Soldier's Socks

Socks are easy and fun to knit, and you can dress them up with cables, stripes, or other patterns once you’ve mastered this basic sock.

Needed:

US #2 double-pointed needles (set of 4)
320-400 yards sport or sock-weight yarn. Sock yarn needs to have some "give" to it, so make sure there’s wool or another natural fiber in the yarn.

Instructions:

Women’s size 8-9 (Men’s size 9-11).

Cast on 56 (64) stitches, join without twisting and place a marker at the beginning of the round. Knit in K2, P2 ribbing for 2" (Option: Continue knitting in 2 x 2 rib all the way down to the heel flap). Knit plain for 5" (7") more, sock leg will be 7" (9") long.

Heel flap: At the beginning of the next round, K 14 (16) stitches, then slip the LAST 14 (16) stitches of the previous round onto the same needle, these 28 (32) stitches will form the heel. Slide the other stitches before and after these onto the instep needle and cap the ends to keep them from slipping off. You will now knit the heel stitches flat.

Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1, purl across

Row 2: (Slip 1, K1)

Repeat these two rows 14 (16) times, or until heel flap is square, ending with Row 2. Slip 1 and purl across one last time.

Turn heel: Slip 1, K 15 (or half the stitches plus 1), SSK, K1, TURN your work. Slip 1, purl 5, purl 2 together, K 1. Continue in this manner: slip the first stitch, knit/purl until 1 before the gap, SSK or purl 2 together across the gap, then go one more and turn until you have used up all the stitches. Now pick up 14 (16) stitches along the left side of your heel flap (knitting them onto the same needle as your heel stitches). K across the instep, PU 14 (16) stitches along the right side of the heel flap, and K halfway across the heel. Place marker.

Heel Gusset:
Round 1: K to last three stitches on first needle, K2tog, K1, knit across instep, on third needle K 1, SSK, knit to end of round.

Round 2: Knit plain.

Continue until you are back to 56 (64) stitches. Keep knitting plain until sock measures 2" (2.5") from the end of your toes. Now begin decreasing for the toe.

Toe Decrease:
Needle 1: K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.

Needle 2: K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.

Needle 3: K1, SSK, K to end.

Knit the decrease every other round until you have 12 (16) stitches left. Graft these stitches together using the Kitchener stitch, or simply cut a 10" tail of yarn and thread it through all the stitches, slipping them off the knitting needles as you do. Cinch the stitches tight and weave in your tail.

Always cast on the stitches for the second sock, before you lose your momentum.