Looking for a fun pair of knit slipper socks that works up quickly? Try this easy pattern for Worsted Slipper Socks!

Design Story and Inspiration for This Free Knitting Pattern

Every year for my holiday challenge I design a pair of slippers or socks, and I realized I’d never done one in worsted weight yarn, which is the most popular weight of yarn (category #4). I figure a lot of us have worsted yarn in our stash, so a pattern in this weight of yarn was born!

I designed this as part of the 2024 Holiday Maker’s Challenge, where we encourage each other to work to our holiday deadline. There are a few criteria for our patterns in the challenge, which are:

1. Uses stash yarn

2. Is easy to intermediate

3. Is small so it doesn’t take a long time to make (we have a lot of gifts to make, okay?)

4. Is well received by gift recipients

Yarn Options for These Easy Slipper Socks

I used Knit Picks Heatherly yarn for these, as I have many colors of this yarn in my stash. I absolutely love it for slipper socks, but you might want a different fiber content if you are planning on wearing these inside shoes. Mine are for wearing when my feet get cold.

Any worsted yarn that gets gauge will work fine, so bust that stash and get knitting!

Easy Worsted Slipper Sock Details

I worked these socks with one long circular using the magic loop, but you can use any method of working in the round. I have a friend who loves the 9″ circulars for socks, and I keep meaning to get some! Double pointed needles work as well, but please be aware that the instructions are for the magic loop (so you might have to adjust a bit).

Easy Worsted Slipper Socks

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Knit Picks Heatherly Worsted, 1 skein Sweet Bing (218yds/100g), or other worsted weight yarn that gets gauge (category #4)

Needles: US Size 6 (4.00m) and 7 (4.5mm) circular for magic loop

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

Style: Cuff to Toe

Gauge: 22 sts and 24 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st

Finished Sizes: Small (Large), 7 (7.75) inch circumference to fit shoe size 4-8 (9-11)

Stitch Guide
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
Beginning of Round (BOR)

Knit 2 together (k2tog)
Slip Slip Knit (ssk)

Stitch Pattern

Sock is worked in Stockinette stitch, which is knit each round.

PATTERN

With smaller needles, Cast on 38 (44) sts loosely.

Divide sts on 1 circ as follows:

Needle Shaft: 19 (22) heel sts

Cable: 19 (22) instep sts

Join. BOR

Cuff

Work cuff in k1p1 rib for four rounds.  End at BOR.

Leg

Change to larger needles.

Work in stitch pattern until 1” from cast on edge. End at BOR.

Heel Flap with Heel Stitch (Size Small Only)

Slip heel sts onto needle shaft. (19 sts)

Note: On the first row only, work 2 sts in pattern stitch, M1, complete row. (20 sts)

Then on the last row, decrease 1 st. 19 sts remain.

With RS facing, work back and forth as follows:

Rw 1: *Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from * to end.

Rw 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until 18 rows are complete.

Heel Flap with Heel Stitch (Size Large Only) 

Slip heel stitches to needle shaft. (22 sts)

With RS facing, work back and forth as follows:

Rw 1: *Sl 1 purlwise, k1. Repeat from * to end. Turn. 

Rw 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to end. Turn. 

Repeat these 2 rows until 18 rows are complete. 

Turn Heel

Note: Sl 1 = slip 1 purlwise

Rw 1: (RS) K 11 (12), ssk, k1. Turn.

Rw 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 4 (3), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Rw 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 5 (4), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Rw 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 6 (5), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Rw 5: (RS) Sl 1, k 7 (6), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Rw 6: (WS) Sl 1, p 8 (7), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Size Small Only

Rw 7: (RS) Sl 1, k 9, ssk. Turn.

Rw 8: (WS) Sl 1, p 9, p2tog. Turn.

Size Large Only

Rw 7: (RS) Sl 1, k 9 (8), ssk, k1. Turn. 

Rw 8: (WS) Sl 1, p 9 (9), p2tog, p1. Turn.

Rw 9: (RS) Sl 1, k 10, ssk. Turn.

Rw 10: (WS) Sl 1, p 10, p2tog. Turn.

All Sizes

11 (12) sts remain. 

Heel Gusset

Knit heel stitches. With the tip of the needle, pick up 9 sts along the side of the heel. (heel section)

Pick up a stitch from the row below the first instep st to prevent a hole. [10 sts picked up]

Slide sts to cable, move instep sts to shaft. Knit 19 (22) instep sts.

Slide instep sts onto cable being careful to keep separate from heel sts.

Pick up and knit a st from below the last instep st to prevent a hole. Pick up 9 sts along the side of the heel. [10 sts picked up]

Knit remaining heel section sts.

Slide all heel section sts onto cable and instep sts onto shaft. Knit instep sts. BOR

Shape Gusset

Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd)

Heel: K1, ssk, work to 3 sts from end. K2tog, k1.

Instep: Knit.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 38 (44) sts remaining.

Foot (Size Small Only)

Continue working stitch pattern in rnds until foot measures 7.25” from base of heel.

On the last rnd before toe, inc 2 sts; 1 st on the foot side and 1 st on the instep side.

Complete instep sts. BOR

Foot (Size Large Only) 

Continue working stitch pattern in rnds until foot measures 8″ from base of heel.

Complete instep sts. BOR

All Sizes: Shape Toe 

Rnd 1 (Dec Rnd):

Heel: K1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 

Instep: K1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 28 total sts remain. 

Work decrease rnd only until 12 sts remain. (6 instep sts, 6 sole sts)

Finishing

Slide sts from cable to needle shaft. Holding shafts together, graft sts using Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in ends.

Work second sock.

Final Thoughts on the Easy Worsted Slipper Socks

I hope you enjoy this free knitting pattern! I had a blast designing these and am planning more sock designs in different yarn weights.

Happy Knitting!
Amanda