Simple Flock Socks: Free toe-up sock knitting pattern with a short-row heel

Simple Flock Socks is a free toe-up sock knitting pattern featuring a short-row heel and simple, beginner-friendly construction. Originally published on my Ravelry account in July of 2017, it has had more than 900 unique downloads. I hope you enjoy knitting this pattern!

This stitch pattern, reminiscent of a flock of birds in flight on a summer day, adds just enough interest to an otherwise mindless, relaxing pattern, perfect for speckled, tonal, or lightly variegated yarns. These socks use toe-up construction with a star toe and a short-row heel. Patterning is only on the instep and the front of the leg, leaving plenty of Stockinette stitch to keep your needles flying.

Yarn

400yd / 100g of fingering weight yarn.

Gauge

8.5 stitches and 12 rows per inch in Stockinette stitch.

Needles

US 1 / 2.25mm circular needles or set of DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge).

Finished Measurements

S (M, L): 6.5 (7.5, 8.5)” foot and leg circumference.

Length and height are adjustable.

Choose a size that will fit with about 1” of negative ease.

Notes

This sock has a short-row heel. You may want to add additional stitches in the form of a gusset to fit high insteps. This pattern does not explain how to do this, but there are many excellent free tutorials online, such as this short-row heel tutorial by Knotions.

Abbreviations/Definitions

Rnd = round

RS = right side

WS = wrong side

LH = left-hand

RH = right-hand

k = knit

p = purl

sl = slip (purlwise unless otherwise specified)

wyib = with yarn in back

wyif = with yarn in front

w&t = wrap and turn

kfb = knit into front and back of same stitch

BOR = beginning of round

m = marker

pm = place marker

rm = remove marker

Special stitch:

Dropped crosses (Dr cr) = sl 2 wyib, drop next slipped stitch to front of work, sl 2 back to LH needle, pick up dropped stitch and knit it, k2, drop next slipped stitch to front of work, k2, pick up stitch and knit it.

Numbers for sizes written as S (M, L).

Instructions

Toe

Using Judy's Magic Cast On, CO 8 sts. Knit 1 rnd to complete the cast on.

Set-up rnd: *k1, kfb, pm; rep from * to end—4 sts increased.

Next rnd: *k to 1 st before m, kfb, sl m; rep from * to end—4 sts increased.

Rep this rnd 5 (6, 7) more times—36 (40, 44) sts.

Rnd 1: k all sts.

Rnd 2: *k to 1 st before m, kfb, sl m; rep from * to end—4 sts increased.

Rep these 2 rnds 4 (5, 6) more times—56 (64, 72) sts.

Small and Medium only:

Next rnd: k14 (16), rm, k14 (16), rm, k3 (1), pm for end of instep, k22 (30), rm when you come to it. This is your new BOR. The next 3 (1) st(s) start the next round.

34 instep and 22 (30) sole sts.

Large only:

Next rnd: Sl 1 st wyib, k17, rm, k17, pm for end of instep, k1, rm, k38, rm when you come to it (the last st worked will be the one you slipped at the start of the rnd). This is your new BOR.

34 instep and 38 sole sts.

Foot

Begin pattern:

Rnds 1-3: k all sts.

Rnd 4: k9, sl 2 wyib, k12, sl 2 wyib, k9, k22 (30, 38).

Rnd 5: k9, sl 2 wyib, k12, sl 2 wyib, k9, k22 (30, 38).

Rnd 6: k7, Dr cr, k8, Dr cr, k7, k22 (30, 38).

Rnds 7-9: k all sts.

Rnd 10: k2 [sl 2 wyib, k12] 2 times, sl 2 wyib, k2, k22 (30, 38).

Rnd 11: k2, [sl 2 wyib, k12] 2 times, sl 2 wyib, k2, k22 (30, 38).

Rnd 12: [Dr cr, k8] 2 times, Dr cr, k22 (30, 38).

Repeat Rnds 1-12 until foot reaches 2 inches less than desired length, ending on Rnd 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, or 12.

Heel Set-up

The short row heel is worked flat over the back half of the stitches. To rearrange the stitches into equal halves for the heel, work a partial rnd as follows:

Small and Medium only:

Work the next 31 (33) sts in pattern as established. The remaining 3 (1) instep st(s), 22 (30) sole sts, and the first 3 (1) st(s) you worked will form the heel sts—28 (32) heel sts.

Large only:

Work the next 34 sts in pattern as established, k1. The next 36 sts will form the heel sts.

Note the rnd of the pattern you just worked so you can pick up in the right place after the heel.

Heel

First half of heel:

Row 1 (RS): k27 (31, 35), w&t.

Row 2 (WS): p26 (30, 34), w&t.

Row 3 (RS): k to 1 st before last wrapped st, w&t.

Row 4 (WS): p to 1 st before wrapped st, w&t.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 8 (10, 12) center stitches are left unwrapped and 10 (11, 12) stitches are wrapped on each side, ending after a WS row.

Second half of heel:

Row 1 (RS): k to first wrapped st, k wrapped st together with its wrap, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyif, p to next wrapped st, p wrapped st together with its wrap, turn.

Row 3 (RS): Sl1 wyib, k to next wrapped st, k the wrapped stitch together its wrap, turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until all wraps have been picked up, ending with a WS row, i.e. row 2.

Next row: sl1 wyib, k24 (30, 36), pm for BOR.

Leg

Resume working in the round where you left off in the foot pattern, working all front of leg sts in pattern as established and knitting all back of leg sts.

Continue working the leg until it measures at least one inch less than the desired height, ending after Rnd 12.

Cuff

Rnd 1: k1, p1, k2, p1, [k2, p2] twice, [k2, p1] twice, [k2, p2] twice, [k2, p1] twice, [k2, p2] 2 (3, 4) times, [k2, p1] twice, [k2, p2] 2 (3, 4) times, k1.

Repeat Rnd 1 until cuff measures one inch, or until desired height.

Finishing

BO using the suspended bind-off, or your favorite stretchy bind-off.

Knit a second sock, block if desired, weave in ends, and enjoy!