs to
play with, otherwise you’ll have to shift some stitches around just for the meantime.
Knit across to end of heel stitches. There are 12 (14) stitches in the gusset to pick up - pick up
and knit 12 (14) stitches (this is Needle 1). Knit plain across the 24 (28) instep stitches (Needles
2 and 3). Pick up and knit 12 (14) stitches for the gusset (Needle 4). Knit 7 (8) stitches from the
heel stitches onto Needle 4. You should have 19 (22) stitches for each gusset needle and 24 (28)
stitches for the instep. Continue knitting the gusset as follows:
Round 1:
Needle 1: Knit the remaining nine heel stitches onto Needle 1 and continue knitting across the
picked up gusset stitches to the last three stitches; k2tog, k1.
Needles 2 & 3: Knit plain
Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end of round
Round 2:
All Needles: Knit plain
Round 3:
Needle 1: Knit to the last three stitches; k2tog, k1.
Needles 2 & 3: Knit plain
Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end of round
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 (decreasing every other round) until there are 12 (14) stitches on each
needle and you are back to 48 (56) total stitches.
Foot:
Continue knitting plain on every round in plain stockinette. Knit until foot measures about 2.5”
shorter than your intended finished length. (If you’re knitting for yourself or for someone else
and you can measure the person’s foot, that’s your best bet for a perfect fit. Alternately, you can
refer to a shoe size conversion chart to determine the length of a foot based on shoe size.)
Toe:
You’ll continue knitting plain, but adding decreases as you did in the gusset section. Knit as
follows:
Round 1:
Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end
Needle 3: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1
Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end
Round 2:
All Needles: Knit plain
Knit these two rounds 9 (11) times total. There will be three stitches on each of the four needles.
Knit the three stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 4 and slip the three stitches from Needle 2
onto Needle 3. (You’ll now have six stitches on each of two needles.) Graft the remaining
stitches using Kitchener stitch, weave in ends. If you’re feeling up to it, knit another one!
Just Yer Basic Sport Sock, copyright 2007
Pattern by Alyson Johnson Page 3 of 3
