Here’s a pattern for some plain ‘John’ work sock. This is my go-to sock for Colin. I’ve made fancier socks for him, but this is the version he prefers. This pattern will fit any man-sized foot, just adjust the length. Colin’s feet are 11 inches long.
Materials:
worsted yarn -118 g (275 yds)
4 mm needle -or whatever you need to get 20 sts over 4 inches
Cast on: 44 sts and work Knit 2, Purl 2 for 7 inches.
Heel Flap: work only on half the sock stitches (22).
row 1: sl 1, k1, repeat to end
row 2: sl 1, purl across
Repeat these 2 rows until 22 rows ending with a purl row for next row.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: P 14, p2tog, P1, turn
Row 2: sl1, k 7, sl1, k1, psso, k1, turn
Row 3: sl 1, p 8, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 4: sl 1, k9, sl1, k1, psso, k1, turn
Continue like this using up 1 more stitch on each row, until all stitches used up.
Gusset:
You just finished on a knit row (don’t turn). Now pick up and knit 12 stitches along left side of heel flap. Then knit across the 22 stitches for the instep. Pick up and knit 12 stitches along right side of heel flap. You should have 60 sts. It’s OK if you have a few more or less. Just make sure both socks have the same number. **make sure you can still tell which stitches are the heel and which are the instep. This will depend on how you are knitting. I use 2 circulars, so one has the instep stitches and the other heel.
Knit to 3 st before instep stitches. k2tog, k1. Knit across the 22 st for instep. K1, sl1, k1, psso.
Knit one round plain.
Repeat these two rows until you are back down to 44 sts. **on my 2 circulars, I’ll have 22 on one needle and 22 on the other
Foot:
Knit plain until sock measures 9 3/4 inches **or 1 1/4 inches shorter than finished length.
Toe:
Knit to 3 st before instep stitches. k2tog, k1. K1, sl1, k1, psso. Knit to 3 st before heel stitches. k2tog, k1. K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to end of round.
Knit one round plain.
Repeat these two rows until there are 20 stitches left. Graft stitches and enjoy your cozy warm socks.
thank you, these look lovely. And love that they are written in clear instructions.