Like most four year olds, my son can display stunning defiance, like last week when I asked him to take my first Toddler Sock for a test drive. After some coaxing, begging and finally bribery, I succeeded in getting the sock on his foot. Determining that it indeed fit, I reached down to remove the sock and was met with even more resistance, “Uh-uh, I’m never taking it off!” At last I had to admit defeat, because let’s face it, hand knit socks are a total delight!

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

These simple socks are so cute and cozy, even a toddler can appreciate them. Plus, little socks for little people are really fun to make. All the fascination of sock knitting is in fast forward with one interesting step right after another, kind of like a great short story!

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

I knit up these Toddler Socks in Koigu Premium Merino, one of our all-time favorite merinos. Soft, machine washable, stretchy, and gorgeously hand-dyed, KPM is the ultimate yarn for adorable socks and happy, little feet!

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

To take a peak of my son, Bear, wearing his favorite color pink socks, check out Purl Soho’s March 2013 Instagram feed right here. And to get started making your own Toddler Socks, read on! -Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

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

Materials

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

  • 1–4 skeins of Koigu Premium Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 175 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 175 yards required for 1 solid color pair. We used the colors, shown above from left to right, 1155, 1503, 1051, and 1010.5.
  • A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles

NOTE: One skein will make one pair of socks (to ensure you don’t run out of yarn, the final foot length for the 4-5 size should not exceed 5¾ inches, unstretched [7 inches stretched]).

And here’s another colorway we like…

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

The colors of Koigu Premium Merino above are, from the left, 2200, 1503, 1051, and 1010.5.

Gauge

8¼ stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Sizes

2-3 years (4-5 years)

  • Foot circumference: 5⅓ (6) inches, unstretched; 7 (8) inches, stretched
  • Foot Length: 5 (5¾) inches, unstretched; 6¼ (7) inches, stretched. The length is easily adjustable.

(Again, if you’re hoping to get one pair out of one skein of KPM, the final foot length for the 4-5 size should not exceed 5¾ inches, unstretched [7 inches stretched]).

Notes

Here are the four color combinations that I used (if you have the Orange set of yarns, just replace 1155 with 2200):

  • Color A – 1155; Color B – 1503
  • Color A – 1503; Color B – 1051
  • Color A – 1051; Color B – 1010.5
  • Color A – 1010.5; Color B – 1155

The photos in this pattern show the 2-3 year size.

Pattern

The Leg

With Color A, cast on 44 (52) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of the round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 3 (4) inches from cast one edge.

Cut yarn.

The Heel Flap

With Color B, knit 11 (13) stitches and turn the work so the purl side of the fabric is facing you.

Purl 22 (26) stitches. (The 22 [26] 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 22 [26] stitches.)

Arrange the stitches so that the 22 [26] heel flap stitches are on one needle. Put the remaining stitches on hold on two needles (11 [13] stitches each).

(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 22 [26] stitches.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of 22 [26] stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 nine (eleven) more times.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

Turning the Heel

Still just working the heel flap stitches:

Row 1 (right side): K13 (15), Slip Slip Knit (ssk), k1, turn the work so the wrong side is facing you and there are 15 (17) stitches on the left needle and 6 (8) stitches on the right needle.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, p5, Purl 2 Together (p2tog), p1, turn the work.

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.

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 14 (16) stitches remain on the needle.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

The Gusset

Knit across the 14 (16) heel stitches.

With the same needle (now called “needle #1”), pick up 11 (13) stitches along the edge of the heel flap. (25 [29] stitches on needle #1)

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

With a new needle (needle #2), knit across the 22 (26) stitches that have been on hold.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

With a new needle (needle #3), pick up 11 (13) stitches along the other side of the heel flap.

Still with needle #3, knit 7 (8) stitches from needle #1.

Now there are 18 (21) stitches on needle #1, 22 (26) stitches on needle #2, and 18 (21) stitches on needle #3. The first stitch of needle #1, at middle of the heel, is now the beginning of the round.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

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

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 44 (52) total stitches remain.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

The Foot

Knit evenly until the piece measures 1 1/4 (1 1/2) inches less than the desired final length, measuring from the back edge of the heel and gently stretching the foot. (I knit the 2-3 year size to 3 3/4 inches [unstretched] and the 4-5 year size to 4 1/4 inches [unstretched]).

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 28 (32) total stitches remain.

Then, repeat just Round 1 until 12 total stitches remain.

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

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

Use the Kitchener Stitch to close the toe.

Toddler Socks | Purl Soho

Weave in all the ends, then get started on your second sock!