How to Knit the Gusset of a Sock

How to knit the gusset of a sock

Are you new to knitting socks? You may be wondering how to knit the gusset of a sock. I’ll show you how in this video tutorial. The gusset is a wedge shaped piece that decreases on each side of the sock. It comes right after working the heel of a top-down sock. It’s purpose is to decrease the circumference of the sock between the heel and the foot.

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Can you recommend a good sock pattern for beginners?

I sure can! In this series of videos I am using my own written sock pattern, Catoosa Socks. This is a free pattern with any easy, but also interesting stitch pattern. It has beautiful texture to it and looks great in solid colors, semi-solids, and even highly variegated and speckled yarns. And bonus, it has this helpful set of videos to go with it!

You can get the free Catoosa Socks knitting pattern here.

What are the basic parts of a handknit sock?

A handknit sock starts with a cast on just like any other knitting projects. In this video series and pattern I am making a top-down sock that starts with the cuff, so I’ll focus on that, even though it is also possible to start a sock at the toe. One of the best cast on methods for socks is the long tail cast on. It is very nice and stretchy, which is important for the cuff of your sock, since it has to fit over your heel, but also be snug around your leg.

After you cast on and knit in ribbing for an inch or two, you will work the leg of your sock in your chosen stitch pattern. An ankle sock will have a very short leg, but your typical crew sock will have a leg that is six to eight inches long from cast on to heel.

There are lots of different heel construction methods that you can try out once you are comfortable knitting socks. For your first sock, I suggest using the traditional heel flap, turn, and gusset method, which is what I teach in this video series. The heel flap is knitted flat on just half the sock stitches and covers the back of the heel. The heel turn uses short rows and cups the bottom of the heel. The gusset, which we are learning in this post and video forms a wedge between the heel and the top of the foot. It is a section of decreases.

The foot is a lot like knitting the leg, around and around in your chosen stitch pattern.

When your sock foot is about two inches shorter than the foot it is made for, it’s time to start decreasing for the toe. One of the easiest toe construction methods, and my favorite, is the gathered toe. It’s easy. You decrease down to eight or so stitches and then gather those closed just like you would the top of a hat.

What was that about a series of sock knitting tutorials?

I have made a whole series of videos to demonstrate the cast on, the heel, the gusset, and the toe of a handknit sock. Find the other tutorials with these links:

Learn to cast on with double-pointed needles

Learn to knit the heel flap of a sock.

How to knit the heel turn of a sock.

How to knit the gusset of a sock (that’s this video!)

Learn to knit a gathered toe for a sock

How to knit the gusset of a sock video tutorial

I hope this video helped you learn how to knit the gusset of a sock. I’d love to see your progress and accomplishments! Please come join my Facebook group, The Studio Bunch to share with us!

Happy knitting!