Sock patterns are, for the most part, just recipes. Swap in that heel, switch out that toe, tweak the cuff like this or that, and with a little practice you have your own vanilla sock pattern.

I enjoy knitting all kinds of socks, and this recipe has been my go-to when making top-down, short row heel socks. Choose a snug ribbing or a looser ribbing, choose a basic wrap and turn heel or a shadow wrap heel, and finish off with a round toe or a wedge toe. Pros and cons are included for at each step to help you decide.

Knit both socks the same or knit one sock each way. See which you like best!

Video tutorials on some of the techniques used in this pattern can be found on my YouTube page here.

This pattern assumes that you know how to knit in the round (dpns, 9” circulars, or magic loop), read a basic pattern, work cast on, knit, purl, rib, do a kfb increase and k2tog decrease.

Finished sizes:
Adult Small Medium, Large –
7 1/4” 8 1/8”, 9”/18.2 cm 20.5 cm, 22.8 cm to fit a 8” 9”, 10”/20.3 cm 22.8 cm, 25.4 cm foot circumference with a 5” cuff before the heel turn. These are designed to have approximately 10% negative ease in foot circumference.

The Large size is pictured.