Child's Socks | No. 9306-A

Sizes:

Slip-over instructions are for sizes 8 and 12. Sock instructions are for size 9.

Materials:

Columbia Scotch, 4 ounce skeins. 3 skeins Maroon, 8850 for slip-over, size 8. 4 skeins size 12. Columbia Spanish Knitting Worsted, 4 ounce skeins. 1 skein Maroon 8975 for socks.

Needles:

Columbia or Boye Steel Circular Needle, size 4. Columbia or Boye Steel Circular Sleeve Needle, size 4. Boye Steel Sock Needles, size 10.

Gauge:

Slip-over — 6 ½ sts = 1 inch. 8 rows = 1 inch.
Socks — 8 sts = 1 inch.

Socks:

With sock needles, cast on 64 sts, 22 sts on first needle, and 21 sts on each of other 2 needles. Join, being careful not to twist sts. Work in k 1, p 1 ribbing for 3 inches for cuff. Then work in k 3, p 1 ribbing for 7 inches. Start shaping back of leg as follows; * K 2 sts tog, k 1, p 1, k 1, k 2 sts tog, and finish row. Work 4 rows even in ribbing and repeat from * 5 times more (52 sts remaining). Work in ribbing until leg is 13 ½ inches from start of ribbing or desired length and start heel: Place 14 sts each side of center back on one needle for heel (28 sts), then place 12 sts on each of the other two needles.

On heel needle, k 1 row, p 1 row, back and forth for 2 ½ inches, always slipping the first st. Finish with a k row. To shape heel: P 15 sts, p 2 sts tog, p 1, turn, k 4, slip 1, k 1, pass the slip st over the k st, k 1, turn, p 5, p 2 sts tog, p 1, turn, k 6, slip 1, k 1, pass the slip st over the k st, k 1. Continue in this manner having 1 more st in each row until all sts are being worked. Now pick up 12 sts along side of heel, work across front needle. Pick up 12 sts on opposite side of heel.

Now divide sts on back heel needle equally onto two side needles (the 24 sts that were left on needles before starting heel are now used as front needle and rib knitting is continued on this needle until toe is reached). K across front needle. On first side needle, k 1, slip 1, k 1, pass the slip st over the k st, k to end of needle. K to within 3 sts from end of second side needle, then k 2 sts tog, k 1. K 1 round plain. Repeat these two rounds alternately until 14 sts remain on each side needle. K plain without shaping until work measures 5 inches or desired length from back of heel.

Now start toe: On front needle, k 1, slip 1, k 1, pass the slip st over the k st, k to within 3 sts from end of needle, then k 2 sts tog, k 1. On first side needle, k 1, slip 1, k 1, pass the slip st over the k st, k to end of needle, then k to within 3 sts of end of next needle, k 2 sts tog, k 1, k 2 rounds without shaping. Repeat these 3 rounds 8 times, break yarn leaving end about 12 inches long. Slip the sts of the two side needles onto one needle, thread darning needle and weave toe.

This pattern was originally published in Practical Handknits Adaptable for War Relief, Volume No. 93 and has passed into the public domain: the source states these designs "are no longer protected by copyright and you are free to do whatever you would like to do with them." It is reproduced here verbatim, including original vintage terminology, abbreviations, and measurements, which may differ from modern conventions. You can view the original transcription at freevintageknitting.com.