Socks, yes, but ordinary socks, no… These are our Very Long Socks! Wear them on snowy hikes or lounging in bed; with skirts and dresses, on bare legs, over tights, or with boots of all heights; over-the-knee uncuffed, or just-under-the-knee cuffed.

Very Long Socks | Purl Soho

Very Long Socks follow a classic top-down pattern, knit from cuff to toes in a 2×2 rib that feels like a hug, not a squeeze. These socks have a tailored fit and a structural integrity brought on by the neat decreases that run down the back of the leg like pretty winter branches.

Very Long Socks | Purl Soho

We knit these socks in our hand-dyed Posy because its superwash merino, cashmere, and nylon blend is a total sock trifecta. Super soft to the touch, durable mile after mile, and machine-washable, Posy checks all the boxes. Choose from 16 lush colors and cast on!

Very Long Socks | Purl Soho

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

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

Materials

Very Long Socks | Purl Soho
  • 4 or 5 (6, 7, 8) skeins of Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is approximately 159 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 630-645 (880-900, 1015-1045, 1175-1185) total yards required. We used Teal Twilight. (NOTE: We no longer offer Posy, but choose from one of our other fingering weight yarns.)
  • A set of US 0 (2 mm) double pointed needles
  • A stitch marker

NOTE: If making the Junior size for a Woman’s US 5 foot length or smaller, you will only need 4 skeins of Posy.

Gauge

  • 50 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches in 2×2 Rib, unstretched
  • 28 stitches = 4 inches in 2×2 Rib, stretched
  • 34 stitches and 50 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Junior (Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)

  • Cuff Circumference: 6¾ (8, 8¾, 9¼ ) inches unstretched, comfortably stretching to 12 (14½, 15½, 16½) inches
  • Foot Circumference: 5¼ (6¾, 7½, 8½) inches unstretched, comfortably stretching to 6¾ (8¾, 9¾, 10¾) inches
  • Foot Length: Adjustable
  • Leg Length from top of Heel to top of Cuff (unfolded): 18 (21, 21¾, 23¼) inches

SAMPLE: Our sample is the Adult Small, Woman’s US 7 size.

Note

Slip all slipped stitches purlwise unless the pattern indicates otherwise.

ERRATA: On May 15, 2019 we edited the pattern to correct an error in the placement of the Heel for the Adult Medium and Adult Large sizes. The corrections are in the TURN THE HEEL and GUSSET sections. You can see exactly what changed by visiting our Errata page, but the pattern is now correct as it’s written here. We’re very sorry for the mistake!

Pattern

Cuff

Cast 84 (100, 108, 116) stitches onto 3 double pointed needles. [Needles A and C: 28 (34, 36, 38) stitches; Needle B: 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches]

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p2, k1.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 9 (10, 10, 11) inches from cast-on edge.

Leg

Round 1: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, purl 2 together (p2tog), k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 2: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog). [1 stitch decreased]

Round 3: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, p2, k1, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 4: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p2, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 5: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p2, k1.

Repeat Round 5 eight (11, 12, 13) more times.

Round 6: K1, p2tog through the back loop (tbl), *k2, p2 repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 7: Slip slip knit (ssk), *k2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 8: Ssk, k1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p2, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Round 9: Ssk, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p2, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Repeat Round 5 nine (12, 13, 14) more times.

Repeat from Round 1 three more times. [52 (68, 76, 84) stitches total; Needles A and C: 12 (18, 20, 22) stitches; Needle B: 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches]

Heel Flap

Set-Up Row 1 (right side): K1, [p2, k2] 3 (4, 4, 5) times, p0 (0, 2, 0), turn work so wrong side is facing you.

Set-Up Row 2 (wrong side): K0 (0, 2, 0), [p2, k2] 6 (8, 9, 10) times, p2 (2, 0, 2). NOTE: These 26 (34, 38, 42) stitches are the beginning of the Heel Flap, and for this section, you will work back and forth on just these 26 (34, 38, 42) stitches.

Arrange stitches so that 26 (34, 38, 42) Heel Flap stitches are on one needle, and remaining stitches are on hold on other two needles: 13 (17, 19, 21) stitches each.

Work following rows back and forth, turning work between each row…

Row 1: *Slip 1 (see Note) with yarn in back (wyib), k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: Slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), purl to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 twelve (17, 18, 19) more times

Turn The Heel

Row 1 (right side): K15 (19, 21, 23) ssk, k1, turn work so wrong side is facing you and there are 17 (21, 23, 25) stitches on left needle and 8 (12, 14, 16) stitches on right needle.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn work. [16 (20, 22, 24) stitches on left needle and 8 (12, 14, 16) stitches on right needle]

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

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

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all Heel stitches have been worked. [16 (20, 22, 24) Heel stitches remain]

Gusset

Knit across 16 (20, 22, 24) Heel stitches with new needle (now called Needle A).

With Needle A, pick up and knit 13 (18, 19, 20) stitches along Heel Flap. [29 (38, 41, 44) stitches on Needle A]

With new needle (now called Needle B), k0 (0, 2, 0), [p2, k2] 6 (8, 9, 10) times, p2 (2, 0, 2).

With new needle (now called Needle C), pick up and 13 (18, 19, 20) stitches along Heel Flap.

With Needle C, knit 8 (10, 11, 12) stitches from Needle A. [68 (90, 98, 106) total stitches; Needles A and C: 21 (28, 30, 32) stitches; Needle B: 26 (34, 38, 42) stitches]

Round 1: For Needle A, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1; for Needle B, k0 (0, 2, 0), [p2, k2] 6 (8, 9, 10) times, p2 (2, 0, 2); for Needle C, k1, ssk, knit to end of needle. [2 stitches decreased]

Round 2: For Needle A, knit to end of needle; for Needle B, k0 (0, 2, 0), [p2, k2] 6 (8, 9, 10) times, p2 (2, 0, 2); for Needle C, knit to end of needle.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 52 (68, 76, 84) stitches remain. [Needles A and C: 13 (17, 19, 21) stitches; Needle B: 26 (34, 38, 42) stitches]

Foot

Round 1: For Needle A, knit to end of needle; for Needle B, k0 (0, 2, 0), [p2, k2] 6 (8, 9, 10) times, p2 (2, 0, 2); for Needle C, knit to end of needle.

Repeat Round 1 until Foot measures 1 1/4 (1 3/4, 2 1/4, 2 1/2) inches less than desired final length, measuring from back edge of Heel. Here’s how long you’ll want the final Foot length…

Final Foot Length

Junior Sizes

US size 1Y (European 32) = 7¾ inches

US size 2Y (33) = 8 inches

US size 3Y (34) = 8½ inches

US size 4Y (36) = 8¾ inches

US size 5Y (37) = 9 inches

US size 6Y (38) = 9⅜ inches

US size 7Y (39) = 9⅝ inches

Women’s Sizes

US size 4 shoe (European 35) = 8⅜ inches

US size 5 shoe (36) = 8⅝ inches

US size 6 shoe (37) = 9 inches

US size 7 shoe (38) = 9¼ inches

US size 8 shoe (39) = 9⅝ inches

US size 9 shoe (40) = 10 inches

US size 10 shoe (41) = 10⅜ inches

Men’s Sizes

US size 7 shoe (European 39) = 9⅝ inches

US size 8 shoe (40) = 10 inches

US size 9 shoe (42) = 10½ inches

US size 10 shoe (43) = 10¾ inches

US size 11 shoe (44) = 11 inches

US size 12 shoe (45) = 11½ inches

US size 13 shoe (46) = 11¾ inches

Toe

Set-Up Round: Knit to end of round.

Round 1: For Needle A, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1; for Needle B, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1; for Needle C, k1, ssk, knit to end of needle. [4 stitches decreased]

Rounds 2–4: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1–4 one (2, 3, 3) more times. [44 (56, 60, 68) stitches]

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 three (3, 3, 4) times. [32 (44, 48, 52) stitches]

Repeat Round 1 two (3, 4, 5) times. [24 (32, 32, 32) stitches]

With Needle C, knit the 6 (8, 8, 8) stitches from Needle A so there are 12 (16, 16, 16) stitches on each of two needles.

Use Kitchener Stitch to graft the Toe closed.

Finish

Weave in the ends, and then make another sock!

Block both socks by soaking them in room temperature water, squeezing out the excess water, and laying them flat to dry. To wash socks, either machine wash cold and tumble dry low, or hand wash with gentle soap in a basin of room temperature water.

Very Long Socks | Purl Soho