Free Child’s Sock Knitting Pattern
Free children’s sock knitting pattern
This free child’s sock knitting pattern includes four sizes from a younger child’s size 2 to an older child’s size 1, or foot circumferences from 3 3/4 to 7 3/4 inches. The leg of the sock uses the butterfly stitch to create the pretty and interesting texture.
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Table of Contents
Where can I get this child’s sock knitting pattern?
This knitting pattern for a children’s sock is free right here in this post! Just scroll down for the free version.
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Are there adult sizes available in this pattern?
Only the child sizes of this sock knitting pattern are free. However, the paid PDF includes three additional sizes for adults!
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Swink Socks, free child’s sock knitting pattern
By April Garwood of Banana Moon Studio
(C)2024 April Garwood. As with all my patterns, please do not make paper or digital copies for others. Instead, please direct them to my website to get their own. Thank you!
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Available Sizes: To fit 3 ¾ [5 ¼, 6 ½, 7 ¾] inch foot circumferences, or roughly equivalent to US children’s shoe sizes 2 [6 ½, 10 ½, 1].
Finished Measurements: Sock circumference 3 1/2 [4 3/4, 6, 7] inches.
If your child falls between sizes, I suggest knitting the next size up so that they can grow into it.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cherub Sock (55% Nylon, 45% Acrylic; 458 yds; 100 g; yarn weight category: 2/Fine/Sport) 1 skein #107 Hydrangea Heather.
Knitting Needles: US Size 1 1/2 (2.5 mm) DPNS or long circulars for Magic Loop method.
Notions: Locking stitch marker, tapestry needle.
Gauge: 34 sts x 42 rows = 4 inches in butterfly stitch as used in the leg of the sock.
Abbreviations Used
BOR, beginning of round
CO, cast on
k, knit
k2tog, knit two stitches together, tutorial here
p, purl
p2tog, purl two stitches together
rn, right needle
rnd, round
sl, slip
ssk, slip slip knit, tutorial here
st, stitch
tbl, through the back loop
wyb, with yarn in back
wyf, with yarn in front
Helpful Resources
The following tutorials may be helpful for beginning sock knitters.
Sock (make 2)
Tip
I suggest having a multiple of 5 sts on each needle. For DPNs, the 4 inch sock size works best with sts arranged on three needles. The 5 and 7 inch sizes work great arranged on four needles. For the 6 inch size I suggest 10 sts on the first and third needles, and 15 sts on the second and fourth needles.
If you are using long circulars for magic loop method, you will be just fine arranging the same number of sts on each needle.
Cuff
Using long tail cast on, CO 30 [40, 50, 60] sts. Arrange sts across needles. Being careful not to twist sts, join to work in the round.
Place st marker to mark BOR.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing until piece measures about 1 inch from CO edge.
Leg
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Rnds 1-2: K all sts.
Rnd 3: *K5, bring yarn to front, sl 5 sts, return yarn to back, keeping float fairly loose, repeat from * around.
Rnd 4: K all sts.
Rnd 5: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 6: K all sts.
Rnd 7: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 8: K5 *k2, bring rn up under 3 floats from previous rnds starting from the bottom, k1, bring rn back down through floats and take them off the needle, k7, repeat from * around.
Rnds 9-10: K all sts.
Rnd 11: *Bring yarn to front, sl 5 sts, return yarn to back, keeping float fairly loose, k5, repeat from * around.
Rnd 12: K all sts.
Rnd 13: Repeat Rnd 11.
Rnd 14: K all sts.
Rnd 15: Repeat Rnd 11.
Rnd 16: *K2, bring rn up under 3 floats from previous rnds starting from the bottom, k1, bring rn back down through floats and take them off the needle, k7, repeat from * around.
Repeat Rnds 1-16 for pattern.
Work in pattern until piece measures about 4-5 inches from CO edge, ending with a repeat of Rnd 1 or 9.
Heel Flap
The heel flap will only be worked across the first half of the leg sts. Keep the other half of leg stitches on another needle, or a piece of waste yarn for later.
Row 1: K15 [20, 25, 30] sts, turn – 15 [20, 25, 30] sts.
Row 2: Slip 1 purlwise wyf, p all remaining sts, turn.
Row 3: *Slip 1 purlwise wyb, k1, repeat from *, for those sizes with 1 st remaining, k last st, turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 purlwise wyf, p all remaining sts, turn.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 for pattern. Work in pattern for a total of 12 [16, 20, 26] heel flap rows.
Heel Turn
Beginning with a RS row, work in short rows as follows.
Row 1: K10 [13, 17, 20], ssk, turn work.
Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise wyf, p5 [6, 9, 10], p2tog, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1 purliwise wyb, k5 [6, 9, 10], ssk, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1 purlwise wyf, p5 [6, 9, 10], p2tog, turn.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a WS row – 7 [8, 11, 12] sts remain.
With RS facing, k remaining heel sts.
Gusset
Setup rnd: With RS facing, and working under slipped sts along side of heel flap, pick up and k8 [10, 12, 15] along first side of heel flap, picking up last 2 sts above the break between heel and instep, k across instep, pick up and k8 [10, 12, 15] sts along other side of heel flap, picking up first 2 sts above the break between heel and instep, and then picking up the rest by working under slipped sts along side of heel flap, k half of the remaining heel sts again, place marker for BOR – 38 [48, 60, 72] sts.
Rnd 1: K to end of heel sts, k all picked up sts tbl, k across instep, k all picked up sts tbl, k to end of rnd.
Rnd 2 (decrease rnd): K to 3 sts before start of instep, k2tog, k1, k across instep, k1, ssk, k to end of rnd – decrease of 2 sts.
Rnd 3: K all sts.
Alternate repeating Rnds 2 and 3 until 30 [40, 50, 60] sts remain.
Foot
Rnd 1: K all sts.
Repeat Rnd 1 for pattern. Work in pattern until foot measures 1 ½ [1 ½, 2, 2] inches less than desired sock foot length.
Tip
If you can’t measure the wearer’s foot, standards suggest that sock foot lengths for the included sizes should be around 4 ¼ [5 ¼, 7, 8] inches.
Toe
Rnd 1 (decrease rnd): K to 3 sts before instep, k2tog, k2, ssk, k to 3 sts before end of instep, k2tog, k2, ssk, k to end of rnd – decrease of 4 sts.
Rnd 2: K all sts.
Alternate repeating these 2 rnds 3 [4, 5, 7] times – 18 [24, 30, 32] sts remain.
Repeat decrease rnd every rnd for 2 [4, 5, 6] more rnds – 10 [8, 10, 8] sts remain.
Finishing
Cut yarn leaving an 8 inch tail. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle and thread through remaining sts, pull tail to close hole, go through last rnd of sts a few more times to secure, take tail to inside.
Weave in all ends.
That finishes this free child’s sock knitting pattern. I would love to see your in-process or finished socks! You can share them on Instagram and tag me, or you can join my Facebook group and share them there.
Happy knitting!
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