Whit's Knits: Men's Socks for Giving Away

These simple socks will warm the feet and heart of any recipient, but most especially of one whose gifts are few. Please consider making a pair for someone in your community who doesn't have much. You'll both be glad you did!

Materials

• 3 skeins of Koigu Kersti Merino Crepe in the Main Color (I used #2229)
  
• 1 skein of Koigu Kersti Merino Crepe in the Contrast Color (I used #1303)
• A set of four US #5 double pointed needles

The Pattern

Gauge

6 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Size

To fit average man's feet

8 1/2 inches in circumference and a variable length

The Cuff and Leg

With the Main Color (MC), cast on 56 stitches to three double pointed needles. (For help using double pointed needles please check out our Double Pointed Needles Tutorial).

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until ribbing measures 1 1/2 inches.

Knit every round until piece measures 2 1/2 inches from the cast on edge.

With the Contrast Color (CC), knit 3 rounds.

Carrying the yarn up the back of the work, change to the MC and knit 2 rounds.

Change to the CC and knit 5 rounds.

Change to the MC and knit 2 rounds.

Change to the CC and knit 3 rounds. Cut the CC yarn.

With the MC, knit until the piece measures 8 1/2 inches from the cast on edge.

The Heel Flap

Knit 14 stitches and turn the work so the purl side of the fabric is facing you.

Purl 28 stitches. (These 28 stitches are the beginning of the heel flap. For this section, you will be working back and forth on just these 28 stitches.)

Arrange the stitches so that the 28 heel flap stitches are on one needle. Put the remaining 28 stitches on hold on another needle.

Row 1 (right side): *Slip 1 purlwise, k1, repeat from * to end of 28 stitches.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of 28 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 eight more times.

Repeat Row 1 one more time.

With the CC and while carrying the MC yarn up the side of the heel flap, repeat Rows 2 and 1 three times.

Repeat Row 2 one more time.

Turning the Heel

Still using the CC yarn and working just the heel flap stitches:

Row 1 (right side): K16, ssk, k1, turn the work so the wrong side is facing you and there are 18 stitches on the left needle and 9 stitches on the right needle.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1, turn the work. (17 stitches on the left needle and 9 stitches on the right needle)

Row 3: Slip 1 purlwise, knit to 1 stitch before the gap, ssk (with the stitch before the gap and the stitch after the gap), k1, turn.

Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to 1 stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all the heel stitches have been worked and 16 stitches remain on the needle. (For the last repeat, Row 3 will end with an ssk and Row 4 will end with p2tog.)

The Gusset

Knit across the 16 heel stitches. Cut the CC yarn.

With the MC (which you carried up the side of the heel) and the same needle (now called "needle #1"), pick up 15 stitches along the heel flap. (31 stitches)

With a new needle (needle #2), knit across the 28 stitches that have been on hold.

With another new needle (needle #3), pick up 15 stitches along the other side of the heel flap.

And, still with needle #3, knit 8 stitches from needle #1.

Now there are 23 stitches on needle #1, 28 stitches on needle #2, and 23 stitches on needle #3. Needle #1 is the beginning of the round (at the middle of the heel).

Round 1: Needle #1 - knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #2 - knit all the stitches. Needle #3 - k1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 56 total stitches remain.

The Foot

Knit evenly until the piece measures 2 inches less than the desired final length, measuring from the back edge of the heel.

Here's a guideline for men's shoe lengths (remember to knit the sock 2 inches shorter than the shoe length!):

   US size 9 shoe (European 42) = 10 1/2 inches

   US size 10 shoe (43) = 10 3/4 inches

   US size 11 shoe (44) = 11inches

   US size 12 shoe (45) = 11 1/2 inches

   US size 13 shoe (46) = 11 3/4 inches

I'm making socks to fit a size 10 shoe, so I knit the foot until it measures 8 3/4 inches.

The Toe

Cut the MC yarn and join the CC yarn.

Round 1: Needle #1 - knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #2 - K1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #3 - k1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 28 total stitches remain.

Then, repeat just Round 1 until 8 total stitches remain.

With Needle #3, knit the 2 stitches from Needle #1 so that there are 4 stitches on each of two needles.

Cut the yarn and graft the toe together using the Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in all the loose ends and block (they get really soft!).