How to Knit Socks Toe Up

Toe up socks have a distinct advantage over the more common top down knit socks. For one, you can adjust the length of the cuff of the sock so that you maximize the yarn that you have to use. You can also adjust the size of the sock as you knit so you have a perfect fit.

Things You'll Need

• Sock Yarn
• Double pointed needles, set of 5
• Waste yarn

Instructions

Beginning the Sock

1. Measure your foot for the sock. You want to measure the largest area of the foot for the best fit. This measurement determines the circumference of the sock.

2. Knit up a gauge swatch. You want to do this using your yarn and the needles that the yarn calls for. For most sock yarns, size US one are most commonly used.

3. Measure your gauge swatch. This means determining how many stitches per inch there are and how many rows per inch there are. This will determine how many stitches you need for the sock to fit around your foot. So if your foot is 9 inches around and you have 6 stitches per inch, you will need to have 54 stitches to fit around your foot.

4. Cast on using an invisible cast on. You will cast on half the number of stitches you need for the circumference of your foot for the toe of your sock. In the last example, 54 stitches were needed for the whole circumference of the foot so 27 will be cast on for the toe of the sock. The other half of stitches will be held with the waste yarn used with the invisible cast on.

5. Begin the heel. The heel is worked exactly like the toe of the sock. It is worked over half of the number of circumference stitches, increased with yarn overs and then decreased down again. Follow steps

Shaping the Toe

1. Shape the first part of the toe of the sock by increasing. This will be done by working one less stitch each row and placing a yarn over at the beginning of each new row. So when you look at the end of the of each side of the knitting you'll have a normal stitch, a yarn over, another normal stitch, and so on. Repeat this until you have only 20 percent of the circumference stitches between the yarn overs.

2. Decrease to shape the second part of the toe. You'll work to the first yarn over you come to and knit it together with the stitch next to it. Continue yarning over at the beginning of each row. This will eventually require you to knit, or purl, 3 stitches together at one time. End with a knit row and one yarn over on each side of the knitting.

3. Remove the stitches from the waste yarn and place them on two needles.

4. Knit across the first part of the knitting and knit together the yarn over and the next stitch. Knit across the new stitches and end with by knitting the yarn over together with the next stitch again. You'll now be working in the round on four needles. You should have all of the stitches necessary for the circumference of your sock.

Kniting the Foot and Heel

1. Measure your foot from the tip of your longest toe to the point where your heel begins. This determines the length of the sock. You will want the sock to be this long before you begin the heel. The best way to do this is to step on a piece of waste paper, mark where the two points are and measure the paper.

2. Knit in the round until the sock matches the length of your foot.

3. Begin the heel. The heel is worked exactly like the toe of the sock. It is worked over half of the number of circumference stitches, increased with yarn overs and then decreased down again. Follow Steps 1 and 2 of section two to shape the heel.

4. Knit in the round again once you finish shaping the heel.

Shaping the Cuff

1. Knit the ankle stitches of the sock. You will knit normally in the round for the ankle of the sock. The number of rows for the ankle of the sock are typically 20% of the number of circumference stitches. You can also measure the length of your own ankle to get a perfect fit.

2. Start the cuff. The cuff is knit over exactly the same number of stitches but they are knit in a rib pattern. Begin knitting in a K2-P2 rib to knit the cuff. This pattern means knit two stitches, purl two stitches and repeat. It is best to begin the ribbing pattern in the back of the sock to hide where the pattern begins.

3. Knit the cuff until it reaches the length that you want it to be.

4. Bind off the stitches with a loose bind off. Grafting off the stitches is usually best but you can also use a three needle bind off. The bind off will need to be extremely loose so that it will fit over your heel and the largest parts of your foot. Weave in the ends and you're finished.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not sure if the sock is going to fit, thread a piece of waste yarn through the stitches to hold them, slip them off the needles and try the sock on.