Fruit Feet Socks are striped baby socks knit with just one hank of Shepherd Sock Fruit Stripe Collection Yarn. The knitting pattern is free and the socks are fun and easy to knit.
Earlier this month I showed you the baby sock I’d started in the orange stripe color of the Fruit Stripe Collection. The Fruit Stripe Collection is six fresh, summery colors we developed with Lorna’s Laces for their fantastic Shepherd Sock Yarn. I have three friends with babies on the way, and these cute striped socks will make great gifts.
For average sized adult socks with either 64 or 72 stitches, the Fruit Stripe Collection yarns will create stripes that alternate every row. With the much smaller circumference of the baby socks, the stripes are two rounds wide.
The Fruit Feet Socks begin with a ribbed cuff to help them stay on. There’s a gusset heel, which is made by increasing every other round on half of the stitches to form the gusset and decreasing with short rows to the original number of stitches. I first encountered this heel in a pattern by Wendy D. Johnson and I’ve come to like knitting it and wearing it. It makes a very smooth heel that’s comfortable in your shoe.
The foot circumference is decreased for the toe, which is closed with a 3-needle bind off or kitchener stitch. Kitchener stitch will make a smoother finish, but a 3-needle bind off is easier for many knitters and is effective.
Fruit Feet Socks take just one hank of Shepherd Sock Fruit Stripe Collection Yarn and are quick to knit up. Make a few pairs and keep them on hand for when you need a gift.
FRUIT FEET SOCKS
SIZE
newborn (6 mos, 1 year old)
4 (5, 5.5) inch foot circumference
MATERIALS
1 hank Shepherd Sock Fruit Stripe Collection Yarn in orange stripe
40″ circular size 2 needle or size to achieve gauge
40” circular needle 2 sizes larger than needle used for gauge
GAUGE
10 sts per inch in stockinette in the round
ABBREVIATIONS
kfb – knit into the front and back of the same stitch
k2tog – knit two stitches together
ssk – slip the next 2 sts knitwise, one at a time, knit into the front of them together
PATTERN
CO 40 (48, 56) sts with larger needle. Switch to smaller needles, place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist. Work K1, p1 rib for 2 (2.5, 3) inches.
Gussett
Round 1
K20 (24, 28), *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2
Kfb, knit to 2 sts before ribbed section, kfb, K1; *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3, and all odd rounds
Knit or purl sts as they appear.
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until there are 32 (36, 48) sts in the stockinette section, ending with round 2.
Heel
The heel is worked only on the sts in the stockinette section.
Row 1 – K 19 (21, 27), ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 – Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3 – Sl1, k8, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4 – Sl1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5 – Sl1, k10, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 6 – Sl1, p11, p2tog, p1 turn.
Continue until all the side stitches have been decreased and you have 20 (24, 28) sts again.
Foot
Resume working in the round with 20 (24, 28) sts in stockinette and 20 (24, 28) sts in k1, p1 rib for 1 (1.5, 2.25) inch(es).
Toe
Set-up round – Knit all sts.
Round 1
*K1, ssk, k14 (18, 22), k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end.
Round 2, and all even rounds
Knit all sts.
Round 3
*K1, ssk, k12 (16, 20), k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end.
Round 5
*K1, ssk, k10 (14, 18), k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end.
Continue decreasing – there will be two less stitches between decreases in every odd round – until 12 (16, 20) stitches remain.
Close toe with kitchener stitch or 3 needle bind off. Weave in ends.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Is that right? 40″ circular needles for baby socks???
The 40″ circular needle is for knitting with the magic loop method. You can use two circular needles or double points.
how do I make a smaller sock, like with 36 or 32 stitches?
I think it’s easier to make a smaller sock by using smaller needles. The ribbing helps keep the sock on, and if it’s a little too big, they’ll grow into it.
I tried using size 1 needles and using 24 stitches. It is okay, but I get 14 or 16 on the heel side after doing the heel. Can’t get the numbers right on the decrease.