Instructions for Basic Sock Chart (double-point needles)

These instructions go with the attached 2 PAGE“Basic Sock Chart.”(WORD file)  Your gauge will vary, depending on the type of yarn you use. For suggested gauges, see Column U. Refer to Column V for suggested needle sizes.

You should be able to make any size sock with any size yarn.

You may copy these instructions and fill in the blanks with the size you are making to help follow the instructions. However, you may not reproduce these documents in any form except for your own personal use. You may not use the sock chart or instruction for a money-making endeavor.

CUFF: Choose the total number of stitches that you will use for your sock from Column A. You will be following that line down for numbers. Cast on the number of stitches shown ______ (A), placing the stitches as shown in Column B. Work your cuff in any ribbing, or pattern, for any desired length. Be creative! Do stripes, cables, a color pattern, or an openwork pattern. Do several inches of ribbing for a ‘fold-down’ cuff.

HEEL: When the cuff is the desired length to the ankle, begin heel. Arrange stitches on the needles as in Column D, so that the center back ______(C) stitches are ready on one needle. Work ______ (C) heel stitches for _______ (E) rows. End with a completed right side row.
Turn heel:
Row 1: P _______ (F), P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, K _______ (G), K2tog, K1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, P across to one stitch before the ‘gap’ (where you turned on the last row), P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, K across to one st before the ‘gap,’ K2tog, K1, turn.
Continue in the same manner repeating rows 3 & 4 until _______ (H) stitches remain, ending with a completed knit row.

GUSSET: You will now be going around the entire sock. Go down the left side of the heel flap just worked. Pick up and knit _______ (I) stitches with one needle. With another needle, knit across the two needles holding the instep (top of the sock) stitches (this should be the same number as Column C: _______). With the next needle, pick up and knit_______(I) stitches along the other side of the heel flap. Now knit across half of the heel stitches with the same needle, and slip the other half of the heel stitches onto the first needle. Arrange the stitches as in Column L, with the round beginning at the center back of the heel.

Begin gusset decreases as follows:
Starting at center back of heel, work across first needle to last 3 sts. K2tog, K1.   On needle 2, work across evenly. On needle 3, K1, Sl1, K1, psso, then work across to the end of the needle. You should be back at the center back of the heel.
Next round: work even.
Continue to decrease in this manner, every other round on needles 1 and 3 until _______ (M) decreases have been worked on each side. _______ (N) stitches remaining total. See Column O.

 FOOT: Now that you have _______ (P) stitches, continue in knit (or desired stitch) until _______ (Q) rows have been worked. This number (Q) is only a suggested amount. The sock needs to be about 1.5 inches less than the desired finished length (for an adult sock) before starting the toe shaping.

 TOE: Starting at the center back of the heel, work across the first needle to the last three stitches and K2tog, K1. On the next needle (instep) K1, Sl1, K1, psso, then knit across to the last three stitches and K2tog, K1. On the last needle, K1, Sl1, K1, psso, knit across. Next round, knit around evenly. Continue decreasing in this manner, decreasing 2 stitches at each side of the sock, every other row, for _______ (T) rows, until _______ (R) stitches remain. See Column S.

Knit across the first needle with the third needle so that all the heel stitches are on one needle and all the instep stitches are on another. The yarn should be at the side of the sock. Cut the yarn, leaving a piece long enough to weave the remaining stitches together. You may bind them off and seam the toe, but it is worth the work to learn to weave them and have a seamless toe. Tuck in ends.

Abbreviations used:
K = knit
P = purl
tog = together
Sl = slip (move the next stitch to the next needle without working it)
st(s) = stitch(es)
psso = pass the slipped stitch over (over the stitch just knitted)
Letters in Boldface refer to the column in the Basic Sock Chart.