Easy Sock Knitting Patterns

People who knit socks will tell you that handknit socks are just about the best thing ever. They are cozy, you can make them to fit your feet perfectly and you can customize them with the colors and patterns you like.

If you’re new to sock knitting it can be a little daunting to pick patterns that aren’t too difficult so you can focus on the tricky bits (though I promise heel turning is not as scary as it sounds on paper). Here are a handful (footful?) of great easy sock knitting patterns you can purchase on Etsy.

Starting with baby socks is a great way to go because they are so small, you’ll be done learning how to knit a sock in no time. If you don’t have a little one, they are great to donate to hospitals or women’s shelters. These from Original Knitwear can be worked in a solid color, with contrasting heel, cuff and toe or with stripes, and they come in three sizes from newborn up to a year.

Ribbed crews socks are so fun to knit and have a classic look even when stitched in wild colors like these from Summer Lee Design Co. This pattern comes with all sorts of variations to make them your own, including different options for the cuffs and heels, the length of the sock and the pattern of the stripes. And they come in four sizes!

While these socks are called the Easter Basket Anklet Socks, you can knit (and wear) them any time of year. They have a simple basketweave pattern on the top of the foot and contrasting cuff, heel and toe. So cute! Grab them from Indecisive Crafter Co.

The Sea Oats pattern from The Blue Mouse uses a little knit and purl pattern to great effect. Note the pattern description says the pattern is free but it actually looks like it costs $1, which is definitely worth it.

Try a little texture (no cable needle required) with the sweet little mock cables on the Crewneck Socks from Henry & Jane. These classic socks are lovely and the contrasting toe, while optional is really adorable. Or check out the diamond pattern on these socks from D19 Eco Friendly Life, which are a lot easier than they look.

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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