Library Socks

I love having socks on the needles that are easy to pick up whenever I have time to knit just a few
rows or to bring with me on the go! These socks are knit using a super easy-to-remember pattern
with gorgeous texture that will show off any type of yarn - speckled, tonal or self-striping! They are
just as easy to knit as vanilla socks, but a lot more fun and result in a better fit too! As I was knitting
these socks, the little blocks reminded me of library books stacked on a shelf! Besides, isn’t knitting
and reading the best pastime ever?! So grab your needles, some yarn from your stash and get ready
to cast on!
Size (approx. foot circumference) Yarn

Adult Medium Turtle Purl Sock Yarn in Winter’s Coming

8½ inches or 22 cm 75% superwash merino 25% nylon

Needles 412 m (450 yd), 115 g

2.25 mm or US 1 double pointed needles Notions

(set of 5) Tapestry needle, Stitch Marker(s)

OR your preferred needles for knitting in the round or on Gauge

2 circular needles
32 stitches = approx. 10 cm unblocked

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The pattern is written to be knit with DPNs but can be adapted for knitting in the round or with 2 circular needles (magic
loop) if that’s your preferred method! If you’re knitting socks for the first time, you may find knitting on circular needles the
easiest, especially if you have some experience knitting in the round. There are a lot of excellent tutorials on YouTube for
reference.

No matter which method you use, it may be helpful to use a stitch marker or progress keeper to mark the beginning of
your round. You can also place stitch markers after every 16 stitches to mimic the 4 needles referenced in this pattern.
Note there is no further mention of stitch markers in this pattern, so if you use them, just slip them from needle to needle
as you go along.

This pattern is written for Adult Medium size but if you have a bit of experience you can adjust the pattern to make a
smaller or larger pair of socks!

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Ready to cast on? Let’s go!

Cast on 64 stitches using the Long Tail cast on method.

Distribute evenly on 4 needles. You should have 16 stitches on each needle. Join in the round carefully, making sure you
don’t twist any stitches.

Cuff

K2, P2 for 15 rounds

Leg of the Sock- Texture pattern

Round 1: K 64

Round 2: K 64

Round 3: *K2, P2*, repeat to end of round

Round 4: *K2, P2*, repeat to end of round

Repeat Rounds 1 -4 until you reach your desired leg length. You should finish after Round 4.

Heel Flap Set up:

The heel flap and heel turn are worked flat, in other words, not in the round

Knit across the N1 and N2 continuing in the texture pattern for the leg of the sock as above (should be Round 1). These
will be the front of the sock, or instep, and these stitches will not be worked again until after the heel flap and heel turn are
finished.

Heel Flap:

For the heel flap and heel turn you will only be working with the 32 stitches that are now on N3 and N4.

In Row 1, you will be working all stitches from both N3 and N4 onto N3, therefore combining those 32 stitches onto one
needle for the heel flap and heel turn. N1 and N2 are now the front (instep) of the sock and N3 will hold the 32 stitches
from N3 and N4.

Row 1: (RS) *S1 knit wise, K1* to end

Row 2: (WS) Turn work around so now the purl side of N3 is facing you. S1 purl wise, P to end, turn work

Row 3: (RS) *S1 knit wise, K1* to end, turn work

Row 4: (WS) S1 purl wise, P to end, turn work

Repeat rows 3 and 4 above 14 more times for a total of 32 rows.

You will be ending with a purl row. Turn your work. You will start the heel turn with a knit row.

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For the heel turn, you will be working short rows. All this really means is that you will be working only some of the stitches
on a row, and then turning your work and continuing with the next row. This is what shapes the curve of the heel turn.

Heel Turn

The heel turn continues only with the stitches on N3.

Row 1: (RS) K 19, SSK, K1, turn work

Row 2: (WS) S1 purl wise, P7, P2tog, P1, turn work

Row 3: (RS) S1 knit wise, K to one stitch before the gap (created when your work was turned on the previous row),
SSK, K1, turn work

Row 4: (WS) S1 purl wise, P to one stitch before the gap, P2tog, P1, turn work

Repeat row 3 and row 4 until you have worked all the stitches. You will have 20 stitches left on your needle and you will
end with a purl row.

Turn your work and knit across the heel flap (N3), placing a stitch marker after 10 stitches, which is the halfway point.

Now you’re ready to start the heel gusset.

Heel Gusset:

At this point you’ll continue working in the round again. With RS of N3 facing you, pick up and knit 16 stitches from along
the side of the heel flap onto N3. Pick up 1 extra stitch at the corner of the instep to eliminate having a small gap in the
corner. You should now have a total of 37 stitches on N3.

Continue knitting texture pattern like you did for the leg of the sock across N1 and N2 (should be Round 2). Remember,
this is the front of the sock or the instep.

Now you will need the extra needle that you put aside. Using this needle, pick up 1 stitch in the corner of the instep and
then pick up 16 stitches along the other edge of the heel flap. Continue knitting 10 stitches (to the marker), from old N3
(now N4). Remove marker (this is now N3). Using a separate needle, knit across N4.

You should now have the following number of stitches on each needle:

N1: 16, N2: 16, N3: 27, N4: 27

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Heel Decrease:

Round 1: Continue with the texture pattern on N1 and N2 (instep needles). For N3, K1, SSK, K to end (That is to say,
continue with stockinette on N3 and N4). For N4, K to 3 stitches from the end, K2tog, K1.

Round 2: Continue with texture pattern on N1 and N2 (instep needles). Knit all stitches on N3 and N4.

Round 3: Continue with texture pattern on N1 and N2 (instep needles). For N3, K1, SSK, K to end. For N4, K to 3
stitches from the end, K2tog, K1.

Round 4: Continue with texture pattern on N1 and N2 (instep needles). Knit all stitches on N3 and N4

Repeat Rounds 1 to 4 to decrease the gusset until you have a total of 64 stitches or 16 stitches on each of your 4
needles.

Then continue knitting N1 and N2 in the texture pattern and N3 and N4 in stockinette until the foot of the sock measures
approx. 1.5 inches (3.5 cm) shorter than your desired foot length (from back of your heel to end of your big toe).

Toe Decrease

Round 1:

N1: K1, SSK, K to end

N2: K to 3 stitches before end, K2tog, K1

N3: K1, SSK, K to end

N4: K to 3 stitches before end, K2tog, K1

Round 2:

K across all stitches (N1-N4)

Repeats rounds 1 and 2 above until only 8 stitches remain on each needle (total 32 stitches). Distribute evenly on 2
needles. With your tapestry needle, close the toe using the kitchener stitch or 3 needle bind off technique.

Weave in ends, soak and block if desired. Now grab a tea or coffee, your favourite book, and get ready to cast on sock
number two!!

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ABBREVIATIONS:

K – knit

P – purl

N - needle

SSK – slip 1 stitch knit wise onto right needle, slip another stitch knit wise onto right needle, then knit the two stitches
together

K2tog – knit 2 stitches together as one stitch

P2tog – purl 2 stitches together as one stitch

S1 knitwise - slip one stitch knit wise, with yarn held in back

S1 purl wise - slip one stitch purl wise, with yarn held in front

RS – right side of work

WS – wrong side of work

Questions? Email me at thekitchensinkshop@gmail.com

I’d love to see your Library Socks! Tag me @thekitchensinkshop #librarysocks

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