Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Remember Tretorn tennis sneakers? The canvas ones with the bright colored little arch on the side? And remember how you had to wear them with the little socklets with pom poms on the cuff?

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

In the mid-70’s Chris Evert rocked the classic combo. The pom pom was probably meant to keep the sock from slipping down into the the sneaker. Such a whimsical solution to such a practical problem!

A decade later The Official Preppy Handbook ordained Tretorns with these kinds of socks a “must-have.” In Connecticut, the hypocenter of preppy behavior where the Handbook was barely satirical, we all competed to have the newest Tretorns, the most pom pom socks, the best color combinations. Sick stuff, but, man, I loved wearing those socks!

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Now, two decades later, I’m loving making these socks! They reduce sock making to the most fun parts, to the action of the sock: the heel, the gusset, the toe. And so many color possibilities, I could fill a drawer… -Whitney

UPDATE: NOW IN POSY

APRIL 2022

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Now in our hand-dyed Posy, a supersoft machine washable blend of 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon, our Pom Pom Socklets are happy to walk a mile in your shoes! Posy comes in over two dozen colors, so mix and match to your heart’s content!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands and #PurlSohoPomPomSocklets. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

  • 2 skeins of Hand Jive’s Nature’s Palette 100% merino wool. Each skein is approximately 185 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 185 yards required per pair of socks. These colors are Coral and Walnut. (NOTE: These two skeins will make 2 pairs of socks!)
  • A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
  • Susan Bates Pom Pom Maker (Optional – you can also make pom poms with a handmade cardboard template.)

Gauge

8 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch (See our Circular Gauge Tutorial for tips on knitting an accurate gauge for in-the-round projects.)

Finished Size

Fit most women: 7½ inches in circumference and adjustable length

Pattern

The Cuff

With the Contrast Color, cast on 60 stitches to three double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 five more times.

Change to the Main Color and knit 3 rounds.

The Heel Flap

Knit 15 stitches and turn the work so the purl side of the fabric is facing you.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Purl 30 stitches. (The 30 stitches that you just purled are the beginning of the heel flap. For this section, you will be working back and forth on just these 30 stitches.)

Arrange the stitches so that the 30 heel flap stitches are on one needle. Put the remaining stitches on hold on two needles (15 stitches each).

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

(Again, work the following rows back and forth, turning the work between each row.)

Row 1 (right side): *Slip 1 purlwise, k1, repeat from * to end of 30 stitches.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of 30 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 fifteen more times.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Turning the Heel

Still just working the heel flap stitches:

Row 1 (right side): K17, ssk, k1, turn the work so the wrong side is facing you and there are 19 stitches on the left needle and 10 stitches on the right needle.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1, turn the work. (18 stitches on the left needle and 10 stitches on the right needle)

Row 3: Slip 1 purlwise, knit to 1 stitch before the gap, ssk (with the stitch before the gap and the stitch after the gap), k1, turn.

Here’s the so-called “gap”:

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to 1 stitch before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all the heel stitches have been worked and 18 stitches remain on the needle.

Magic!:

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

The Gusset

Knit across the 18 heel stitches.

With the same needle (now called “needle #1”), pick up 17 stitches along the heel flap. (35 stitches)

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

With a new needle (needle #2), knit across the 30 stitches that have been on hold.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

With a new needle (needle #3), pick up 17 stitches along the other side of the heel flap.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Still with needle #3, knit 9 stitches from needle #1.

Now there are 26 stitches on needle #1, 30 stitches on needle #2, and 26 stitches on needle #3. Needle #1 is the beginning of the round (at the middle of the heel).

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Round 1: Needle #1 – knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #2 – knit all the stitches. Needle #3 – k1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 60 total stitches remain (15 stitches on Needle #1, 30 stitches on Needle #2, and 15 stitches on Needle #3).

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

The Foot

Maintaining 15 stitches on Needles #1 and #3 and 30 stitches on Needle #2, knit evenly until the piece measures 2 inches less than the desired final length, measuring from the back edge of the heel.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Here’s a guideline for final sock lengths:

US size 6 shoe (European 37) = 9 inches

US size 7 shoe (38) = 9 1/4 inches

US size 8 shoe (39) = 9 5/8 inches

US size 9 shoe (40) = 10 inches

I’m making socks to fit a size 7 shoe, so I knit the foot until it measures 7 1/4 inches (9 1/4 inches – 2 inches).

The Toe

Round 1: Needle #1 – knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #2 – K1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Needle #3 – k1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 32 total stitches remain.

Then, repeat Round 1 until 12 total stitches remain.

With Needle #3, knit the 3 stitches from Needle #1 so that there are 6 stitches on each of two needles.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Use the Kitchener Stitch to close the toe.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

The Pom Poms

I used the Susan Bates Pom Pom Maker to make the smallest size pom poms. (Please visit our Pom Pom Tutorial if you need help with your pom pom maker.)

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

When you tie the pom pom in half leave generous tails so that you can use them to sew the pom pom to the top back of the socklet. Bring the tails to the inside, tie a knot (yes, a knot!), and very thoroughly weave the ends in to the cuff.

Pom Pom Socklets | Purl Soho

Now switch the colors and make another pair!