Things You'll Need
Worsted weight yarn, about 400 yards
Size 5 straight knitting needles
Yarn needle
Knitting socks is a popular project for beginning and experienced knitters. Most sock patterns are knit in the round on double pointed needles and can start either at the toe or at the cuff. Newer knitters sometimes find circular knitting intimidating, but even some of the most advanced knitters do not like knitting with double pointed needles. You don't have to learn how to manage double pointed needles to make a lovely pair of socks. Use regular straight needles to make a pair of socks instead. Knitting socks on straight needles requires some seaming and basic knowledge of knitting techniques.
Step 1
Cast on 56 stitches.
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Step 2
Work two inches of ribbing with a knit-two-purl-two sequence on the right side rows. On the wrong sides, work the stitches as purl-two-knit-two across. End with a wrong side row.
Step 3
Work about 4 inches in stockinette stitch. To work stockinette stitch, knit every stitch on the right side rows and purl every stitch on the wrong side rows.
Step 4
Bind off 14 stitches, then knit 28 stitches and bind off the final 14 stitches. Break the yarn.
Step 5
Re-attach the yarn and begin working the 28 stitches remaining on the needle in stockinette stitch. Work about 7 inches in stockinette stitch. This will form the top of the sock.
Step 6
Begin shaping the toe by decreasing one stitch at the beginning and one stitch at the end of each right side row until 14 stitches remain. Perform a slip-slip-knit stitch at the beginning of each row and knit two together at the end of each row. Purl across all stitches on the wrong sides.
Step 7
Begin working increases until you have 28 stitches on the needle once again. To increase, knit into the front and back of both the first stitch and the last stitch on each right side row. Purl into each stitch on the wrong side rows.
Step 8
Begin working in stockinette stitch to form the bottom of the sock until the bottom is as long as the top of the sock.
Step 9
Shape the heel by performing decreases in the first and last stitch of each right side row until 14 stitches remain on the needle. Do the decreases by making a slip-slip-knit stitch in the first stitch and knitting the last two stitches together. Purl into each stitch on the wrong side rows.
Step 10
Begin increasing by knitting into the front and back of the first and last stitch of each right side row until 28 stitches remain on the needle. Purl across all wrong side rows.
Step 11
Bind off the remaining stitches, break the yarn and pull the tail through the final loop to secure.
Step 12
Bring the ribbed edges together to form the cuff and sew a seam down the back of the sock using a yarn needle and matching yarn. Fold the toe over at the narrowest point and sew seams along the sides of the sock beginning from the toe and extending back toward the heal. Fold the heal up at the narrowest point and sew the edges together with the bound-off edges at the bottom of the cuff. Sew the top of the heel to the bottom of the cuff.
Tip
You can make larger socks by increasing your needle size. Make smaller socks by using smaller needles or lighter yarn. Add or eliminate rows on the top and bottom of the sock to achieve the proper length for the wearer's foot.
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