How to Knit Toe-Up Socks on Circular Needles

Socks worked from the toe up can be fun but challenging to make.

Knitting socks from the toe up has many advantages over knitting from the cuff to the toe. For one thing, you can adjust the length of the foot more accurately. Another benefit is not having to weave the toe stitches together and hope that they stay together. Toe-up sock knitting is not an easy technique to learn, but the more you practice it, the more natural it will be.

Things You'll Need

• Approximately 350 yards sock-weight yarn
• 2 sets of circular needles, size 1, 24 inches
• Blunt-end yarn needle

Instructions

Cast-on and Toe Shaping

1. Attach the yarn, with a slip stitch, on one of the needles. Hold one needle of each set together, so that one is resting on top of the other one. The one with the slip stitch will be on the bottom. Begin creating a figure-eight cast-on by working the yarn between the needles, then move it up, behind, and then over the top needle, then down, between the needles and then behind, under, then over the bottom needle. Repeat this until there are 8 stitches on each needle.

2. Pull the bottom needle partway through its stitches. Knit the stitches on the top needle through their back loops. The stitches will be twisted. Anchor the last stitch closest to the left hand or it may slip off the needle when the last stitch is knitted. When the stitches on the top row are finished, place the needles in the beginning position again, so that one is on top of the other, and turn the work over, so the stitches that have not been worked are on the top.

3. Pull the bottom needle out a little bit and knit the stitches on the top needle through the front loop. Once again, the stitches will be twisted.

4. Begin round two by *knitting one stitch, making a stitch by picking up the strand of yarn between this stitch and the next one, and then knitting the rest of the stitches on this needle until the last one. Make a stitch, like previously described, and then knit a stitch.

   Repeat from the * the stitches on the second needle.

5. Knit all the stitches on both needles for round three.

6. Repeat rounds two and three, increasing four stitches every other row until there are 64 stitches in all, or until the sock is the desired width for the wearer.

The Foot

1. Knit all the stitches around until the length of the foot is 1 1/2 inches shorter than the wearer's foot. As you're working the stitches from one needle to the other, it will be necessary to slide the stitches from the other needle onto the cord.

2. Shape the heel. Decide which needle will be the top of the foot and which will be the sole. Knit 31 stitches, and then bring the yarn forward, slip one stitch from the left needle to the right, and then bring the yarn to the back and slip the stitch back to the left-hand needle. You will now have one wrapped stitch on the left-hand needle and 31 worked stitches on the right. Turn the work. A short-row has now been completed.

3. Begin row two by knitting all the stitches except the last one. Bring the yarn to the back of the work, slip the next stitch, bring the yarn to the front, and then slip the stitch back to the left-hand needle.

4. Knit row three until the stitch before the wrapped stitch is reached. Bring the yarn forward, slip the next stitch to the right-hand needle, bring the yarn to the back, and then slip the stitch back to the left-hand needle. Turn the sock.

5. Purl row 4 until the stitch before the wrapped stitch, carry the yarn to the back of the work, and then slip the next stitch to the right hand needle. Bring the yarn to the front of the work, and then slip the stitch to the left-hand needle. Turn the sock.

The Ankle

1. Continue repeating rows 3 and 4 until there are eight wrapped stitches on the left side, 16 working stitches in the middle and eight wrapped stitches on the right side. A right-side row should be ready to be worked. Knit the 16 working stitches to the first wrapped stitch, which is not worked. To work this stitch, knit the wrap and the stitch together. Wrap the next stitch, so it will have two wraps, and then turn the work.

2. Purl across the stitches to the first unwrapped stitch which is not worked. Purl the wrap and the stitch together. Wrap the next stitch and turn the work. From here on, the two wraps will be worked with the stitch until there are 32 working stitches.

3. Knit in the round at this point. Add one stitch between the needles on the first round, and then knit in the round until the cuff is 1 inch from the length that is desired. Create a ribbing by knitting one stitch, and then purling one stitch all the way around until the ribbing measures 1 inch. Bind-off all the stitches. Weave in any loose ends.

4. Repeat these steps for a second sock.