Plum Polka Sky Crew Socks: Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

These Plum Polka Sky crew socks are the perfect next step for anyone who has knitted a hat or a scarf and is ready to try socks. Worked in a gorgeous self-striping plum yarn, each sock features three little mauve intarsia stars stacked up the front of the leg, giving them a preppy, cozy, autumn-ready look. The simple tube construction means there is no complicated shaping to worry about, and the short-row heel makes them surprisingly easy to fit. Slip them on and you will feel how soft and snug they are, with a ribbed cuff that hugs the ankle and a smooth stockinette foot that feels wonderful inside your favorite boots.

Materials Needed

• Yarn (MC): Fingering weight (14 wpi) self-striping sock yarn, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 400 yd (366 m) per 100 g skein. Plum self-striping, 1 skein (approx 300 yd used).
• Yarn (CC): Fingering weight sock yarn in mauve solid, 10 yd.
• Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5) or a 9-inch circular needle for magic loop.
• Notions: Stitch markers, a tapestry needle for grafting and weaving in ends, and a pair of scissors.
• Finished size: Women's medium: foot circumference 8 inches (20 cm), leg length from cuff to heel 6 inches (15 cm), foot length adjustable (sample 9 inches / 23 cm).

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• p: purl
• sts: stitches
• rnd(s): round(s)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• sl1: slip one stitch purlwise
• ssk: slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together (a left-leaning decrease)
• k2tog: knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• p2tog: purl two stitches together
• MC: main color (plum)
• CC: contrast color (mauve)
• rep: repeat

Gauge

32 sts and 44 rnds = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round. To check your gauge, knit a small swatch in the round and measure a 4-inch section; if you have more stitches than 32, go up a needle size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Wind your self-striping yarn into a cake before you begin so the color repeats flow evenly and you can see where each stripe falls.
• When working the intarsia stars, keep the CC bobbins small and untwisted so the front of the sock stays smooth and the stars sit flat.
• Try the sock on as you go, especially after the gusset, so you can adjust the foot length to your own foot before starting the toe.
• Use a row counter or a simple tally on paper to keep track of the star rounds and the heel rows, since the pattern alternates plain and colorwork sections.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cuff

With MC, CO 64 sts. Distribute evenly on 4 dpns (16 sts each). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rnds 1-12: [k2, p2] rep around (64 sts).

Leg

Rnds 13-24: k all sts (64 sts).

Star 1 (front)

Work the intarsia star in CC on the next 11 rnds, centered on the front (sts 17-48 of the rnd).

Rnd 1: k to star position, k1 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 2: k to star position, k3 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 3: k to star position, k5 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 4: k to star position, k7 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 5: k to star position, k9 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 6: k to star position, k7 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 7: k to star position, k5 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 8: k to star position, k3 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnd 9: k to star position, k1 CC, k to end (64 sts).

Rnds 10-11: k all sts MC (64 sts).

Rnds 12-23: k all sts MC (64 sts).

Star 2

Repeat the star chart as for Star 1, centered on the front (64 sts).

Rnds 24-35: k all sts MC (64 sts).

Star 3

Repeat the star chart as for Star 1, centered on the front (64 sts).

Rnds 36-47: k all sts MC (64 sts).

Heel

Set-up: Slip first 32 sts to one needle for heel flap, remaining 32 sts hold for instep.

Row 1 (RS): [sl1, k1] rep across, turn (32 sts).

Row 2 (WS): sl1, p31, turn (32 sts).

Rep Rows 1-2 until 32 rows worked, ending with a WS row.

Turn heel, Row 1 (RS): sl1, k17, ssk, k1, turn (30 sts).

Row 2 (WS): sl1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn (28 sts).

Row 3: sl1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn (26 sts).

Row 4: sl1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn (24 sts).

Rep Rows 3-4 until all sts worked, ending with a RS row. 18 sts rem.

Gusset

With RS facing, pick up and knit 16 sts along heel flap edge, k18 heel sts, pick up and knit 16 sts along other heel flap edge, k32 instep sts (82 sts total).

Rnd 1: k to last 3 sts of sole, k2tog, k1, k32 instep, k1, ssk, k to end (80 sts).

Rnd 2: k all sts (80 sts).

Rep Rnds 1-2 until 64 sts rem.

Foot

Work in stockinette stitch (k all sts) until foot measures 7.5 inches (19 cm) from back of heel, or 1.5 inches (4 cm) less than desired total foot length (64 sts).

Toe

Rnd 1: k to last 3 sts of sole, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts of instep, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k to end (60 sts).

Rnd 2: k all sts (60 sts).

Rep Rnds 1-2 until 32 sts rem. Then rep Rnd 1 only until 16 sts rem.

Assembly and Finishing

Graft the toe stitches using Kitchener stitch, then weave in all ends neatly on the wrong side. Block the socks lightly by soaking them in cool water and laying them flat to dry, shaping them to the finished measurements so the stars sit flat and the cuffs hold their ribbing.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the mauve CC for a deep gold or forest green to give the stars a different seasonal feel.
• Add a fourth star for a taller leg, working extra plain rounds between stars to keep the spacing even.
• Work the cuff in a twisted rib (k1tbl, p1) for a slightly firmer, more polished edge.