Tubescent Socks

DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN

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

32 sts / 44 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette stitch, after blocking

YARN

Fingering weight

80 [110, 160, 225, 275], {320, 420, 520, 640} yds /

73 [101, 146, 206, 251], {293, 384, 475, 585} 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)

The Blue Brick Killarney Sock Twins

80% merino, 20% nylon

437 yds / 400 m per 100g skein

Colorway: Pride

Self-striping (cuff-down with knitted gussets)

mudpunch Slash Self-Striping Sock

80% merino, 20% nylon

385 yds / 352 m per 110g skein

Colorway: Chromatic Hope

TOOLS

US 0 / 2 mm (or size needed to get 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