Free Knitting Pattern: Raindrop Socks

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The upside-down slipped stitches in my latest free knitting pattern resemble raindrops (to me, anyway) arranged in neat vertical (and colorful!) columns, kind of how they fall from our rooftop. 

My almost-two-year-old toddler loved it each time I tried these colorful socks-in-progress on his chubby toddler feet.  I've also written a size for the three-year-old foot.  Enjoy!  Please contact me with any questions or problems with the pattern.

Sizes: 2 years, shoe size 6½-7, foot circumference 5 ¾" (3 years, shoe size 8-8½, foot circumference 6 1/8").  Instructions for larger size are in parentheses.

Materials:

Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted in colorway Playtime

Size 2 DPNs or size to get gauge

Gauge: 8 sts/inch in st st

Leg

Cuff

Cast on 46(50) stitches and join in the round. Arrange sts so the first 23(25) sts are across needles 1 and 2 and the second 23(25) sts are across needles 3 and 4.  Needles 1 and 2 contain sole sts; needles 3 and 4 contain instep sts.

Work k1p1 rib for a half inch.  On the last round of ribbing:

-          For 2 year size, increase 1 st on needle 4 (doesn’t matter where)—47 sts

-          For 3 year size, decrease 1 st on needle 4 (doesn’t matter where)—49 sts

Knit one round.

Work in pattern as follows:

Round 1: Needles 1 & 2: knit across; Needles 3 & 4: * k 3, sl 1 repeat from * to end of round

Repeat round 1 two times more.

Round 2: Needles 1 & 2: knit across; Needles 3 & 4: k1 * sl 1, k 3 repeat from * to last 3 sts, sl 1, k 2

Repeat Round 2 two times more.

Work in pattern as set (3 rounds of round 1 then 3 rounds of round 2) repeating the pattern a total of 5 (6) times.

Heel

Heel Flap

Now you’ll be knitting back and forth on the 23(25) sts on needles 1 and 2 (the sole sts).

Row 1 (RS): slip first st, * knit 1, sl 1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2

Row 2 (WS): slip first st, purl across

Repeat two rows 8(9) times more.

Turn Heel

Row 1: sl 1, k14(15), ssk, k1, turn

Row 2: sl 1, p8(9), p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: sl 1, k9(10), ssk, k1, turn

Row 4: sl 1, p10(11), p2tog, p1, turn

Row 5: sl 1, k11(12), ssk, k1, turn

Row 6: sl 1, p12(13), p2tog, p1

Row 7: sl 1, k13(14), ssk, turn

Row 8: sl 1, p13(14), p2tog, turn—15(17) sts

Row 9: knit

Gussett

Pick up and knit 11(12) sts along the right side of the heel flap.  Knit across instep sts in pattern.  Pick up 11(12) sts along the right side of the heel and knit 8(9) of the heel sts—61(65) sts

The beginning of your round now starts here.  You now have 18(20) sts on new needle 1, 24(24) sts across needles 2 and 3, and 19(21) sts on needle 4.

Round 1 (decrease round):

On needle #1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

On needles 2 and 3: knit across in pattern

On needle #4: k1, ssk, k to end of round

Round 2: work in pattern without decreases

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 47(49) sts remain.

Foot

Work in pattern until length is about 1 1/4" shorter than the intended toddler’s foot.

Knit one row, working 1 decrease on needle 2 for two-year size (46 sts) or working 1 increase on needle 4 for three-year size (50 sts).

Toe

Round 1 (decrease round):

On needle #1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

On needle #2: k1, ssk, k to last three sts, k2tog, k1

On needle #3: k1, ssk, k to end of round

Round 2: knit

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 two(three)times more—34(34)

Then work row 1 five(five) times—14(14) sts.

Knit the sts on needle 1.

Graft the toe closed and weave in yarn ends.  Then find your rambunctious toddler and put the socks on him or her, right away, no matter how much he or she squirms or how hot it is outside.