Algorithm for knitting socks on 5 knitting needles

At the age of 35, I decided to learn how to knit, and my first knitting project was socks. So simple and warm – everyone needs socks! In autumn and winter, I really like to keep my legs warm, and even though it’s spring now, it’s time to start, maybe by autumn I’ll learn how to knit excellent things. As a scientist, I decided to take the issue of knitting seriously – I studied the materials, videos and made a big note so as not to spoil the yarn.

According to my notes, I knitted a great sock the first time – I didn’t know how to knit at all! The description is super detailed, it will be clear even to an absolute beginner. Without any complex symbols and diagrams, in simple words with pictures. I even recorded a video on the “Sew Cat” channel on YouTube – it’s better to see all the incomprehensible moments in the video.

So, are you ready to knit your first sock? The explanation goes on the example of 37-39 foot size. But you can recalculate to your size symmetrically by adding or subtracting the number of loops.

What are socks knitted from?

The classic is wool yarn. Any one in the house will do. Choose thicker – it is easier and faster to knit from it. For each yarn there are recommendations for the thickness of the knitting needles, this information is usually indicated on the packaging. If you don’t know which knitting needles to take under your yarn, just fold the thread in half – this will be the thickness of the knitting needles. You can take a little thicker.

To knit two socks on five needles you will need:

• Hosiery knitting needles 5 pieces of suitable diameter – https://ya.cc/WKMp2 (my favorite ADDI spokes – https://ya.cc/WKNmC);
• Yarn: for short socks – 100 g of medium thickness; for taller socks, take 200 g and it is better to have 1 skein in stock just in case.

To knit socks, you need to learn two types of loops:

• facial (front surface) – are indicated on the diagrams “|”;
• purl – indicated on the diagrams “_”.

If you knit only facial – it turns out the front surface. If you alternate facial and purl, you get an elastic band.

Next, you need to mentally divide the sock into segments:

1. Elastic;
2. Top;
3. Heel;
4. Bottom;
5. toe.

Each part of the sock is knitted in its own style: the elastic is made by alternating loops; top and bottom of the sock – front stitch; we will make a professional “boomerang” heel – as in purchased socks; and the toe is made by decreasing loops.

Now the actual sock knitting algorithm:

1. We collect 65 loops on two knitting needles in the classic way of knitting (I have a yarn of medium thickness – mohair; the size of the sock will be 37-39). Of these loops, 64 are the actual loops for knitting and 1 additional loop through which we will connect knitting in a circle.
2. We take out one knitting needle and distribute the loops on 4 knitting needles, 16 loops each, put one additional loop in the last knitting needle in the place where the knitting connection goes.
   
3. We knit an elastic band 2×2 by alternating two facial and two wrong loops. The height of the elastic is done to taste – my version is 6 cm.
4. The top of the sock is knitted in stockinette stitch to the desired height.;
5. The heel of the sock is knitted in short rows of front and back loops with a turn of the fabric..
6. We knit the bottom of the sock in a circle with the front surface – the original 16 loops – to the end of the little finger on the leg;
7. Knit toe of sock.

This is if in general terms. And now we will consider each stage in detail in order to understand step by step what and how to do.

Boomerang heel

1. Knit two knitting needles by 1, that is, we multiply 16 loops by 2 = we get 32 loops on 1 knitting needle;
2. We mentally divide this new knitting needle into 3 segments, that is, 32/3 and get 10.6, since we got a number with a remainder, then we will distribute the numbers like this – on the left and right of the knitting needle 10 loops each (an integer from division) and in the center all the rest loops – 12 pieces.
   
3. We unfold the canvas on the wrong side.
4. Remove the first loop as a purl, throw the thread back over the top away from you => you get a double loop.
5. We knit purl loops to the end of the row.
6. Canvas reversal.
7. Slip the first loop as a front loop, throw the thread over the top forward on yourself => you get a double loop.
8. Knit to a double loop, leave a double loop on the needle and unfold the fabric.
9. We knit in turning rows until there are 10 double loops on each knitting needle..
10. When the required number of rows is on each knitting needle – knit the middle single loops on the right knitting needle to double.
    
11. We begin to knit double loops: for two loop threads, all 10 loops.
12. We connect the heel with the rest of the sock in a circle with the facial ones – tighten the joints of the knitting needles.
13. Knit double heel loops (the remaining 10 pieces on the needle with the heel) and then knit in a circle of the entire toe.
14. Knit on a knitting needle with a heel 10 (former double) + 12 facial loops.
15. There are 10 (former double) loops left on the knitting needle with a heel -> knit 1 knit and turn the fabric.
16. Remove the next loop as a purl -> make it double by throwing the thread.
17. We knit further 12 loops (middle part of the heel) purl;
18. We knit the next 1 loop on the wrong side (which will become double);
19. Canvas unfolding.
20. We remove 1 loop as a facial one and make a double one.
21. Knit to double.
22. Knit 2 double stitches immediately.
23. Canvas unfolding.
24. They removed the first one as a wrong side and made a double one out of it.
25. We knit purl to double.
26. We knit the purl double for two threads of the back wall of the loop (a new type of purl).
27. Knit the next 1 loop with the usual wrong side.
28. Canvas unfolding.
29. Remove the loop -\u003e make it double -\u003e we knit the front one to the double.
30. We knit a double front -> the next 1 loop is front.
31. Canvas unfolding.
32. We continue in the same spirit until the last loop of the heel and go to the front of the toe: knit in a circle of the entire toe -> at the end of the circle, knit the last double loop from the heel for two threads of the front.
33. We return to 4 knitting needles, for this we knit 16 loops on a new knitting needle and leave them there.

The boomerang heel is ready! At this point, on 4 knitting needles, the initial number of loops should be obtained – 16 per knitting needle.

Next, we continue to knit with front stitch to the end of the little toe on the leg – similarly as we knitted the top of the sock.

How to knit a sock toe

We will make a beveled toe by decreasing the loops along the edges with a different slope. How to tilt left and right is shown in detail in the video – it is better to see once than to describe a hundred times. You can probably calculate the exact number of loops per toe decrease, but I tried on to fit the shape to my toes.

I tighten the end of knitting with a hook and bring the thread to the inside of the sock to hide the last loop. After finishing knitting, we check the threads inside the sock – if you need to fill something, then use a crochet hook.