May Baby Socks Free Knitting Pattern

Sizes:	1-3 months
Foot length:	9.5 cm
Shoe size:	15/16
Needles:	circular needles 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm 60/80 cm for Magic Loop or DPNs 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm or needle size needed to obtain gauge
Materials:	approx. 20 g Drops Baby Merino (50 g = 175 m)
Gauge:	27 sts × 37 rounds = 10 × 10 cm in stockinette stitch on 3.5 mm needles after blocking

The May Socks are worked in the round from the leg down to the toe. The heel is shaped using short rows and does not include a gusset. The toe is worked with symmetrical decreases and finished using Kitchener stitch.

Leg

Cast on 34 sts using 3 mm needles and your preferred cast-on method (I use the long-tail cast-on). Join to work in the round.
Work 2 cm in 1×1 rib (k1, p1).
Change to 3.5 mm needles.

Heel and foot

Work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 6 cm from the cast-on edge.
The heel is worked flat in short rows over half of the stitches. Place 17 sts onto one needle and transfer the remaining stitches to a stitch holder or scrap yarn.
Work the heel as follows:

Row 1 (RS):	knit until 2 sts remain before the end of the needle, K2TOG, turn Here and throughout the heel, keep the yarn tension firm while working the decreases and slipping the first stitch to avoid creating large gaps.
Row 2 (WS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in front, purl until 2 sts remain before the end of the needle, K2TOG, turn
Row 3 (RS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in front, knit until 2 sts remain before the end of the needle, K2TOG, turn
Row 4 (WS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in front, purl until 2 sts remain before the end of the needle, K2TOG, turn

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 7 sts remain on the needle. After working the final decrease, do not turn the work.

Now gradually pick up 5 sts along each side edge.

Turn the work so the WS is facing you and slip the edge stitch so the working yarn stays on the WS.

Then begin picking up stitches from the edge stitches as follows:

Pick up and knit 1 st by inserting the needle from RS to WS through the edge stitch, turn. Here and throughout, keep the yarn tension firm.

Row 1 (RS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in back, knit to the end of the needle, pick up and knit 1 st by inserting the needle from RS to WS through the edge stitch, turn
Row 2 (WS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in front, purl to the end of the needle, pick up and knit 1 st by inserting the needle from RS to WS through the edge stitch, turn
Row 3 (RS):	slip the 1st st with yarn in back, knit to the end of the needle, pick up and knit 1 st by inserting the needle from RS to WS through the edge stitch, turn

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 another 3 times until the original number of heel stitches has been restored: 17 sts.

After picking up the final stitch, do not turn the work.

There are now 34 sts total on the needles.

Resume working in the round across all stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch until the foot measures 7 cm from the marked row (Row 1).

Toe

Place 4 markers as follows:

1 sts, place marker 1, 15 sts, place marker 2, 2 sts, place marker 3, 15 sts, place marker 4, 1 sts

Work the toe as follows:

Round 1:	* knit 1, slip marker, SSK, knit until 2 sts remain before marker, K2TOG, slip marker, knit 1 *; repeat from * to * once more (4 sts decreased)
Round 2:	Knit to end of round.
Round 3:	* knit 1, slip marker, SSK, knit until 2 sts remain before marker, K2TOG, slip marker, knit 1 *; repeat from * to * once more (4 sts decreased)

Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 a total of 4 times.

There are now 14 sts on the needles.

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail approximately 3 times the circumference of the sock. Divide the stitches evenly onto two needles and graft them together using Kitchener stitch.

Weave in all ends.

Work the second sock the same way as the first one.

k	knit
p	purl
stockinette	stockinette stitches are made when you knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side
K2TOG	knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease);
SSK	slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease);
st(s)	stitch(es)
RS	right side
WS	wrong side