Knitting pattern
Knit a charming mini wool sock bookmark in just a few hours
This miniature sock is perfect for using as a bookmark, and you can knit it from leftover yarn in just a few hours. Surprise a friend or relative who loves to read by slipping the sock between the pages of a gift book!
Wool sock bookmark: materials
- two different colors of cotton or wool yarn. We used bright green leftover yarn and Gjestal Bomull Sport in shade 332 (water green) in the sample sock.
- size 3.5 mm (US 4) needles (or to match your gauge).
Gauge: 22–23 sts of stockinette stitch = 10 cm.
Wool sock bookmark: instructions
- Cast on 24 sts and distribute them evenly onto four double-pointed needles, 6 sts per needle. The start of the round is between needles I and IV.
- Work knit 2, purl 2 ribbing in the round for about 2 cm.
- Continue in stockinette stitch with the same yarn for 4 rounds. Then switch yarns and work 4 rounds in stockinette stitch.
- Proceed in the same manner, striping with two colors. When the leg measures 24 cm and you’ve just finished 4 rounds with the water green yarn, begin knitting the heel flap.
- Switch to the bright green yarn. Knit the sts from needle I onto needle IV (= 12 sts). Leave the remaining sts on hold. Turn work. 1. row (wrong side): Slip the first st purlwise (yarn in front), purl the remaining stitches. Turn work. 2. row (right side): Slip the first st knitwise, knit the remaining stitches. Turn work. Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 4 times (= 8 rows).
- Begin the heel turn on the next row (wrong side). Slip the first st purlwise. Purl until 4 sts remain. Purl 2 sts together, then turn work. Slip the first st knitwise and knit until 4 sts remain. Work an skp decrease (= slip 1 knitwise, knit 1 and pass the slipped st over), then turn work.
- Continue the heel turn in the same manner until 6 sts remain. End with a right-side row, then divide the heel flap sts onto two needles (3 on each).
- Pick up 6 sts from the left edge of the heel flap plus 1 st between the heel flap and needle II. Knit these picked-up sts through the back loop. Knit the sts on needles II and III. Then pick up 6 sts from the right edge of the heel flap plus 1 st between needle III and the heel flap, and knit those through the back loop as well.
- Continue knitting in the round with all 32 sts. Begin the gusset decreases: at the end of needle I, knit 2 sts together; knit the sts on needles II and III; then, at the beginning of needle IV, work an skp. Knit one round in stockinette stitch and work the decreases again on the following round. Repeat these decreases 4 times, or until needles I and IV have a combined total of 12 sts (6 on each).
- Continue in stockinette stitch until the foot measures about 7 cm. Begin the toe decreases: knit 2 sts together at the beginning or end of each needle. Knit one plain round. Alternate decrease rounds and plain rounds.
- When each needle has 2 sts left, break the yarn, pull it through the remaining sts, and weave in the ends. If you'd like, finish the sock bookmark by steam-blocking or stretching it to shape.
Pirkko Zimmermann has knitted mini socks as bookmarks for her children and grandchildren. She got the idea years ago at a market abroad where they sold similar socks.
“I had a lot of leftover yarn, so I made my own version of the bookmark. I knitted it just like a regular sock, only a miniature version. To finish, I steam-ironed the sock,” Zimmermann says.
“I forgot about the idea for a couple of years, but maybe this year the Christmas gift books will each come with a mini sock!”
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