Festive Christmas elf socks—treat yourself or someone special with these knee-high, cheerful socks
These cheerful elf-patterned colorwork socks infuse holiday spirit into your every step. The long socks are worked from the cuff down to the toe, and you can easily adjust the length of the leg if needed.
Size: EU 38–39
Elf socks: supplies
- Yarn: Katia/United Socks (25 g / 100 m). You’ll need: 85 g Gray 7 (MC), 20 g White 5 (CC1), 15 g of Dark Red 17 (CC2), 10 g Salmon 29 (CC3), 5 g Yellow 19 (CC4), and 5 g Brown 1 (CC5). The sample socks also use 5 g Blue 11 (CC4) and 5 g Green 22 (CC4).
- Needles: 2.5–3 mm (US 1.5–2.5) double-pointed needles
Gauge: 28 sts and 34 rows = 10 × 10 cm
Abbreviations:
- CC: contrast color
- MC: main color
- k: knit on right side, purl on wrong side
- p: purl on right side, knit on wrong side
- sl: slip
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- st(s): stitch(es)
- SSK: Slip two stitches individually onto the right needle as if to knit. Insert the left needle through these stitches and knit them together through the back loop.
- tbl: through the back loop
How to knit the Christmas elf socks
Leg
Cast on 80 sts with MC and join in the round, distributing sts 20/20/20/20.
Repeat *k3 tbl, p2* around. Continue this rib for 15 rnds.
Knit 1 more rnd, increasing 10 sts at the same time = 90 sts total. Distribute sts 22/23/22/23.
Work Chart 1. It repeats 15 times on one rnd.
If you’d like, you can knit the coats of the elfs on different rows in different colors.
From here on, decrease on the 1st rnd of every elf row. The pattern stays the same, but 6 sts are decreased on the 1st rnd each time. In Chart 2, the X marks a good spot for the decrease so it won’t show. In the sample socks, the decreases are located near the start and end of the rnd (the back of the sock). It’s easiest to work them evenly as shown in the chart.
Work Chart 2, decreasing 6 sts on the 1st rnd = 84 sts. The pattern repeats 14 times on one row.
Work Chart 2, decreasing 6 sts on the 1st rnd = 78 sts. The pattern repeats 13 times on one row.
Work Chart 2, decreasing 6 sts on the 1st rnd = 72 sts. The pattern repeats 12 times on one row.
Work Chart 2, decreasing 6 sts on the 1st rnd = 66 sts. The pattern repeats 11 times on one row.
Work Chart 2, decreasing 6 sts on the 1st rnd = 60 sts. The pattern repeats 10 times on one row.
After finishing the chart, break the CC yarn(s). Distribute sts 15/15/15/15.
Work another 10–15 rnds of ribbing, as you did at the start.
Tip!
The heel is made with a single color, so you can easily switch the square heel to another type, such as a short-row heel, if you like.
Heel
Work the heel with MC across 30 sts.
Knit the sts on needle 1 onto needle 4. Turn your work. P30. Leave needles 2 and 3 on hold.
The heel flap is now at the center in the back. Work the heel back and forth.
Work the heel flap over these 30 sts in reinforced stitch with MC.
Row 1 (RS): k2, *sl 1 purlwise, k1*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2. Turn.
Row 2 (WS): k2, p26, k2. Turn.
Repeat rows 1–2 until the heel flap measures 30 rows and you have just finished a WS row.
Turning the heel
Setup row (RS): Begin the heel turn by knitting 10 sts. Continue working the reinforced heel stitch over 9 sts, SSK. Turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 purlwise, p8, p2tog. Turn.
Row 3 (RS): Work reinforced stitch over 9 sts, SSK. Turn.
Row 4 (WS): Sl 1 purlwise, p8, p2tog. Turn.
Repeat rows 3–4 until you’ve decreased all side sts and only the 10 center sts remain.
K5 to position the seam in the center of the sole.
Foot
Pick up 16 sts along each edge = 72 sts total. Distribute sts 21/15/15/21.
Gusset decreases
Continue working in MC in the round. Knit and decrease as follows on every other rnd:
Needle 1: Knit to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Needle 4: SSK, then knit the rest of the sts.
Continue like this until you have 60 sts total (15/15/15/15).
You can work the foot with the elf motif following Chart 1 or keep it one color. Continue in stockinette in MC or follow the elf colorwork chart.
Toe decreases
The toe is worked with MC.
When your little toe is covered, begin shaping the toe.
First, decrease on every other rnd as follows:
Needles 1 and 3: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needles 2 and 4: K1, SSK, knit to the end of the needle.
When 11 sts remain on each needle, decrease on every rnd. When 3 sts remain on each needle, cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Fasten off and weave in ends. Lightly steam the socks.
