Make your toes smile with these easy colorwork socks even a beginner can knit

Size: EU 38(42)46.

Easy colorwork socks: supplies

Stitch patterns

Ribbing in the round: Work *2 k, 2 p*, repeat from * to *.

Stockinette stitch in the round: Knit all stitches on every round.

Colorwork in the round: Work stockinette stitch following the chart.

Gauge: 21 sts of stockinette = 10 cm.

Here's how to knit the easy colorwork socks

Cast on 60(64)68 sts with the petrol yarn and divide them onto four needles, 15(16)17 sts each. The beginning of the round is always between needles I and IV. Work ribbing in the round for 3(4)5 cm.

Leg

Then work the leg stripes in stockinette and colorwork:

1st stripe: Work 4 rounds in raspberry, and on the first round, increase 1 st at the center of each needle (pick up the strand between stitches and knit it through the back loop) = 64(68)72 sts.

2nd stripe: First work 3 rounds in sunflower. Begin colorwork stripe I from row 1 of the chart and repeat the 4-st pattern 16(17)18 times. Work rows 1–3 of the chart. Knit 2 rounds in sunflower, work the colorwork stripe again as before, and then knit 3 more rounds in sunflower.

3rd stripe: Knit 6 rounds in natural white.

4th stripe: Knit 4 rounds in petrol. *K 2 in petrol, k 1 in sunflower, k 1 in petrol*, repeat from * to * to the end of the round. Knit 2 rounds in petrol. *K 1 in white, k 3 in petrol*, repeat from * to * to end of round. Knit 2 rounds in petrol. *K 2 in petrol, k 1 in sunflower, k 1 in petrol*, repeat from * to * to end of round. Knit 4 rounds in petrol and on the first round, decrease 1 st at the center of each needle by knitting 2 sts together = 60(64)68 sts.

5th stripe: Knit 4 rounds in lawn.

6th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in sunflower.

7th stripe: Knit 2 rounds in gray, and on the second round, decrease 1 st at the start of each needle by knitting 2 sts together = 56(60)64 sts. Begin colorwork stripe II from row 1 of the chart, repeating the 4-st pattern 14(15)16 times. Work rows 1–5 of the chart. Then knit 4 rounds in raspberry.

8th stripe: Knit 7 rounds in petrol, and on the second round, decrease 1 st at the center of each needle by knitting 2 sts together = 52(56)60 sts.

9th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in white, then *k 1 in white, k 1 in lawn*, repeat from * to * to end of round. Then knit 3 rounds in lawn, and on the second round, decrease 1 st at the start of each needle by knitting 2 sts together = 48(52)56 sts.

10th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in raspberry. Begin colorwork stripe III from row 1 of the chart, repeating the 4-st pattern 12(13)14 times. Work rows 1–4 of the chart. Then knit 3 more rounds in raspberry.

11th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in white.

12th stripe: Knit 4 rounds in stone.

Heel flap

Switch to raspberry and start the heel flap by knitting the sts on needle I onto needle IV (24-26-28 sts). Leave the other sts on hold. Turn your work and begin the reinforced stitch pattern:

Row 1 (WS): slip 1 st purlwise with yarn on WS, purl the remaining sts. Turn your work.

Row 2 (RS): *slip 1 st with yarn on WS, k 1*, repeat from * to * to end of row. Turn work. Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 12(13)13 times (24-26-26 rows).

Heel turn

Work one more WS row and begin the heel turn decreases, continuing the same reinforced stitch pattern as before. On the RS row, knit until 9(9)10 sts remain, work a skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, knit 1 and pass the slipped st over), turn. Slip 1 st purlwise, purl 6(8)8 sts, purl the next 2 sts together, turn. Slip 1 st, knit until 8(8)9 sts remain, skp. Continue in this manner so that the side stitches decrease while the center 8(10)10 remain. Once the side sts have been used up, divide the heel flap sts onto 2 needles (4,4-5,5-5,5).

Then pick up 12(13)14 sts along the left edge of the heel flap + 1 st between the heel flap and needle II. Knit these sts through the back loop on the left heel needle. Knit the sts on needles II and III. Then pick up 12(13)14 sts + 1 st between needle III and the heel flap with the needle holding 4(5)5 sts, knit these picked-up sts through the back loop, and knit the 4(5)5 heel flap sts.

Gusset decreases

Continue with all 58(64)68 sts and work the foot stripes in stockinette and colorwork as indicated. Then begin the gusset decreases: at the end of needle I, knit 2 sts together; at the start of needle IV, skp. Repeat these decreases on every other round until 12(13)14 sts remain on each needle. Then stop decreasing.

Foot stripe pattern

1st stripe: Knit 5(7)9 rounds in raspberry, then *k 1 in raspberry, k 1 in petrol, k 2 in raspberry*, repeat from * to * to the end of round. *K 3 in petrol, k 1 in raspberry*, repeat from * to * to the end of round. Then knit 2 more rounds in petrol.

2nd stripe: Knit 7(9)11 rounds in sunflower.

3rd stripe: Knit 4(6)8 rounds in lawn.

4th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in raspberry. Begin colorwork stripe IV from row 1 of the chart, repeating the 4-st pattern 12(13)14 times. Work chart rows 1–8. Then knit 3 more rounds in raspberry.

5th stripe: Knit 3 rounds in sunflower. *k 1 in sunflower, k 1 in raspberry*, repeat from * to * to the end of round. *K 1 in raspberry, k 1 in sunflower*, repeat from * to * to the end of round. *K 1 in sunflower, k 1 in raspberry*, repeat from * to * to the end of round. Then knit 4 more rounds in sunflower.

6th stripe: Knit 4(6)8 rounds in stone.

7th stripe: Knit in petrol for the rest of the foot.

Toe decreases

Begin the toe decreases when the foot measures 19(22)25 cm or until your pinky toe is covered.

Star decreases: On each needle, k 2 together at the center and the end of the needle = 40(44)48 sts. Work 4(4)5 plain rounds and repeat the decreases at the center and end of each needle = 32(36)40 sts. Work 3(4)4 plain rounds and repeat the decreases = 24(28)32 sts. Each time, reduce the number of plain rounds between decrease rounds by one. Continue in this way until 8 sts remain in total. Cut the yarn, pull it through the remaining sts, tighten and weave in ends.

Sock design by: Unelmien Käsityöt magazine and Irina Valtonen