Under One Skein

These little baby booties have a simple sock construction and are perfect for using those treasured one off hand spun skeins you might purchase from a small spinner or dyer. Yarn Rescue donated the yarns for this project and provided a custom dye service.

The Skywatcher (boy) socks are in an easy Fair Isle pattern and match Erssie’s Easy Beanie also available for download from Erssie Knits.

The Cinderella (girl) socks are knitted in one variegated yarn in an eyelet garter ridge pattern through which the corded ties thread. Both booties are knitted in a worsted/aran weight yarn on double pointed needles and are ideal as a quick and easy first sock project. Skills like turning the heel, shaping the instep and closing the toe (Kitchener stitch) can all be attempted for the first time.

Both pairs have optional twisted cord ties to secure the sock to wriggly feet.

Sizes

This pattern is for a size 3-6 month old baby

Using the following basic sock formula it is possible to adapt these socks to other sizes or make adjustments for different gauges/tensions. Use the figures shown in the example in this table to knit socks for a newborn baby and round up your CO, Heel, Toe to the nearest even number.

Cast on 100% e.g. 24 stitches

Heel Flap 50% (of cast on) e.g. 12 stitches

Pick up side of heel 25% e.g. 6 sts (6 each side of heel)

Toe top 25% (even number) e.g. 6 sts (6sts bottom toe/6 top of toe)

Once you have the correct dimensions for your sock you can lengthen or shorten the sock by adding or subtracting rounds after the heel and before the toe.

On average a Newborn’s foot is 3.5″ (9 cm) in length from bottom heel to toe

A 3 month old’s foot is 4″ (10.5 cm)
A 9 month old’s foot is 4-1/4″ (11 cm+)

Yarn

Cinderella Socks (girl): less than 50g from one skein of ‘Cinderella’ Merino (80% merino, 20% silk; 121 yd [111m] per skein).  Yarn is rainbow dyed and plied with silk thread.

Skywatcher Socks (boy): Yarn Rescue Merino (80% merino, 20% silk; 114 yd [104 m] per skein).

Yarn A: 26g from one skein of ‘Treasure’

Yarn B: 22g from one skein of ‘Skywatcher’

Needles

US #4 (3.5 mm): one set of 5 DPNs
US #6 (4 mm): one set of 5 DPNs (if you cast on tightly)

Gauge

Cinderella Socks (girl): 26 sts and 36 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in eyelet pattern

Skywatcher socks (boy): 24 sts x 34 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in fair isle pattern

Notions

Tapestry needle; stitch marker.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard list of abbreviations.

Stitch Patterns

Skywatcher (boy) Socks Fair Isle Stitch Pattern

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Rnd 1: Knit, with yarn B (turquoise)
Rnd 2: K1 with Yarn B, k1 with Yarn A
Rnd 3: Knit, with yarn B
Rnd 4: Knit, with yarn A (blue)
Rnd 5: K1 with Yarn A, k1 with Yarn B
Rnd 6: Knit, with yarn A

Cinderella (girl) Socks Eyelet Stitch Pattern

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Rnds 1-3: Knit
Rnd 4: Purl
Rnd 5: *YO, k2tog; rep from * until end of rnd
Rnd 6: Purl

Cinderella Socks

Cuff

Using the Cinderella yarn CO 28 sts on 3.5mm dpn needles (if you are a tight knitter then use 4mm needles to cast on). Join stitches into a round being careful not to twist.

P 1 rnd, K 1 rnd, P 1 rnd.

Commence eyelet pattern (see Notes above)

Work Eyelet Stitch Pattern three times so there are 3 bands of eyelet ridges.

K 3 rnds.

Continue in st st for the next parts until instructed to pick up the eyelet pattern again.

Heel Flap

Stop and turn the work.

Sl previous 14 sts purlwise onto a Needle (1). Arrange other sts so that there are 7 sts on Needle (2) and 7 sts on Needle (3).

Working only on the 14 sts from Needle (1) 14 sts, knit the heel flap back and forth in rows as follows:

Row 1: Sl 1 purlwise, purl to end, turn

Row 2: *Slip 1 purlwise, k1; rep from * to end of row

Rep these two rows 4 more times.  Then, work Row 1 once more

Turn Heel

Place marker half way along 14 sts of heel flap (7 sts either side of marker)

Row 1: K to marker, sl m, k2 ssk, turn
Row 2: P to marker, sl m, p2 p2tog, turn

Rep these 2 rows until 6 sts rem ending with Row 2

Form Instep

K6, pick up 7 sts from side of heel flap on one needle.

Using 2nd needle knit across next 14 stitches at the front of foot.

Using 3rd needle pick up 7 sts the other side of the heel flap and then k3 stitches from needle 1 onto this 3rd needle.

You are now at the center of the heel. Place marker on needle 1 if you feel you need to mark the beginning of the rnd.

Shape Instep

Stop and check you have your stitches lined up properly first.  You should have: Needle 1 = 10 sts, Needle 2 = 14 sts, Needle 3 = 10sts

Continue shaping the instep as follows:

Needle 1: K until 3 sts rem on needle, k2tog K1
Needle 2: K14
Needle 3: K1, ssk, k to end

Rpt this rnd until 7 sts rem on Needles 1 and 3 (28 sts total)

Rnd 1 : K7, P14, K7
Rnd 2: K7, (YO, K2tog) 7 times, K7
Rnd 3: K7, P14, K7
Rnds 4-6: K

Rep this eyelet pattern on foot until 3 eyelet ridges have been knitted ending with Rnd 6

K 1 rnd

Continue following instructions “Shape Toe (Both Socks)” below

Skywatcher Socks

Cuff

Using the Treasure (Dark Blue) yarn A CO 28 sts on 3.5mm dpn needles (if you are a tight knitter then use 4mm needles to cast on). Join sts into a round being careful not to twist.

Work 20 rnds of K2 P2 rib

Join Skywatcher (turquoise) yarn B and continue in Skywatcher Fair Isle pattern.  Work a total of 3 reps.

Continue in rnds until 3 more Fair Isle bands have been completed finishing with Rnd 3

Heel Flap

Stop and turn the work

Sl previous 14 sts purlwise onto a Needle (1). Arrange other sts so that there are 7 sts on Needle (2) and 7 sts on Needle (3).

Working only on the 14 sts from Needle (1) 14 sts, knit the heel flap back and forth in rows as follows:

Row 1: Sl 1 purlwise, purl to end, turn
Row 2: *Slip 1 purlwise, k1; rep from * to end of row

Rep these two rows 4 more times.  Then, work Row 1 once more

Turn Heel

Place marker half way along 14 sts of heel flap (7 sts either side of marker)

Row 1: K to marker, sl m, k2 ssk, turn
Row 2: P to marker, sl m, p2 p2tog, turn

Rep these 2 rows until 6 sts rem ending with Row 2

Form Instep

K6, pick up 7 sts from side of heel flap on one needle.

Using 2nd needle knit across next 14 stitches at the front of foot.

Using 3rd needle pick up 7 sts the other side of the heel flap and then k3 stitches from needle 1 onto this 3rd needle.

You are now at the center of the heel. Place marker on needle 1 if you feel you need to mark the beginning of the rnd.

Shape Instep

Stop and check you have your stitches lined up properly first.  You should have: Needle 1 = 10 sts, Needle 2 = 14 sts, Needle 3 = 10sts

Continue shaping the instep as follows:

Needle 1: (Yarn A) K until 3 sts rem on needle, k2tog K1
Needle 2: * K1 Yarn A, k1 Yarn B; rep from * until end of needle
Needle 3: (Yarn A) K1, ssk, k to end

Next rnd: Follow rnd as above but pickup yarn B at end of needle 2 and carry at back of work.

Next rnd: Follow shaping in rnd as above but work in yarn B only.

Now there should be a total of 28sts.

Continue working in Fair Isle pattern until 5 bands have been completed from the heel (a total of 9 bands/stripes in the whole sock).

Remainder of sock is worked in Yarn A only.

K 1 rnd in A.

Shape Toe (Both Socks)

It is easier now to arrange your stitches on your needles so that you have 7 sts on each needle. Just slip 7 sts off Needle 2 onto a new needle and this should align stitches so that there are 14 sts on top and on the bottom of the toe.

Continue as follows:

Needle 1: K until 3 sts rem, k2tog, K1
Needle 2: K1, ssk, k to end
Needle 3: K until 3 sts rem, k2tog, K1
Needle 4: K1, ssk, k to end

Rep this rnd until 16 sts rem.

K 1 more round but stop after knitting Needle 3. Align stitches so that top of toe 8 Sts are on one needle and the bottom of the toe 8 sts are on another needle.

Closing the toe (Kitchener Stitch)

This is a simple way of grafting stitches together so that there is no seam. Do try it if it is your first time, there are so few stitches here that you see the results quickly enough to know if you have got the right result.

Hold stitches parallel to each other with needles side by side and wrong sides together.

Thread yarn tail through a darning needle and pull needle through 1st stitch on needle at front purlwise and leave stitch on needle. Now thread needle and yarn through 1st stitch on back needle knit wise and leave on needle.

Then graft as follows pulling yarn as you go to ensure even stitches.

*Front needle knit wise pull stitch off; front needle purl wise leave st on

Back needle purl wise pull st off ; back needle knit wise leave st on

Rep from * until all sts off needles and you will have a neatly grafte toe.
Finishing

Weave in ends. Make two twisted cords as follows:

Cut 3 lengths of yarn and loop yarn over door handle, chair post, or chair leg.

Insert a pencil, pen or dpn into loop at opposite end. Pull taught and twist yarn by spinning pencil/pen/dpn. Keep twisting until yarn is so tight it is almost pulling back on itself. Slide a finger half way along length of twisted yarn still keeping end taught. Fold yarn twist in half and put loop/pencil/pen/dpn together with loop over door handle (post or leg). Let go of finger holding halfway mark and allow yarn to twist on itself. Tie knots at the beginning and end of the cord to secure the twisted strands and cut below the knot to give it a small tassel. Thread each cord through the 3rd band of eyelet holes on the cuffs and tie into a bow.