The Team Socks were born from an idea I had while making my husband a pair of socks in his favorite NFL team colors. I wanted them to be thick and cozy, and a little different than basic ribbed socks.
To purchase an ad-free and printer friendly PDF version of this pattern for only $3, click here for Ravelry or here for Etsy!
The Team Socks are knitted top down in the round. They have a rolled cuff followed by 2×1 ribbing down the leg. The heel is a basic flap and gusset that leads into a stockinette foot before decreasing the toes and stitching them closed using the Kitchener stitch. This pattern uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together, or you can use a DK or light worsted weight yarn by itself.
I hope you enjoy making these socks! They would make a great game-day pair for yourself or great gifts. I made myself a pair and love them!
If you make a pair of socks from my pattern, I would LOVE to see them. Please post a picture on Instagram and tag me @kneedlesandlife or use the hashtag #teamsocks.
Pattern
I believe this pattern is simple enough for your first time knitting socks. If you should need any help, I recommend searching on YouTube for what you need. This is how I made my first pair of socks a couple years ago!
Abbreviations
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
k – knit
p – purl
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl – slip (purl wise)
k2tog – knit 2 together
p2tog – purl 2 together
ssk – slip, slip, knit
BOR – beginning of round
** – repeat what is in between
* – repeat as directed
Instep – front/top of the sock
Sole – back/bottom of the sock
Materials
Fingering weight yarn held double:
- Color A: approx. 200-300 yards
- Color B: approx. 200-300 yards
- Color C: approx. 50 yards or less
US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, or whatever size you need to meet gauge, in your choice of DPNs, Magic Loop using a 32” or longer cable, or 9” circulars.
Two stitch markers, tape measure, tapestry needle, and scissors
More about yarn
This pattern uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together, or you can use a DK or light worsted weight yarn by itself. I used Stroll yarn from KnitPicks, which is a high quality and affordable sock yarn that I love! The gray and red are regular Stroll in the colors Dove Heather and Hollyberry, and the yellow is Stroll Tonal which has more yardage and tonal colors giving it more depth. The color is Poppy Field. I love how these worked up together and highly recommend trying them for yourself.
Gauge
24 sts = approx. 4″ (10cm) wide, knit in the round in stockinette stitch. Height gauge is not important for this pattern. I do not block my gauge swatches.
Sizes
Measure around the ball of your foot to determine size. The length is customizable. See size chart on page 6 for help with length if you are knitting gift socks. If you are knitting for yourself, you can try them on as you go.
The pattern is written for S (M, L, XL) – 7 (8, 9, 10)”
Team Socks
Click here to purchase an ad-free PDF of this pattern!
CUFF
Begin with colors A and B held together.
Cast on 42 (48, 54, 60). Join to k in the round and pm.
K 4 rounds of stockinette (all k sts). The edge will curl slightly.
LEG
Cut color B and swap it for color C. You are now holding colors A and C together.
Round 1: *k2, p1* around to end.
Continue in established 2×1 rib pattern for 1.5 inches (4cm).
Cut color C and swap it back to color B. You are now holding colors A and B together once again. You will continue with A and B until the toes of the sock.
Continue the established 2×1 rib pattern until your leg measures 6″ (15cm) from the cast on edge. The rest of the pattern is worked in stockinette.
HEEL
This pattern features a heel flap and gusset. You will work half of the stitches back and forth while the other half are on hold.
1: K 22 (24, 28, 30) sts. Place the other 20 (24, 26, 30) sts on hold. Turn work.
2: Sl 1, p the remaining sts
3: Sl 1, k the remaining sts
Repeat rows 2-3 until the your heel flap is 16 (18, 20, 22) rows. You will end after a row 2 (wrong side) so that you are ready to knit the heel turn on the right side. You should have 8 (9, 10, 11) slip sts on the side of the flap.
HEEL TURN
Row 1: sl 1, k11 (12, 14, 15), ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: sl 1, p3, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: sl 1, k to 1 st before the gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: sl 1, p to 1 st before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat rows 3-4 until you have worked all sts. Some sizes may not have a k1 and p1 at the end of the final repeats.
PICK UP STITCHES
K across the sts left from turning the heel. Then pick up and k 8 (9, 10, 11) sts along the left heel flap edge. If there is a large gap in the corners you can pick up an additional st. Place a marker here for your BOR. K across the instep sts on the front, pm. Pick up and k 8 (9, 10, 11) sts along the other heel flap edge. K across heel flap and down the side of the flap to the BOR.
GUSSET DECREASES
The BOR and second marker are to help you identify the instep sts in between if you are not using DPNs. For DPNs I place all instep sts on one needle and divide the other half between 2 needles.
The entire foot is worked in stockinette.
Round 1: k across instep sts, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before BOR, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: k all sts
Repeat rounds 1-2 until you are back to your original st count of 42 (48, 54, 60).
Continue knitting the foot until the length measures approx. 1.5″ short of your desired length. This is roughly the middle of your pinky toe.
Cut color B and swap it for color C. K one round with A and C before starting the toe decreases.
TOE
Work the following decreases to shape the toe.
First, divide your stitches equally in half. If you are using 9″ circulars, place a marker in between the instep and sole sts. For DPNS, I have all the instep sts on one needle, and the sole sts divided between two needles. For Magic Loop, place half on one needle and half on the other.
Round 1: k1, ssk, k to the last 3 sts of the instep, k2tog, k1. k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on the sole of the sock, k2tog, k1. You have now decreased 4 sts.
Round 2: k all sts.
Repeat rounds 1-2 until the toe reaches 1.5″ tall. If you’re knitting for yourself, try the sock on and make sure the toe closes. Make sure your last round is all k sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Close the toe of your sock using the Kitchener Stitch. I found this video very helpful.
Make one more sock exactly the same. Wet block or steam/iron if you want, then enjoy your new pair of socks!
Thank you for making my pattern! If you should have a question, please leave a comment or email me at kneedlesandlife@gmail.com.
You can find more free knitting patterns on my bloghere!
