For us, and maybe for you too, dusty knitting pamphlets from the early 20th century are captivating literature, full of surprising ideas and timeless inspiration. Our Seamed Socks nod to this history and follow a path taken by some of our knitting ancestors who chose to seam their socks together rather than knit them in the round. The result is sock-making at its easiest!

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

For our pair, we used Anzula’s Squishy, an incredibly soft hand-dyed superwash yarn with generous yardage and a touch of nylon for durability. Choose from a beautiful palette of off-kilter colors, and for a little extra fun, pick a second color for a whimsical contrast sole.

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

If it’s true that there is no greater display of love than to give what you’ve made by hand, I would encourage you to try making (and giving!) a pair of our Seamed Socks. They may just become part of your own knitting history! -Kristy

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Kristina McGowan. Click here to see even more of Kristina’s designs!

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

 Materials

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho
  • Color A: 1 skein of Anzula’s Squishy, 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon. Approximately 250-350 yards of fingering weight yarn required. This color is Au Natural.
  • Color B: 1 skein of Anzula’s Squishy. Approximately 84-117 yards required. This color is Seaside.
  • Three 8-inch US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles (or size needed to get the correct gauge)

NOTE: Two skeins of yarn should be enough to make 2 pairs of each size except the Men’s Large.

Gauge

30 stitches and 38 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Women’s Small (Women’s Medium, Women’s Large/Men’s Medium, Men’s Large)

  • Finished Foot Circumference: 7 ½ (8 ½, 9 ½, 10 ½) inches (unstretched)
  • Foot Length: Adjustable
  • Height from Top of Heel to Top of Cuff (unfolded): 5 ½ (5 ½, 6, 6 ½) inches (unblocked)

SAMPLE: We knit a Women’s Medium.

Notes

Although you use double pointed needles in this pattern, you don’t ever actually work in the round. Mostly you will use two double pointed needles as if they were normal straight needles, but when you get to the Gusset, you will use all three needles for a short period of time. You need the extra one at that point to accommodate the shape of the fabric. Don’t worry… It’ll all become clear as you work!

Slip all stitches purlwise.

Pattern

Cuff and Leg

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

With Color A, cast 54 (62, 70, 78) stitches onto one double pointed needle. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (right side): *K2, p2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2,

Row 2 (wrong side): *P2, k2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong side row.

Next Row (right side): Knit.

Next Row (wrong side): Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows for 3 ½ (3 ½, 4, 4 ½) inches, ending with a wrong side row.

Increase Row (right side): K2, m1R, knit to last 2 stitches, m1L, k2. [56 (64, 72, 80) stitches]

Purl 1 row.

Next Row (right side): K42 (48, 54, 60), place the last 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches just worked onto a stitch holder or waste yarn. Cut yarn and slip remaining 14 (16, 18, 20) stitches onto a second needle. [28 (32, 36, 40) total stitches: 14 (16, 18, 20) stitches on each of two needles]

NOTE: You will work the on-hold stitches later for the Top of Foot.

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Turn work so the wrong side is facing you and fold the right and left sides inward so that their edges meet. Slip the 14 (16, 18, 20) stitches from one needle onto the other so that all the live stitches are on one needle. [28 (32, 36, 40) stitches]

Heel Flap

With the wrong side facing you, join Color B and…

Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1, purl to end of row.

Row 2 right side): *Slip 1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 2 (2, 2, 2 ½) inches, ending with Row 1.

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

Turn Heel

Row 1 (right side): K16 (18, 20, 22), k2tog, k1, turn.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Slip 1, k6, k2tog, k1, turn.

Row 4: Slip 1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 5: Slip 1, k8, k2tog, k1, turn.

Row 6: Slip 1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 7: Slip 1, k10, k2tog, k1, turn.

Row 8: Slip 1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 9: Slip 1, k12, k2tog, k1, turn.

Row 10: Slip 1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 11: Slip 1, k14, k2tog, k0 (1, 1, 1), turn.

Women’s Small Only: Row 12: Slip 1, p14, p2tog. [16 stitches remain] Cut yarn and move on to the Gusset and Sole section.

All Other Sizes:

Row 12: Slip 1, p15, p2tog, p – (1, 1, 1), turn.

Row 13: Slip 1, k16, k2tog, k – (0, 1, 1), turn.

Women’s Medium Only: Row 14: Slip 1, p16, p2tog. [18 stitches remain] Cut yarn and move on to the Gusset and Sole section.

All Other Sizes:

Row 14: Slip 1, p17, p2tog, p – (0, 1, 1), turn.

Row 15: Slip 1, k18, k2tog, k – (-, 0, 1), turn.

Women’s Large/Men’s Medium Only: Row 16: Slip 1, p18, p2tog.[20 stitches remain] Cut yarn and move on to the Gusset and Sole section.

Men’s Large Only:

Row 16: Slip 1, p19, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 17: Slip 1, k20, k2tog, turn.

Row 18: Slip 1, p20, p2tog. [22 stitches remain] Cut yarn.

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

Gusset and Sole

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

With the right side facing you and using another double pointed needle, with Color B, pick up 14 (14, 14, 17) stitches along the right side of the Heel Flap.

With the same needle, knit 8 (9, 10, 11) stitches from Heel.

With another double pointed needle, knit the 8 (9, 10, 11) Heel stitches, then pick up 14 (14, 14, 17) stitches along the left side of the Heel Flap. [44 (46, 48, 56) stitches: 22 (23, 24, 28) stitches on each needle]

Using a third needle, work over these 44 (46, 48, 56) stitches as follows…

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side): K1, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (psso), knit to last 3 stitches of second needle, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]

Repeat the last two rows until 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches remain, ending with Row 1.

NOTE: As you work the decreases, it will become possible to work the stitches over two needles instead of three.

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho

Work even in stockinette stitch until Sole measures 7 (7, 7 ¼, 7 ¾) inches or 2 (2 ½, 2 ¾, 3) inches less than desired length from toe to back of heel, ending with a purl row and making note of the total number of rows worked.

Here’s a guideline for final sock lengths:

  • US women’s size 5-5 ½ shoe (European 36) = 8 ½ inches
  • US women’s size 6-6 ½ shoe (European 37) = 9 inches
  • US women’s size 7-7 ½ shoe (European 38) = 9 ¼ inches
  • US women’s size 8-8 ½ shoe (European 39) = 9 ⅝ inches
  • US women’s size 9-9 ½ shoe/men’s size 7-7 ½ shoe (European 40) = 10 inches
  • US women’s size 10-10 ½ shoe/men’s size 8-8 ½ shoe (European 41) = 10 ¼ inches
  • US women’s size 11-11 ½ shoe/men’s size 9-9 ½ shoe (European 42) = 10 ½ inches
  • US men’s size 10-10 ½ shoe (European 43) = 10 ¾ inches
  • US men’s size 11-11 ½ shoe (European 44) = 11 inches

Shape Toe

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Row 1 (right side): K1, slip 1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 2 (wrong side): Purl.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 10 stitches remain. Place stitches on spare needle or waste yarn.

Top of Foot

With the right side facing you and with Color A, join yarn to 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches placed on hold for Top of Foot.

Work in stockinette stitch for the same number of rows that you worked for the Sole, plus 14 (14, 14, 17) rows.

Shape Toe as for Sole.

Finish

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Seam the sides of the Leg together, using Mattress Stitch. Do the same for the sides of the Foot.

Graft the Toe closed using color A and the Kitchener Stitch.

Weave in the ends. Block as desired and enjoy your Seamed Socks!

Seamed Socks | Purl Soho