On Monday I shared my new socks to secretly tuck inside my ankle boots.
And I promised I’d share a free vintage sock pattern with you. Actually, I’m sharing two! A plain and a cabled pair.
Both patterns are from the same knitting booklet from 1947. The plain socks are knit to 8.5 stitches per inch, casting on 52 stitches for the ribbed cuff, with the rest of the sock knit on 60 stitches. The cabled socks don’t specify gauge (only row gauge, which is rather silly for socks since you’re mostly knitting to desired length for the cuff and foot anyway), but the cuff is knit on 62 stitches and the rest of the foot on 72 stitches. Keep in mind cables and ribbing pull your knitting in, hence more stitches for these socks.
Both are knit using vintage size 12 sock needles (AKA double-pointed needles). That size corresponds to our modern size 1, which is 2.25mm. That’s the size I usually knit socks on unless I’m using heavier yarn. If you’d like to knit socks as short as mine, simply knit a shorter ribbed cuff and then launch straight into the instructions for the heel. If you have wider feet or ankles, you can always cast on an even number of extra stitches, or go up a needle size.
Download: 1947 sport socks patterns (pdf)
I love the name of some vintage yarns. These socks were knit using Fleisher’s Wonderized De Luxe Sock and Sport Yarn.
I wish more things were “wonderized” these days, don’t you?
Great ad! Thanks for sharing the patterns.
I adore your blog. I have a major crush on the dresses you’ve made too – I would give my hind teeth to have some of them, they are just beautiful. You clever thing! Really loving seeing you live the vintage life so completely! Although it’s ‘new’ brands you may love both Cath Kidston and Vivienne of Holloway from the UK – both real favourites of mine. Do visit my blog and drop me a line.
I haven’t knit any sock yet, but I have a plan to get started. I want to knit some ankle socks to wear with my keds and shorts/skirts. I was wearing sock liners, but had a bad reaction on the top of my foot to something in the tongue of the shoe so I need to start wearing sock. I’ve been looking at vintage images and noticed a lot of girls wore socks just like the pattern you shared.
I have never made socks, I am guessing they are a reasonably quick project? I must give them a try some soon. Just need to finish a jumper or two first 😉
Thank you for the pattern! What a great blog — I love seeing what you’re up to.
EEE! Beyond adorable!
Fab patterns, these look gorgeous!! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk
That’s so wonderfully sweet of you, thank you very much for sharing those patterns – as well as the marvelous vintage ad at the bottom of the post. Love it!!!
♥ Jessica
Oooo – thanks for sharing these patterns! Once I finish my Tardis socks, I’ll have to get started on these right away 🙂