I’m super excited to enter the world of designing hand knit socks! Before designing these I had made some knitted socks and occasionally knitted one sock before I lost interest, but I’m super excited to bring you this fun sock knitting pattern!
Design Story and Inspiration for This Fun Knit Sock Pattern
I’ve wanted to design a pair of knit socks for quite a while now, and finally I decided to take the plunge. I wanted something that had some interest in it so people wouldn’t get bored while knitting them, and also I like ankle socks so I decided this would be a perfect first design.
I love this mock cable stitch and have designed a couple of other things with it, so it just made sense to add in one of my favorite knitting stitches to my first sock pattern!
Yarn Options for Knitting Socks
For this pattern I used one of my favorite lightweight yarns – Knit Picks Hawthorne Tonal. Oh, my, this is divine! I love the color tones in these skeins, and I had this skein of Newport already on hand so it was perfect.
Right now Knit Picks Hawthorne is ON SALE!! Get this yarn for less than $10 a skein when it retails for $13.99! Check it out here.
You can use any sock yarn you like that gets gauge. It depends on what fiber content and texture of yarn you like. This yarn is a wool/nylon blend, which is really my favorite for hand knit socks.
I have an entire post on the best yarn for socks here!
Pattern Details for the Mock Cable Ankle Socks
This free pattern for mock cable knit socks is knit from the cuff down, my preferred way to knit socks. They have a heel flap and are knit on double pointed needles, although they could easily be adjusted if you are a sock knitter who prefers one of the methods with circulars. (I’ve always been intrigued by the method of knitting both at the same time on a circular needle!)
The mock cable stitch is not difficult, so if you have any sock experience I feel confident you can make these socks. There is NO cable needle needed!
The instep, heel, and toe are all in basic Stockinette stitch and there is a tiny bit of ribbing at the top of the cuff of the cable sock.
Buy the Ad-Free PDF for the Mock Cable Knit Socks here!!
Hawthorne Mock Cable Short Sock
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne Tonal, 1 skein Newport (357yards/100g) (Fingering weight yarn #1)
Needles: 5 dpn, US size 2 (2.75mm), or needle size that gets gauge
Notions: Yarn needle (tapestry needle), scissors, stitch marker
Style: Cuff to Toe
Finished Size: Small (Medium, Large), 7 (7.75, 8.5) inch circumference to fit shoe size 4-6 (7-9, 10-12)
Gauge: 32 sts and 40 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st
Stitch Guide
Knit Stitch (k)
Purl Stitch (p)
Mock Cable (MC) – Sl 1, k2, pass sl st over k2.
BOR – beginning of round
Mock Cable 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.
Mock Cable Knit Socks Pattern
Sock Start:
Cast on 56 (64, 68) sts loosely.
Divide sts on 4 dpns as follows:
N1: 14 (16, 17) heel sts
N2: 14 (16, 17) instep stitches
N3: 14 (16, 17) instep stitches
N4: 14 (16, 17) heel sts
Join. BOR
Cuff:
Work cuff in k2p2 rib for 6 rnds. [0.5” from cast on edge]
Work in pattern stitch for 12 (14, 16) rnds, completing sts on N3. Stop. [1.7 (1.88, 2.3)” total from the cast on edge.]
**If you want your sock to have a longer top, knit the pattern stitch as established to desired length, then continue to heel flap.
Heel Flap with Heel Stitch:
Slip N4 sts onto N1. 28 (32, 34 sts)
With RS facing, work back and forth on N1 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 26 (32, 32) rows are complete [1.9 (2.3,2.3)”]
Buy the Ad-Free PDF of the Cable Knit Ankle Socks here!
Turn Heel:
Note: Sl 1 = slip 1 purlwise
Rw 1: (RS) K 16 (18, 18), ssk, k1.
Rw 2: (WS) Sl 1, p 5 (5, 3), p2tog, p1.
Rw 3: (RS) Sl 1, k 6 (6, 4), ssk, k1.
Rw 4: (WS) Sl 1, p 7 (7, 5), p2tog, p1.
Rw 5: (RS) Sl 1, k 8 (8, 6), ssk, k1.
Rw 6: (WS) Sl 1, p 9 (9, 7), p2tog, p1.
Rw 7: (RS) Sl 1, k 10 (10, 8), ssk, k1.
Rw 8: (WS) Sl 1, p 11 (11, 9), p2tog, p1.
Rw 9: (RS) Sl 1, k 12 (12, 10), ssk, k1.
Rw 10: (WS) Sl 1, p 13 (13, 11) p2tog, p1.
Rw 11: (RS) Sl 1, k 14 (14, 12), ssk, k0 (1,1).
Rw 12: (WS) Sl 1, p 14 (15, 13), p2tog, p0 (1,1).
Size (M, L) Only
Rw 13: (RS) Sl 1, k (16, 14), ssk, p (0, 1).
Rw 14: (WS) Sl 1, p (16, 15) p2tog, k (0, 1).
Size L Only
Rw 15: (RS) Sl 1, k16, ssk.
Rw 16: (WS) Sl 1, p16, p2tog.
16 (18, 18) sts remain.
Work 8 (9, 9) sts. Place BOR marker.
Heel Gusset:
With a free needle, knit remaining 8 (9, 9) heel sts. [N1]
Continuing with the same needle, pick up 13 (16, 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: 22 (26, 26) sts total]
With a free needle, work across 14 (16, 17) instep sts in pattern. [N2]
With a free needle, work across 14 (16, 17) 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 16 sts along side of the heel and work across remaining heel sts. [N4: 22 (26, 26) sts total] BOR
Shape Gusset:
Rnd 1: (Dec Rnd)
N1: Work to 3 sts from end. K2tog, k1.
N2: (Instep) Work even in pattern.
N3: (Instep) Work even in pattern.
N4: K1, ssk, work to end.
Rnd 2: Work even in established pattern.
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 56 (64, 68) sts remaining.
Foot:
Continue working in rnds in established pattern (pattern sts for instep, St st for heel sts) until foot measures 7 (8, 9) inches from base of heel.
Complete sts on N4. BOR
Shape Toe – Classic Standard
Change to all k sts.
Rnd 1:
N1: (Sole) Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
N2: (Instep) K1, ssk, work to end.
N3: (Instep) Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
N4: (Sole) K1, ssk, complete round.
Rnd 2: Work even.
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 36 (40, 44) total sts remain. [10 (12, 12) rnds]
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
Today we learned how to work an easy mock cable stitch and turn it into a pair of short cable knit socks! I hope you enjoy this easy mock cable knit socks pattern and make some for you and some friends!
Be sure to check out all of my free knitting patterns here.
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
