Socks with a Star Toe and an Afterthought Heel

Striped knitted Socks with a Star Toe and an Afterthought Heel are a practical and stylish project for knitters who enjoy experimenting with color combinations and modern sock construction techniques. The matching star decreases used for both the heel and toe create a balanced, symmetrical look and ensure a comfortable fit.

This step-by-step tutorial explains how to knit striped socks in the round, shape the star toe, and work an afterthought heel using the same elegant decrease method.

Designer: Susanna Mertsalmi

Materials, tools and knitting techniques

Sizes

EU 30 ~ UK 11-12 (Child) ~ US 12-13 (Child) 

EU 38 ~ UK 7-7.5 ~ US  5.5- 6 

EU 46 ~ UK 11 – 11.5 ~ US 13-13.5 

Yarn and Accessories

Novita 7 Veljestä (7 Brothers) yarn. Composition: 80% wool, 20% polyamide. Length: ~200 m/100 g.:

• 50 (50) 100 g terracotta (644)
• 50 g each of green (322), natural white (010), light gray (047), graphite gray (044), and red (573)

Needles and Notions

Double-pointed needles size 3½ ~ (UK 10 ~ US 4) — 4 mm ~ (UK 9 ~ US 9) , or size needed to obtain gauge.

Stitch Patterns

Ribbing: k1, p1, repeat from * to *.

Stockinette stitch in the round: Knit all stitches.

Stripe sequence:
4 rounds red, 1 round gray, 1 round white, 2 rounds green, 1 round red, 3 rounds gray, 2 rounds graphite gray, 1 round gray, 2 rounds white, 1 round green, 2 rounds red, 1 round graphite gray, 1 round terracotta, 1 round gray, 2 rounds green, 2 rounds white.

Read our separate article on how to change yarn colors without creating a jog line: Three 3 Ways to Change Yarn Color When Knitting in the Round.

Knitting density

10 x 10 cm 4 х 4 in= 18 stitches x 26 rows.

Striped knitted Socks with a Star Toe and an Afterthought Heel

Using terracotta yarn, cast on 52 (64) 72 stitches so that needles I and IV each have 16 (20) 22 stitches, and needles II and III each have 10 (12) 14 stitches.
The beginning of the round is always between needles I and IV.

Work 3 cm in ribbing in the round, then knit 1 round in terracotta and continue in stockinette stitch following the stripe pattern.

When the leg measures 8 (15) 15 cm, begin calf decreases at the center back on needles I and IV:

• At the beginning of the round: knit 1, knit 2 together.
• At the end of the round: slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 1.

Repeat these decreases every 8th round, then every 4th round 4 (6) 6 more times.
There should remain 10 (12) 14 stitches on each needle.

When the leg measures 24 (34) 34 cm and the last round was worked in terracotta, make the heel opening as follows:

Place stitches from needles I and IV on hold. Using terracotta yarn, cast on 30 (34) 38 new stitches and distribute them onto needles I and IV. Knit 1 round in terracotta, then continue the stripe pattern as before.

Gusset Decreases

Work 2 rounds after the heel opening, then begin gusset decreases:

• At the end of needle I: knit 2 together.
• At the beginning of needle IV: slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over.

Repeat decreases every other round until all needles again have 10 (12) 14 stitches each.

Socks with a Star Toe Decreases

When the foot measures 10 (14) 19 cm (the afterthought heel will add extra length), work the toe decreases in terracotta yarn:

Knit 2 together in the middle and at the end of each needle
= 32 (40) 48 stitches.

Work 4 plain rounds and repeat decreases
= 24 (32) 40 stitches.

Work 3 plain rounds and repeat decreases
= 16 (24) 32 stitches.

Continue in this manner, working one fewer plain round between decrease rounds each time, until 8 stitches remain.

Cut the yarn, thread it through the remaining stitches, pull tight, and fasten securely.

Socks with a Star Toe and an Afterthought Heel and Star Toe Decreases

Using terracotta yarn and two needles, pick up stitches from the cast-on heel opening. Also pick up 1 extra stitch at each side between the held stitches and the cast-on stitches to prevent holes.

Return the held stitches to two needles = 52 (60) 68 stitches total.

Distribute stitches evenly onto four needles = 13 (15) 17 stitches per needle.

Knit 1 round while decreasing 1 stitch on each needle
= 48 (56) 64 stitches.

Work star decreases exactly as for the toe:

• Knit 2 together in the middle and at the end of each needle
  = 40 (48) 56 stitches.

For sizes 38 and 46, knit 5 plain rounds and repeat decreases
= 40 (40) 48 stitches.

For all sizes, knit 4 plain rounds and repeat decreases
= 32 (32) 40 stitches.

Continue in the same way, reducing the number of plain rounds between decrease rounds by one each time, until 8 stitches remain.

Cut the yarn, thread through the remaining stitches, pull tight, and fasten securely.

Conclusion

In this article, we explained how to knit striped Socks with a Star Toe and an Afterthought Heel, star heel decreases, and a matching star toe. Using the same shaping technique for both the heel and toe creates a neat, professional finish and makes the knitting process easy to follow.

We hope this detailed tutorial inspires you to experiment with striped sock with a Star Toe and helps you create a warm, comfortable, and beautifully fitted pair of handmade socks. Socks with an afterthought heel make these socks easy enough even for beginners.

Read other materials on our website:

1. Women’s Knit Socks with a Boomerang Heel (No Wrap & Turn) – Cable and Texture Pattern.
2. How to Knit Toe-Up Socks from Self-Striping Yarn with an Additional Cast-On for the Heel.
3. Cozy Men’s Socks with a Peasant Heel in 1 Evening.