Looking for a sweet pair of knit baby socks? Try these easy Mock Cable Baby Socks!

Buy the ad-free PDF of this pattern in my shop with four sizes here!

Design Story and Inspiration for These Easy Knit Baby Socks

I have loved this simple mock cable stitch, so much so that I designed a Mock Cable Hat, Mock Cable Mittens, and even adult Mock Cable Short Socks!

So when I decided to design a pair of baby socks (my first baby sock pattern on the blog!), the mock cable stitch was a natural choice. I love the way it looks like cables but doesn’t require a cable needle at all – in fact, the mock cables are made by passing a slipped stitch over two other stitches – easy peasy!

Yarn Options for Easy Baby Socks

The yarn I chose for these socks was yarn remaining after the Brioche Twist Socks, which was Malabrigo Sock. I love the colors of Malabrigo yarn and have yet to find a single skein that I didn’t adore!

Any sock yarn that gets gauge will work for these tiny socks, so if you have a bit leftover from other socks or a single skein of fingering weight yarn, go for it!

Socks with the cuff rolled up higher to show off those mock cables!

Mock Cable Knit Baby Socks

What You’ll Need

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

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

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

Style: Cuff to Toe

Finished Size: 0-3m (3-6m, 12m, 18m) with 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5” foot circumference), shown in size 0-3m

Gauge: 32 sts and 40 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st

Stitch Guide

Knit (k)

Purl (p)

Mock Cable (MC) – Sl 1, k2, pass sl st over k2.

BOR – beginning of round

Pattern Stitch

Preparation row: *P1, k3; rep from * around.

Rnd 1: *P1, MC; rep from * to end.

Rnd 2: *P1, k1, yo, k1; rep from * around.

Rnds 3-4: *P1, k3; rep from * around.

Rnd 5: Rep rnd 1.

Rnd 6: Rep rnd 2.

Repeat rnds 1-6 for pattern st.

Buy the ad-free PDF of this pattern with all four sizes in my shop!

Mock Cable Knit Baby Socks Pattern

Sock Start:

Cast on 32 (36, 40, 44) sts loosely.

Divide sts on 4 dpns as follows:

N1: 8 (9, 10, 11) heel sts

N2: 8 (9, 10, 11) instep sts 

N3: 8 (9, 10, 11) instep sts

N4: 8 (9, 10, 11) heel sts

Join. BOR

Cuff:

Work cuff in k2p2 rib for 16 rnds. [1.5” from cast on edge]

Work in pattern stitch for 16 (24, 26, 26) rnds, completing sts on N3. Stop. [3 (3.75, 4, 4)” total from the cast on edge.]

Heel Flap with Heel Stitch:

Slip N4 sts onto N1. 16 (18, 20, 22) sts

With RS facing, work back and forth on N1 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 14 (18, 24, 24) rows are complete.

Turn Heel: 

Note: Sl 1 = slip 1 purlwise, turn after each row.

Rw 1: (RS) K 10 (10, 12, 12), ssk, k1. 

Rw 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 5 (3, 5, 3), p2tog, p1. 

Rw 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 6 (4, 6, 4), ssk, k1. 

Rw 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 7 (5, 7, 5), p2tog, p1. 

Size 0-3m ONLY

Rw 5: (RS) Sl 1, k 8, ssk.

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

Size 3-6m (12m) ONLY

Rw 5: Sl 1, k 6 (8), ssk, k1.

Rw 6: Sl 1, p 7 (9), p2tog, p1.

Rw 7: Sl 1, k 8 (10), ssk.

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

Size 18m ONLY

Rw 5: Sl 1, k 6, ssk, k1.

Rw 6: Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1.

Rw 7: Sl 1, k 8, ssk, k1.

Rw 8: Sl 1, p 9, p2tog, p1.

Rw 9: Sl 1, k 10, ssk.

Rw 10: Sl 1, p 10, p2tog. 

All Sizes

10 (10, 12, 12) sts remain. 

Work 5 (5, 6, 6) sts. Place BOR marker.

Heel Gusset:

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

Continuing with the same needle, pick up 7 (9, 12, 12) 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: 13 (15, 19, 19) sts total]

With a free needle, work across 8 (9, 10, 11) instep sts in pattern. [N2]

With a free needle, work across 8 (9, 10, 11) instep sts in pattern. [N3]

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

With same needle, pick up 7 (9, 12, 12) sts along side of the heel and work across remaining heel sts. [N4: 13 (15, 19, 19) sts total] BOR

Shape Gusset:

Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd)

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

N2: (Instep) Work even in pattern.

N3: (Instep) Work even in pattern.

N4: K1, ssk, knit to end.

Rnd 2: Work even in established pattern.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 32 (36, 40, 44) sts remaining.

Foot:

Continue working in rnds in established pattern (pattern sts for instep, St st for heel sts) until foot measures 2.5 (3, 3.5, 3.75) inches from base of heel.

Complete sts on N4. BOR

Shape Toe – Classic Standard

Change to all k sts.

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 24 (28, 28, 32) 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 Our Knit Baby Sock Pattern

I hope you had as much fun with this pattern as I did designing it!! I love how these tiny socks turned out and I hope you do, too!

If you make a pair, please tag me on Instagram @love.life.yarn so I can see! 💕

Happy Knitting!
Amanda