SailingKnitter

Generic Baby Socks
Here's my simple (really!) little pattern for knitting up baby socks. Of course, I add patternwork occasionally, but the self-patterning yarn does so much - who needs more???

Materials: sock or fingering yarn
US size 0 or 1 double point needles
US size 2 needle (straight, doublepoint, or circ) just used for cast on.

On the Size 2 needle, Cast on 36 stitches. (This larger needle keeps the cast on loose so that it won't squeeze chubby baby legs).
Slip, as if to purl, 12 stitches onto a size 0 or 1 doublepoint, then slip 12 more onto another size 0 or 1 double point. You will have 12 stitches on each needle.
Join, being careful not to twist the cast on.

Begin working a 2 x 2 ribbing (Knit 2, Purl 2) every round. Replace the larger size 2 needle with a size 0 or 1 doublepoint at the first opportunity.

Now, you have a choice; you can keep ribbing the leg/cuff, or you can rib for only 1/2 inch and then just plain knit. Either way, work until leg/cuff is about 2 inches long from the cast on edge.

Divide for heel flap: Knit 12 stitches on the next needle, Knit 6 stitches of the next needle. Stop.
Slip, as if to purl, the last 6 stitches back to the first needle that has the 12 knit stitches. You will have 18 stitches and this is your heel flap. (Ignore the other two needles. I like to slip stitches around on these 2 ignored needles have 9 stitches each on them.)

Now you will work back and forth on these 18 stitches. Turn work. The inside (wrong) side of the work should be facing you.
Slip, as if to purl, the first stitch, then purl the remaining 17 stitches. Turn work.
Next row; Slip as if to purl the first stitch, then knit 17.

Continue these 2 rows until you have knit 18 rows.

Shape heel cup:
Next row (right side); Knit 9, SSK, Knit 1. Stop. Turn your work.
Slip 1 as if to purl, Purl 1, Purl 2 together, Purl 1. Stop. Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Knit 2, SSK, Knit 1. Stop. Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Purl 3, Purl 2 together, Purl 1. Stop Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Knit 4, SSK, Knit 1. Stop Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Purl 5, Purl 2 together, Purl 1. Stop Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Knit 6, SSK, Knit 1. Stop Turn.
Next row: Slip 1, Purl 7, Purl 2 together, Purl 1. Stop Turn.

You should now have 10 stitches on your needle.

Gusset: Return to knitting in the round.
Knit across the 10 stitches of the heel flap.
Pick up and knit 9 stitches along the flap edge. You will now have 19 stitches on this needle.
Knit across the 9 stitches of the next needle, without using the free needle, continue to work across the next 9 stitches of the next needle. You will now have 18 stitches on this one needle.
Using 2 free needles, and starting at the top where your yarn is, pick up and knit 9 stitches along the other flap edge. Continue to use this same needle and knit the first 5 stitches of the heel flap. Now you will have 14 stitches on this needle, and 14 stitches on the first heel flap/edge pickup needle. You are set at the point (bottom of the foot) that will always be your beginning/ending point for each round.

Okay - now just knit 1 round.
Next...
Round 1:DECREASES: Knit 11, K2tog, Knit 1. Next needle just knit. Next needle; Knit 1, SSK, Knit 11.
Round 2: just knit plain all around.
Repeat these two rounds 4 more times (knitting until you have 3 left on the first needle then decreasing, and then doing the SSK decrease on the 3rd needle after knitting the first stitch)- you should have 9 stitches on the first needle, 18 stitches (unchanged) on the 2nd needle, and 9 stitches on the 3rd needle.

Foot - just continue knitting around until the foot measures about 3 inches from the back of the heel.

SHAPE TOE:
Next round: Decrease Round: On the first needle, knit until you have 3 stitches remaining, then K2tog, K1.
Next needle: K1, SSK, Knit until you have 3 stitches remaining, then K2tog, K1.
Next needle: K1, SSK, Knit to end.
Next round: Plain knit all around
Next round: Plain knit all around
Next round: Decrease round (see above)
Next round: Plain knit all around
Next round: Decrease round
Next round: Plain knit all around
Next round: Decrease round
Continue all next rounds as decrease rounds until you have only 2 stitches on the first needle, 4 stitches on the next needle, and 2 stitches on the last needle.

Knit the 2 stitches of the first needle. Slip these 2 stitches back to the other 2 stitches.
You will now have only 2 needles with 4 stitches each. Line these two needles up parallel to each other and graft (kitchner) the remaining stitches. Got Sock!