Thursday, January 8, 2009

baby mitten socks

This is actually the second pair of socks I knit for Lev. The first pair I made from a Debbie Bliss pattern, and they don't fit him very well. I guess sometimes you need to do things wrong, before you can figure out how to do them right! Anyway, I thought I would share how I made these socks, in case you feel like making some for a special little one you know. The pattern does not have a lot details, so if you do try them out, let me know if I can add anything useful (or if I've made a mistake, which is quite possible considering how much sleep I get these days).


Baby Mitten Socks
or Striped and Ribbed Baby Socks

These wee little socks use self-striping yarn for the main part of the sock, and a contrast yarn for the heel so the stripe pattern isn't disrupted. They take such a small amount of yarn, you could easily make several pairs from one ball of yarn, or use up some left-overs from other projects. I used a spare ball of Regia I had sitting around, and some random blue sock yarn for the heels.

Materials: 15 g of self-striping fingering weight yarn, 5 g of contrast yarn in same weight, set of five 2.25 mm dpns, darning needle
Gauge: 8.5 st/inch and 12 rows/inch
Size: newborn (approx. 9 cm or 3.5" foot)

Ankle
Cast on 32 sts onto one needle with striping yarn. Transfer 8 sts to each of 3 more needles. Join in the round, and work [k1, p2, k1] around for 20 rounds. Drop this yarn, but do not break off.

Heel
With contrast yarn, k16 sts, placing them onto one needle. You will work back and forth on this needle for the heel.
Next: k1, p14, k1. K 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows for a total of 11 rows, ending with a ws row.
Next: k11, ssk, turn. (15 sts)
Next: s1 pw, p6, p2tog, turn. (14 sts)
Next: s1 kw, k6, ssk, turn. (13 sts)
Repeat the last 2 rows until 8 sts remain. Break off contrast yarn.

Instep
Pick up striping yarn, and with extra needle, pick up 9 sts along side of heel, then knit 4 sts from needle holding heel sts.
With next needle, knit other 4 sts from heel, then pick up 9 sts along other side of heel.
Work across top of instep, following ribbing pattern. You should now have 42 sts.
Next: ssk, k22, k2tog, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times. (40 sts)
Next: k24, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times.
Next: ssk, k20, k2tog, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times. (38 sts)
Next: k22, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times.
Next: ssk, k18, k2tog, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times. (36 sts)
Next: k20, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times.
Next: ssk, k16, k2tog, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times. (34 sts)
Next: k18, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times.
Next: ssk, k14, k2tog, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times. (32 sts)

Foot
Next: k16, [k1, p2, k1] 4 times.
Work this round for a total of 15 rounds. Or, work enough rounds so the sock foot measures the same from the back of the heel to the beginning of the toes, as does your baby's foot.

Toe
Knit 1 round.
Next: ssk, k12, k2tog, ssk, k12, k2tog. (28 sts) K 1 round.
Next: ssk, k10, k2tog, ssk, k10, k2tog. (24 sts) K 1 round.
Next: ssk, k8, k2tog, ssk, k8, k2tog.
Break off yarn leaving a long end. Graft end of toe together with kitchener stitch. Secure all yarn ends. Knit second sock.

Abbreviations
k = knit
p = purl
k2tog = knit 2 together
ssk = slip, slip, knit (or whatever left-leaning decrease you prefer)
s1 = slip one
pw = purl-wise
kw = knit-wise

12 comments:

  1. SOOOOOO CUTE !! I Just LOVE baby feets !! Thank you for sharing the pattern with us and congratulation for your baby ;-)

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  2. OMG, those are the cutest little feet! The little socks are cute too:)

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  3. Adorable socks, but i just love the tiny feet!

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  4. Oh my gosh, I love those teeny weeny socks! My special church friends just had their baby boy yesterday and, if I can gather up some courage, I'm gonna give these a try. I'm deathly afraid of socks and have managed to stay away from them until NOW. I just want to see those tiny socks in person. Thanks for sharing the pattern and, most of all, thanks for sharing that beautiful baby with us. Blessings to you and your men!

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  5. Leslie: these socks are probably a good place to start sock knitting, since they're so small and quick. Let me know if you need help with any of the steps.

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  6. I forgot how tiny a baby's feet are. They are too cute for words, I actually found myself tearing up a bit at the site! Congratulations on the little one.

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  7. OMG look at the little toes
    Thanks for the pattern it came at the right time. My co-worker is having twins very soon, what a perfect little gift.

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  8. I guess you gonna keep those little socks till the end of you life. If I were you then I would have taken the same.

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  9. Thanks for sharing your pattern. The socks knit up beautifully- almost as cute as those feet! All the best!

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  10. Such adorable tiny little feet! Love the socks! Thanks for sharing. :)
    Bev
    http://www.bevscountrycottage.com

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern! I am about to start knitting these in a black/white striping pattern. I will share the striping sequence I use on my blog (ChemKnits) in June.

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