Tubescent Socks (DK)

DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN

By popular demand, the Tubescent Socks are now available in more yarn weight options!

This is the DK weight version.

Find the sport weight version here.

Find the original fingering weight version here.

Buying one version of this pattern gets you access to one or both of the others at 67% OFF (only €2 each). Previous purchases count! No coupon code necessary.

The simplicity of a tube sock with the fit of a heeled sock

Continuous color, toe-up or cuff-down, and sized for the whole family

CONSTRUCTION

These socks are essentially plain tube socks, but with a series of basic increases and decreases that form a bump for the heel. Some advantages of this construction are…

(1) Its simplicity, of course - There are no heel flaps or turns, no picking up stitches, no short rows. Work in the round the whole way for a mostly mindless, relaxing knit.

(2) Continuous fabric around the entire circumference - A more traditional heel interrupts color-changing yarns, but with these socks, your gradients, self-striping, or handspun will stay smooth.

(3) The improved fit over a standard tube sock - It may not be perfectly fitted, but this straightforward heel shaping is a nice compromise between a fully fashioned heel and no heel at all.

Instructions are provided for both cuff-down and toe-up options. You can also choose to work your gussets in either stockinette (knits) or reverse stockinette stitch (purls).

The last page includes some suggestions on various ways to modify your socks for a better fit on differently shaped feet.

SIZING

Newborn (Baby, Toddler, Child, Youth), {Adult S, M, L, XL}

US shoe: 0-2, (3-4, 5-9, 10-13, 1-3Y), {4-6Y/4-6.5W, 7-9.5W/6-8.5M, 10-12.5W/9-11.5M, 12-15M}

EU shoe: 16-17 (18-19, 20-26, 27-31, 32-34), {35-37, 38-41, 42-45, 46-50}

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Choose a size based on the circumference of your foot, minus 10-15% for negative ease, then adjust foot length and leg height if necessary by adding or subtracting plain stockinette rounds.

Foot circumference (measured around ball of foot, minus 10-15%):

4 (4.5, 5.5, 6, 6.5), {7, 8, 9, 10} in /

10 (11.5, 14, 15, 16.5), {18, 20.5, 23, 25.5} cm

Heel circumference (measured diagonally around widest part of heel, minus 10-15%):

5.5 (6, 7.5, 8, 8.5), {9.5, 10.5, 12, 13.5} in /

14 (15, 19, 20.5, 21.5), {24, 26.5, 30.5, 34.5} cm

Foot length (measured from back of heel to toe, minus 5%), easily adjustable:

3 (4, 5, 6, 7), {8, 9, 10, 11} in /

7.5 (10, 12.5, 15, 18), {20.5, 23, 25.5, 28} cm

Leg height (measured from bottom of heel to cuff), easily adjustable:

3 (3.5, 4, 5.5, 6), {6, 7, 8, 9} in /

7.5 (9, 10, 14, 15), {15, 18, 20.5, 23} cm

GAUGE

24 sts / 33 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette stitch, after blocking

YARN

DK weight

50 (70, 105, 135, 170), {195, 255, 320, 390} yds /

46 (64, 96, 123, 155), {178, 233, 293, 357} m

Ideal for color-changing yarns like gradients, self-striping, or handspun

For self-striping yarns, I recommend choosing a colorway with stripes at least 4-5 rounds thick at your chosen sock circumference. The wider the stripes, the less noticeable it will be when they narrow as the heel grows.

SHOWN IN

Gradient (toe-up with purled gussets)

Charming Ewe DK Sock

85% merino, 15% nylon

123 yds / 113 m per 50g skein

Colorway: Disco Inferno

Speckled (cuff-down with knitted gussets)

Spun Right Round Squish DK

100% merino

250 yds / 229 m per 115g skein

Colorway: Happy Holi

TOOLS

US 2 / 2.75 mm (or size needed for gauge)

Your choice of:

4 or 5 double-pointed needles (DPNs), or

32-in / 80-cm circular for magic loop, or

2 shorter circulars for socks on 2 circs, or

9-in / 23-cm circular (adult sizes only)

Tapestry needle

Stitch markers