Pom Pom Socklets In New Yarn + Sizes
All party and no pomp, our Pom Pom Socklets are happy to walk a mile in your shoes!
To knit these cuties, you follow a basic cuff-down sock pattern, getting right to the action of turning the heel after just a few rounds of ribbing and stockinette for the ankle. A hop, skip, and a jump and it’s time for those colorful little pom poms that add panache but also prevent your socks from slipping down inside your shoes… plucky, pretty, and practical, too!
We knit up these socklets in our hand-dyed Posy, a super soft machine washable blend of 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Posy’s ten new colors are an earthy rainbow that adds depth and complexity to our existing palette, so mix and match to your heart’s content!
For adult sizes, you’ll need just one skein of your contrast color and two of the main, and for toddler and kid sizes, just one of each. If it’s the little things in life that bring happiness, our Pom Pom Socklets are just the little thing to put some spring in your step this spring!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoPomPomSocklets and #PurlSohoPosy. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is approximately 159 yards/ 50 grams.
- Main Color (MC): 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 110 (159, 210, 260, 315) yards required
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein; approximately 82 (85, 87, 89, 91) yards required
- A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, size Small + Large
For our socks, we used…
- Toddler size: MC, Winter Sky, CC, Blue Bayou
- Kid size: MC, Pink Nectar, CC, Pink Smoke
- Adult Small size: MC, Tawny Gold, CC, Amber Orange
GAUGE
32 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
SIZES
Toddler (Kid, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)
- Finished Foot Circumference: 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) inches unstretched, comfortably stretching 1-2 inches
- Foot Length: Adjustable
Samples: We made the Toddler, Kid, and Adult Small sizes.
PATTERN
CUFF
With Contrast Color (CC), cast on 48 (56, 64, 72, 80) stitches and divide among 3 double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place unique marker for end of round and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 five more times.
Change to Main Color (MC) and knit 3 rounds even.
HEEL FLAP
Row 1 (right side): K12 (14, 16, 18, 20) and turn so purl side of work is facing you.
Row 2 (wrong side): P24 (28, 32, 36, 40), removing marker as you come to it.
Note: These 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) stitches are the beginning of the Heel Flap. In this section, you will work back and forth on just these stitches.
Arrange Heel Flap stitches on one needle, and place remaining 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) instep stitches on hold on two other needles, a stitch holder, or scrap yarn. Continue working back and forth in rows.
Row 3: *Slip 1 purlwise, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to end of row.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 eleven (13, 15, 17, 19) more times, until piece measures approximately 3½ (4, 4¼, 4¾, 5) inches from cast-on edge.
TURN HEEL
Row 1 (right side): K13 (15, 17, 19, 21), slip slip knit (ssk), k1, turn work. [23 (27, 31, 35, 39) Heel Flap stitches remain]
Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise, p3, purl 2 together (p2tog), p1, turn work. [22 (26, 30, 34, 38) Heel Flap stitches remain]
Row 3: Slip 1 purlwise, knit to 1 stitch before gap, ssk (with stitch before and stitch after gap), k1, turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise, purl to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog (with stitch before and stitch after gap), p1, turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 three (4, 5, 6, 7) more times. [14 (16, 18, 20, 22) Heel Flap stitches remain]
GUSSET
NOTE: To learn how to pick up and knit, visit our tutorial and scroll down to the Along A Vertical Edge: Stockinette Stitch section.
Set-Up Round (right side): K14 (16, 18, 20, 22), with right side facing you, pick up and knit 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) stitches along edge of Heel Flap, place marker (pm), knit 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) on-hold instep stitches, pm, with right side facing you, pick up and knit 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) stitches along second edge of Heel Flap, place unique marker for end of round. [64 (74, 84, 94, 104) stitches]
Round 1: Knit to 2 stitches before first marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), slip marker (sm), knit to next marker, sm, ssk, knit to end of round. [2 stitches decreased]
Round 2: Knit to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 seven (8, 9, 10, 11) more times. [48 (56, 64, 72, 80) stitches remain]
Next Round: Remove marker at end of round, knit to next marker and replace it with unique marker for new end of round.
FOOT
Work in stockinette stitch until Foot measures 1½ (1¾, 2, 2½, 2¾) inches less than desired finished length, measuring from back of heel. Here are final Foot lengths for most sizes.
TODDLER SIZES
- US size 3 shoe (European 18) = 4⅜ inches
- US size 6 shoe (21) = 5¼ inches
- US size 9 shoe (26) = 6¼ inches
- US size 11 shoe (28) = 6⅞ inches
- US size 121/2 shoe (31) = 7¼ inches
- US size 131/2 shoe (32) = 7½ inches
- US size 1Y shoe (32) = 7⅝ inches
KID SIZES
- US size 2Y shoe (European 34) = 8 inches
- US size 3Y shoe (35) = 8⅜ inches
- US size 4Y shoe (36) = 8⅝ inches
- US size 5Y shoe (37) = 9 inches
- US size 6Y shoe (39) = 9¾ inches
WOMEN’S SIZES
- US size 6 shoe (European 37) = 9 inches
- US size 7 shoe (38) = 9¼ inches
- US size 8 shoe (39) = 9⅝ inches
- US size 9 shoe (40) = 10 inches
MEN’S SIZES
- US size 9 shoe (European 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
Round 1: K1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1. [4 stitches decreased]
Round 2: Knit to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 five (6, 7, 8, 9) more times. [24 (28, 32, 36, 40) total stitches remain]
Repeat Round 1 three (4, 5, 6, 7) more times. [12 total stitches remain]
Arrange remaining stitches on two needles, with instep stitches on one needle and sole stitches on the second needle. Graft remaining stitches with Kitchener Stitch.
POM POMS
MAKE POM POM
If you’re using Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, use the Small Pom Pom Maker and the 1½ inch Trim Guide to make a pom pom with CC yarn. Follow the basic instructions for a Solid Pom Pom found in our Pom Pom Tutorial.
ATTACH POM POM
Thread each pom pom tail separately through the sock to the inside at the base of the ribbed cuff. Tie the tails into a knot, thread the tails back through the sock and up through the pom pom itself, and trim them flush with the pom pom.
FINISHING
Weave in the ends, and then make another sock.
Gently wet block, flat.
Can these socks be knitted in the round? Thank you.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out. These socks are already knit in the round! The only sections that are knit flat are HEEL FLAP and TURN HEEL, but this is typical for this type of sock construction. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, Lili,
Thank you for answering such a silly question. I meant to ask if circular needles could be used instead of dpn’s in this pattern. 🫢
Hi Mary,
You can absolutely use circular needles for this pattern! However, you will likely need to use the magic loop technique, since the circumference of the socks is so small. If this is daunting, we have a great tutorial!
All the best,
Lili
Is the gauge really as written?
4” over 32 stitches means the heel flap with 36 stitches is more then 4” wide.
Thanks
Hi Val,
Thanks for reaching out. I can confirm that the gauge is correct! The heel flap on these socks wraps all the way around the ankle, distributing the width about the heel. Hope this helps clear things up!
All the best,
Lili
Is it possible switch this pattern up and use circular needles?
Hi Niki,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely use circular needles as long as you use the magic loop technique! That’s a great way to knit items with very small circumferences without using DPNs. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you
Hi
Just starting this project can’t I find any support for question. I been knitting for more then 20 years but just doing blankets for baby’s
Hi Vera,
Thanks for reaching out. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about this pattern! You can write in on our website, reach out to customerservice@purlsoho.com, or book a 1-On-1 Project Help session. We’re always happy to help!
All the best,
Lili
How can I download this sock pattern
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out. If you’re on your computer, you’ll find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find the “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Click on this button, and a window will pop up where you can delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print. When you hover over any image or a text block, it will be highlighted in yellow and a “trash” icon will appear. Just click on this icon to delete anything that’s not necessary to the pattern! For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. Then, click on the “PDF” button in the upper left-hand corner of the pop-up window. Once your PDF has finished downloading, just click the “Download PDF” button, and it will be saved to your computer! (You can also click the “Print” button if you’d like to print the pattern.)
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thanks for making the pattern available, you might want to double-check the instructions for knitting the gusset, as I think you will find a fatal error… I think the second marker needs to be placed before you pick up and knit those stitches along the second edge of the heel flap.
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for reaching out. I can confirm that the second marker is indeed placed before you pick up and knit those stitches! In total, you will end up with 3 markers on your needles after the GUSSET Set-Up Row. One directly after the first picked-up stitches, one directly before the second set of picker-up stitches, and a unique marker for the end-of-round. I hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
I’ve been knitting the foot section without the end of round marker and now I’m not sure where the round starts. Is it at the middle of the heel – the same place the sock began at the cuff?
Hi Ellen,
Thank you so much for reaching out. You are correct, your beginning of the round marker should be at the center of your heel flap! When you are working your heel flap, the marker gets removed on row 2 and instead you will be working back and forth in rows. The marker won’t be placed again until you are ready to work the set-up round of the gusset section!
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Carly
Hi Carly. It’s the toe decrease section that has me confused.
Hi Ellen,
Sorry for the confusion! Your end of round marker will be placed in the Set-Up Round of the Gusset earlier in the construction of your sock. So you will knit K14 (16, 18, 20, 22), with right side facing you, pick up and knit 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) stitches along edge of Heel Flap, and then place marker. This marker becomes your end of round marker right before beginning the Foot section, and will be your end of round for the rest of the pattern! Since you have been knitting without a marker, you can find this spot by following the column of stitches up from the corner of the gusset.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
Sorry, it’s me again. I understand where you say the beginning of the round is, but in the TOE Round 1 instructions you knit for a while before you get to the instruction to sm (slip marker). Where is this marker? Is there a beginning of round marker and another marker?
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for checking in about this! Expanding on Carly’s earlier reply, there are a total of 3 stitch markers placed on the GUSSET Set-Up Round: 1 end-of-round marker, and 2 other markers that you used to mark where to work the decreases in this section. At the end of the GUSSET section, the pattern instructs you to “Remove marker at end of round, knit to next marker and replace it with unique marker for new end of round.” Thus, one of the 2 decrease markers becomes your new end-of-round marker, and the other one also remains. These two markers are the ones referenced in TOE Round 1! Since you’ll need to replace these markers before beginning the TOE, you can follow the column of stitches up from the corner of each gusset to determine where they should be.
All the best,
Lili
The heel sl 1 purlwise is yarn in front or behind it seems with my holding yarn in back looks like weird
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for reaching out with your question. The slipped stitches should be worked purl-wise and with the yarn held in back, so it sounds like you are doing this step correctly! The slipped stitches create a stronger and denser fabric for the heel, where the most friction on our soocks happens.
Please let us know if you have any other questions, we’d be happy to help!
All the best,
Carly
Hi
This is a crazy dumb question, and I have made socks before but I keep getting stuck on the Turn Heel portion. I can’t figure out the “gap” in Row 3. I end up with front side facing me, 13 stitches on the left needle and 20 on the right. I appear to be at the gap with nowhere to go….
Thank you
Hi Cat,
Thanks for reaching out. On Row 3 of TURN HEEL, you will knit up to 1 stitch before the gap! So the order of items on your left needle should be: 1 stitch, gap, remaining stitches. Once you’re at this point, you will work an ssk decrease with this first stitch and (ignoring the gap) the second stitch on the left needle. Then you will knit 1 more stitch and turn your work (creating another gap to be decreased across on the next repeat of Row 3)! I hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Found it thank you so much!
I didn’t see the gap until I spread out the stiches thx
hi, thank you for the pattern, i am having a problem with the heel flap, i am working on 9″ circular. i repeated rows 3/4 15x making it 32 rows, problem is it only measures 3″ not the 4 1/4″ as the pattern shows. what am i doing wrong? i am a beginner at sock making. thank you for your quick reply.
cathy
Hi Cath,
Thanks for reaching out, and I can confirm that all three of your comments have gone through! It sounds like your row gauge is a bit on the small side, which is causing the heel flap to be too short. I’d recommend making a gauge swatch with the yarn you’re using, since you’ll likely need to size up your needles to meet the gauge listed in the pattern (32 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch). If you would like to learn more about this, we have a handy tutorial called All About Gauge. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I’m working up the Guage. I don’t understand how to measure the swatch when it is worked in the round.
Thank you.
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for reaching out! We actually have a great tutorial on Swatching for Circular Gauge, so I’d recommend taking a look at that. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili