What Is The Difference Between Your Toe-Up Sock Patterns?
KnitFreedom specializes in free basic toe-up sock patterns for Magic Loop.
So which of our basic sock patterns should you choose?
The Pattern You Choose Depends On Your Yarn, Needles, and Preferences
You can also use a thick yarn (worsted weight) or a thinner, sock-weight yarn (fingering-weight).
If your yarn doesn't fit into the above categories OR you want to make a different size than what is available in the patterns, we have a generic pattern that will work for any yarn and any size foot.
Basic, Beginner Socks
If this is your first time knitting socks, I recommend the beginner socks detailed below. The are designed based on Fleegle's basic sock pattern, and they have an easy-to-learn, no-holes heel called the Fleegle heel.
Worsted-Weight Beginner Socks
Worsted-weight yarn is recommended for a first sock. The socks are a quick knit and you can use them for lounging around the house.
If you want to stick as closely as possible to the videos in our Toe-Up Socks class, use our worsted-weight sock pattern. Choose a worsted or heavy-worsted yarn, and choose a needle size that will get you a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch (probably a US size 7 or 8 needle).
How to check your gauge for worsted-weight yarn
Here's a video showing how to check your gauge in the round.
If your gauge is wrong
If you get more than 4.5 stitches per inch, try again with a needle one size bigger.
If you get fewer than 4.5 stitches per inch (not as likely), try again with a smaller needle.
Fingering-Weight Socks
If you'd like to knit fingering-weight socks, print out the Beginner Fingering-Weight Sock Pattern here. You'll need to acheive a gauge of 7 stitches per inch and you'll use needles US size 0-2, depending on how tight or loose you knit.
Generic Beginner Socks for Any Yarn Weight and Size
All you need handy is the foot for which you are knitting, since you will be trying on as you go.
Download the Generic Beginner Pattern for Toe-Up Socks here.
Toe-Up Heel-Flap Socks
If you want to knit toe-up socks with a heel flap, we have a pattern for that, too. This sock is a BIT more complex than the beginner socks above, so I would not recommend it for a first sock.
These socks have a "faux" or "built-in" heel flap. The advantages of this sock are:
You can knit a contrasting-color heel and toe, which you can't do with our basic Fleegle Heel sock patterns.
You can also do textured heel stitches like the eye-of-the-partridge or slip-stitch heel pattern on the heel flap.
Last, you can adjust this pattern easily for high insteps to make the heel fit your foot just right. To learn more about the faux heel flap heel and see a video on how to do it, check out our blog post: "Heel Flaps Are BACK."
Last Updated: September 14, 2020
