Socks on two needlesusing flat (back-and-forth) rows are suitable for both beginners and experienced knitters.
Beginner knitters who have little or no experience with circular needles can easily knit their first pair.
Experienced knitters use this method to create interesting color effects and pattern combinations that are difficult to achieve with circular knitting.
For another method of knitting socks, read the article: Two Easy Ways to Knit Socks on 2 Needles with a Seam.
Knitting Socks on Two Needles
Knitting socks on two needles differs from knitting in the round, as the work is done in flat rows rather than circular rounds.
First, the back part of the sock is knitted, followed by the front part.
You can use any pair of knitting needles. Cast on half the number of stitches required for knitting in the round.
The recommended number of stitches for knitting socks in flat rows is shown in the table.
The work always begins at the upper back edge. First, the back part of the cuff is knitted downward, followed by the leg, heel, and foot.
Calculation of a set of loops for yarn in 6 additions
| Size | 24/25 | 26/27 | 28/29 | 30/31 | 32/33 | 34/35 | 36/37 | 38/39 | 40/41 | 42/43 | 44/45 |
| Num loop | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
Calculation of a set of yarn loops in 4 additions
| Size | 24/25 | 26/27 | 28/29 | 30/31 | 32/33 | 34/35 | 36/37 | 38/39 | 40/41 | 42/43 | 44/45 |
| Num loop | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 |
The heel is worked using the “false boomerang” (short-row) technique.
The toe is knitted in the same way as the heel.
Then the work continues in the opposite direction. Finally, the front part of the cuff is completed — and the sock is finished.
Striped Children’s Socks on Two Needles
Size: 24/25.
Materials:
- 50 g each of bright yellow and plum yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide, 420 m / 100 g);
- 2.5 mm knitting needles.
Ribbing and Cuff:
edge stitch, purl 1, knit 1, edge stitch.
All knit stitches in both right-side and wrong-side rows are worked through the back loop (twisted).
Narrow stripes: change color every 2 rows.
Wide stripes: change color every 4 rows.
Gauge:
30 stitches × 42 rows in stockinette stitch with 2.5 mm needles = 10 × 10 cm
Instructions
Cast on 24 stitches with bright yellow yarn and work the cuff in ribbing for 10 cm. Then knit the leg in stockinette stitch with narrow stripes for 6 cm.
Heel
Use plum yarn for the heel. Divide the heel stitches into 3 equal parts of 8 stitches each.
Upper heel (with decreases):
Row 1: edge stitch, knit 2 stitches together with a left-leaning decrease (slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over), at the end of the row before the edge stitch knit 2 stitches together.
Row 2: purl all stitches.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 8 stitches remain on the needle.
Lower heel (with increases):
Row 1: knit across. At the end of the row, pick up 1 stitch from the edge of the heel slope (insert the needle into the edge stitch and knit a new stitch). Turn work.
Row 2: purl across. At the end of the row, insert the needle into the edge stitch of the first half through both loops from the back, pull up a loop and purl it.
Repeat these rows until there are 30 stitches on the needle. You should end up with a heel featuring a diagonal seam.
Foot
Knit the foot to a length of 10 cm in wide stripes.
Toe
Knit the toe with bright yellow yarn in the same way as the heel:
first work decreases until 8 stitches remain, then work increases.
Front Part
Knit the front part in narrow stripes.
Join the front part to the sole as follows:
from each edge stitch of the sole, pick up
- 1 knit stitch in every right-side row,
- 1 purl stitch in every wrong-side row.
Work these picked-up stitches together with the first stitch of the front part:
- knit together on right-side rows,
- purl together on wrong-side rows.
The total number of stitches remains unchanged. After 10 cm, knit the cuff with bright yellow yarn.
Bind off all stitches loosely and secure the yarn.
Women’s Socks on Two Needles with a “Triangles” Pattern
Size: 38/39
Materials:
50 g each of pink and natural-colored yarn (50% merino wool, 50% acrylic, 250 m / 100 g)
2.5 mm knitting needles
Ribbing and Cuff:
edge stitch, purl 1, knit 1, edge stitch.
Main Pattern:
work according to the chart, repeating rows 1 to 8 continuously.
Gauge:
22 stitches × 25 rows in pattern with 2.5 mm needles = 10 × 10 cm
Instructions
Cast on 22 stitches with natural-colored yarn and knit the cuff in ribbing to a length of 18 cm.
Work the heel in stockinette stitch as described in the children’s socks instructions: decrease stitches until 8 stitches remain on the needle, then increase stitches back to the original number.
Knit the foot in stockinette stitch. After approximately 15 cm, begin shaping the toe in the same way as the heel.
When 8 stitches remain on the needle, increase stitches back to the original number. After completing the toe, switch to pink yarn.
Work the front part of the sock following the main pattern chart. For the cuff, switch back to natural-colored yarn.
Bind off all stitches and fasten off the yarn.
Conclusion
This article explains how to knit socks on two needles using flat (back-and-forth) rows. A detailed step-by-step process of the technique is provided.
Two patterns for children’s and women’s socks will help knitters reinforce their newly acquired skills in practice.
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