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Knitting your own baby socks from warm, soft wool is a lovely way to welcome your newborn. Finding the right size isn’t always easy, but our chart will help you.
Knitting baby socks: What you need
Baby and children’s feet grow very quickly, so if in doubt, it’s best to knit the socks one size larger. When the baby has outgrown the socks, they make a lovely keepsake for later or can be passed on to another child. Sock wool or soft merino wool is well suited for baby socks. Merino wool is warm and wicks sweat away from the body. You will need:
- 30 to 50 g of 4-ply wool with a length of 210 m / 50 g
- a set of 2 ½ mm double-pointed needles
- a darning needle
- a measuring tape
- possibly a row counter, or alternatively a pencil and paper
Knitting instructions for the socks
First, make a gauge swatch. To do this, knit 48 rows of 34 stitches. This should result in a piece measuring 10 cm by 10 cm.
If your piece is too wide, knit a little tighter. If it is too narrow, you can knit a little looser or alternatively use 3 mm double-pointed needles. Once you have tried a few times and your gauge is 10 cm by 10 cm, you can start knitting.
- Cast on the desired number of stitches according to the table on one needle of your double-pointed needles. Knit one round, distributing the stitches evenly over four needles. Close the sock to form a round.
- Knit the cuff in rib pattern and then the sock leg in stockinette stitch.
- Continue knitting the heel with knit stitches on needles 1, 2, and 3. Continue knitting the stitches on needle 4 as usual, but transfer the stitches from needle 1 to needle 4 while knitting.
- Now knit only these prepared stitches from needles 4 and 1 in rows. Knit the prepared stitches in back and forth rows.
- Divide the stitches as shown in the table. Now follow the spickel decrease.
- There are now only eight stitches left on the needle. Take the fourth needle again and pick up stitches from the side edge of the cap.
- Knit needles 2 and 3 as normal, then pick up stitches again. Each needle now has the same number of stitches as before starting the heel.
- Knit the leg in rounds until it is the length specified in the table.
- Knit the toe. Decrease the stitches as specified in the table.
- Finally, sew up all the wool threads.
