Basic Sock Pattern
This pattern works off of your own measurements so they'll fit better than whatever your closest "size" is. Additionally, this pattern uses negative ease, which means that the sock will be a little smaller (about 10%) than your foot; that way your socks will stretch around your foot and stay up better.
Both of these things together means that your foot will slip and slide a lot less in your sock, and your beautiful knitwork will better stand up to all the hard work that socks do. (Mending socks)
Materials you'll need:
All sizes are suggestions, what's important is getting the result you want. I've tried to include notes to explain why I suggest what I do so you can make an informed decision on whether or not to ignore.
- Yarn (the thinner the yarn the more flexible the sock, but the more knitting will be needed, if you want to avoid mending look for yarn that has at least 20% plant-fiber or nylon: What if my yarn doesn't have a label, how do I know what it's made out of?
- Either a circular needle *OR* 4+ double-pointed needles
- A yarn needle
- Tape measure *OR* string and a ruler
- A calculator (unless you can multiply by decimals, you smarty pants)
Skills you'll need:
- Knit/garter stitch
- Purl stitch
- kitchener stitch (sewing with a yarn needle)
- counting
Measurements you'll want:
- Ankle/foot circumference (they'll probably be the same, if not, pick whichever's larger)
- Foot length (stand on your ruler/tape measurer and measure the back of your heel to the very tip of your longest toe)
- Sock height (how tall do you want the sock to be?)
Gauge
Before you start knitting your socks, you'll want to knit a little square with the yarn and needles you have. Make it a couple inches square, then measure how many stitches it takes to make an inch (2.5cm) and how many rows it takes to make the same. The example in fig.1 takes 9 stitches and 14 rows to make one square inch.
Cuff
Now it's time to start! First you'll want to cast on the number of stitches that will make up the circumference of your sock. Here's the equation: (ankle circumference) * 0.9 = X and then X * (stitches per inch)= # of stitches you'll want to cast on.