Big up the toe up socks patterns! Going beyond the classic sock cuff down model, choosing a toe up sock knitting pattern lets you try your sock on as you are knitting it – which easily doubles the fun and lets you check the length and fit with easy – just watch out for all those pointed ends if you are using a set of DPNs!
Who said sports socks can’t be pretty? Not us! The muted colours and delicate stripes of this timeless to up sock knitting pattern will be at home peeking out of your favourite trainers or giving a touch of class to your trustiest, tattiest gym shoes. They’re worked from the toe up, too, so you can try them on as you go to ensure a perfect fit. Perfect for fitness fanatics or just passionate sock knitters of all athletic inclinations, we hope you enjoy this toe up sock knitting pattern.
This toe up sock knitting pattern was cerated by Clare Devine and originally published in Simply Knitting magazine issue 131.
Toe up socks pattern materials
- Ginger’s Hand Dyed, Bleating Velvet (80% Merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 100g/400m) 1 skein of each: Yarn A Dove Yarn B Barbapapa Yarn C Grey Gardens
- A set of 2½mm DPNs
- Stitch markers
This older yarn is hard to get hold of now, so you can swap in any other 4 ply yarn for this pattern if you want to. For help understanding what yarn weight this is for American knitters, see our yarn weight conversion chart. You can see a selection of all th sock yan we like in our best sock yarn article.
Toe up socks pattern tension
Yarn used knits as 4ply to this tension: 34 sts and 42 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 2½mm needles. To learn more about tension and why it is important, see our article on knitting tension squares.
Toe up socks pattern sizes
To fit foot circumference 21 (23: 25)cm
Toe up sock knitting pattern
Cast on 20 (24: 24) sts using Yarn A and Judy’s Magic Cast On and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts. PM for start of round.
Toe
Set-up round K10 (12: 12), PM, K10 (12: 12) tbl.
Round 1 *K1, M1R, K to 1 st before sm, M1L, K1; rep from * to end of round. [4 sts inc’d]
Round 2 Knit.
Repeat these two rounds another four times. [40 (44: 44) sts]
Continue with increases as set and commence stripe sequence:
Two rounds in Yarn B, followed by two rounds in Yarn A, work as set until three Yarn B stripes have been added.
Using Yarn A repeat Rounds 1 & 2 as set until you have 56 (64: 72) sts.
FOOT
Continue in Yarn A.
Round 1 Knit.
Rep this round until foot measures 6 (7: 8)cm less than desired foot length.
Gusset increase
Maintain marker positions as set for toe.
Round 1 K1, kfb, work to 3 sts before sm, kfb, K2, sm, knit to end of round.
[2 sts inc’d]
Round 2 Knit.
Repeat these two rounds 12 (14: 16) more times.
[82 (94: 106) sts total; 54 (62: 70) sts in gusset]
HEEL
Working on gusset stitches only. Place marker at halfway point on gusset needle. [27 (31: 35) sts]
Row 1 (RS) Knit to 2 sts beyond sm, k2tog, K1, turn.
Row 2 (WS) Purl to 2 sts beyond sm, ssp, P1, turn.
Row 3 (RS) Knit to 1 st before gap created by previous turn, k2tog (stitch before and after gap), K1, turn.
Row 4 (WS) Purl to 1 st before gap created by previous turn, ssp (stitch before and after gap), P1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until you have two unworked sts left on either side of the gusset needle, ending after a WS row.
You will now join the heel to the instep and re-commence working in the round. Maintain both marker positions.
Next round Knit to 1 st before gap, k2tog, K1, sm, knit to end of round.
Next round K1, ssk, knit to 2 sts before sm, k2tog, knit to end of round.
Next round Ssk, knit to end of round. [56 (64: 72) sts]
LEG
Round 1 *K2, P2; rep from * to end of round.
Repeat this round another 21 times.
Continue working in established rib pattern and commence stripe sequence:
Three rounds in Yarn C, followed by three rounds in Yarn A. Work as set until three Yarn C stripes have been added. Work three rounds in Yarn A.
Cast off using a stretchy cast off method.
Make one more sock the same, using Yarn B instead of Yarn C and vice-versa.
Weave in ends and wet block.
Note
When weaving in ends on the cuff be sure to do this on the RS of the work so the weaving will be hidden when the cuff is folded over.
Download the toe up sock knitting pattern
If you prefer a PDF version of the toe up sock knitting pattern that is printer friendly and has the sizes marked up in different colours, click this link to download the toe up socks pattern. The download is a single page A4 PDF contains the toe up sock knitting pattern and some accompanying photos.
More like the toe up sock knitting pattern
If you enjoyed our free toe up sock knitting pattern, don't miss this other free knitting patterns from Gathered. Check out our cactus knitting pattern and our knitted crop top pattern, or cast on our free Fair Isle tank top knitting pattern. You may also like our fox slippers or our free elephant knitting pattern. To treat yourself or a pal to a complete kit, see our pick of the best knitting kits. Or to explore more socks to knit, try our best sock knitting patterns article.