Looking for a sock knitting pattern with subtle texture? The color of this yarn combined with the texture of this stitch made me think of mermaids!

Design Story and Inspiration for This Sock Knitting Pattern

I love designing socks and I’m always looking for great new stitch patterns to work up into socks. When I saw this stitch pattern I thought it would be perfect for socks.

The stitch pattern was called “snake skin” but I didn’t think Snake Skin Socks had a nice ring to it. 😂 My friend Amanda knitted up these socks and mentioned that the yarn color + texture of this pattern was giving her mermaid vibes and it sparked the name of these socks!

Yarn Options for This Fun Knit Sock Pattern

I am absolutely in love with Malabrigo Ultimate Sock! I’ve used many of their skeins of different weight yarns and honestly have never seen a skein of Malabrigo that I didn’t like. They subtle color changes and feel of their yarns is amazing!

Feel free to use any fingering weight yarn that gets gauge. Great for using up single skeins! In fact, we made this pair AND a baby pair from one skein (baby pattern coming soon!).

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Mermaid Scales Socks

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, 1 skein (440yds/100g)

Needles: 5 dpn, US size 2 (2.75mm)

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

Style: Cuff to Toe

Gauge: 32 sts and 40 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)
Slip (sl) – slip st purlwise
With Yarn in Front (wyif)
Beginning of Round (BOR)

Stitch Pattern

Row 1: *K2, wyif sl 2 sts, bring yarn to back, return 2 sl sts to left needle and k2; rep from *.

Rows 2 and 4: Knit.

Row 3: *Wyif sl 2 st, bring yarn to back, return 2 sl sts to left needle and k2, k2; rep from *.

Repeat rounds 1-4 for pattern.

PATTERN

Cast on 56 (64) sts loosely.

Divide sts on 4 dpns as follows:

N1: 14 (16) heel sts

N2: 14 (16) instep sts 

N3: 14 (16) instep sts

N4: 14 (16) heel sts

Join. BOR

Cuff

Work in k2, p2 rib for 1.50″ from cast on edge.  End at BOR.

Leg

Work in stitch pattern until 7.5 (8)” from cast on edge. Complete sts on N3. Stop.

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Heel Flap with Heel Stitch

Slip N4 sts onto N1. 28 (32) 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 28 (32) rows are complete. 

Turn Heel

Note: Sl 1 = slip 1 purlwise

Rw 1: (RS) k 18 (21), ssk. Turn.

Rw 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 8 (10), p2tog. Turn.

Rw 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 8 (10), ssk. Turn.

Rw 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 8 (10), p2tog. Turn.

Rows 5-18: Repeat rows 3-4.

Size Large ONLY

Rw 19: (RS) Sl 1, k 10, ssk. Turn.

Rw 20: (WS) Sl 1, p 10, p2tog. Turn.

All Sizes

10 (12) sts remain.

Work 5 (6) sts. BOR

Heel Gusset

With a free needle, knit remaining 5 (6) heel sts. [N1]

Continuing with the same needle, pick up 14 (16) sts along the side of the heel.

Pick up and knit a st from row below the first instep st to prevent a hole. [N1: 20 (23) sts total]

With a free needle, work across 14 (16) instep sts. [N2]

With a free needle, work across 14 (16) instep sts. [N3]

With free needle, pick up and knit from row below the first heel st to prevent a hole.

With same needle, pick up 14 (16) sts along side of the heel and work across remaining heel sts. [N4: 20 (23) sts total] BOR

Shape Gusset

Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd)

N1: Knit to 3 sts from end. K2tog, k1.

N2: (Instep) Work even, maintaining pattern.

N3: (Instep) Work even, maintaining pattern.

N4: K1, ssk, knit to end. 

Rnd 2: Work even, maintaining pattern as established.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 56 (64) sts remaining.

Foot

Continue working in rnds working top of foot in pattern stitch and sole (heel sts from beg of pattern) in Stockinette st until foot measures  7.5 (8.25)” from base of heel.

Complete sts on N4. BOR

Shape Toe 

Rnd 1:

N1: (Sole) Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

N2: (Instep) K1, ssk, knit to end.

N3: (Instep) Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

N4: (Sole) K1, ssk, complete round.

Rnd 2: Work even.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 36 (40) total sts remain. 

Work decrease rnd only until 16 sts remain. [8 instep sts, 8 sole sts]

Finishing

Work sts on N1. Slip sts from N4 to opposite end of N1.

Slip sts from N3 onto N2.

Holding two needles together, graft sts using Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in ends.

Work second sock.

Final Thoughts on the Mermaid Scales Socks

I hope you enjoy these socks as much as I enjoyed designing them. I love all the different stitch patterns and seeing how they work up into beautiful hand knit socks!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda