Knit Your Own Socks: Mastering The Toe Section

Making the toe part of a sock is one of the most exciting parts of the process. The toe part of a sock is traditionally worked in the stockinette stitch, mostly because it’s easier to work decreases in stockinette than in any other stitch pattern. When the sock is the right length for your foot, it is time to work the toe. To shape your toe, you will work a combination of decrease rounds and knit rounds.

The toe part of a sock is traditionally worked in the stockinette stitch

The stockinette stitch is a very simple and effective stitch for the leg of a sock. It involves knitting all the stitches in one row and then purling all the stitches in the next. To knit, insert the needle through the first stitch from left to right, wrap the yarn around, and scoop up a new loop, sliding the old loop off the needle. Continue knitting to the end of the row. Then, to purl, insert the needle through the first stitch from right to left, wrap the yarn, and scoop up a new loop, sliding the old loop off the needle. Continue purling to the end of the row.

To shape the toe, you will work a combination of decrease rounds and knit rounds. For a decrease round, knit one stitch, make a left-leaning decrease, knit to the end of your needle, knit until you have three stitches left, work a right-leaning decrease, and knit the last stitch. For a knit round, simply knit all the stitches. Repeat these two rounds until you have worked your last decrease row.

To finish off the tip of the toe, you can either bind off all the stitches and seam the halves of the stitches with an overhand stitch, or you can use the Kitchener stitch (also called grafting) for an invisible seam.

To shape the toe, work a combination of decrease rounds and knit rounds

To shape the toe of a sock, you need to work a combination of decrease rounds and knit rounds. This is how you do it:

First, you need to make sure that the beginning of your toe is in line with one end of your heel section. If you need to, knit across an extra needle to achieve this.

Now, to shape the toe, you will work a combination of decrease rounds and knit rounds. Here is how to work a decrease round:

• Knit one stitch.
• Make a left-leaning decrease.
• Knit to the end of your needle.
• Knit until you have three stitches left on your next needle.
• Work a right-leaning decrease.
• Knit the last stitch.

Repeat this process for your next needle:

• Knit the first stitch of your next needle.
• Work a left-leaning decrease.
• Knit to the end of your needle.
• Knit until you have three stitches left of your last needle.
• Work a right-leaning decrease.
• Knit the last stitch.

You should have decreased by four stitches in total.

Now, continue to follow your pattern until you have worked your last decrease row.

You can finish off the toe of the sock by binding off all stitches and seaming the first half of the stitches to the second half with an overhand stitch. This method is quick and easy, but it will leave a ridge. Alternatively, you can use the Kitchener stitch to join the stitches for an invisible seam.

Kitchener stitch is a common method of grafting

To use the Kitchener stitch, you will need to have the wrong sides of your knitting together and your stitches on two needles. You will also need to thread your yarn tail, or a new yarn for seaming, on a darning needle.

• Put your darning needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl and pull your yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle.
• Put your darning needle through the first stitch on the back needle (being careful not to put it over the needle) as if to knit and pull your yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle.
• Put your darning needle through the first stitch on the front needle knitwise, thread your yarn through, and slip that stitch off the needle.
• Put your darning needle through the next stitch on the front needle purlwise, thread your yarn through, and leave the stitch on the needle.
• Put your darning needle through the first stitch on the back needle purlwise, thread your yarn through, and slip that stitch off the needle.
• Put your darning needle through the next stitch on the back needle knitwise, thread your yarn through, and leave the stitch on the needle.
• Repeat steps 3-6 until one stitch remains on each needle, then work steps 3 and 5 once more.
• Break your yarn and move the tail to the inside of the work. Weave in your ends.

It can be helpful to keep a little handwritten cue card with the steps in your knitting kit, to refer to when you need to graft a sock toe.

Finchley graft is an easier alternative to the Kitchener stitch

When knitting socks, the toe part is usually worked in a stockinette stitch as it is easier to work on decreases in stockinette than in any other stitch pattern. Once the toe part is shaped, you can finish off the tip of the toe.

One way to do this is by binding off all the stitches and seaming the first half of the stitches to the second half with an overhand stitch. This method is quick and easy but leaves a ridge.

If you want to make the seam invisible, you can use the Kitchener stitch, also called grafting. This method involves mimicking the look of the knit fabric using a wool needle. While the Kitchener stitch creates an invisible seam, it can be confusing and hard to remember.

An easier alternative to the Kitchener stitch is the Finchley graft. The Finchley graft is easy to remember and creates a series of purl stitches across the graft. It is a great way to join stitches, close the toe part of a top-down sock, or connect open stitches in your knitting.

• The last stitch you will have on your crochet hook will be the one attached to the yarn tail.
• To finish off your work, pass the tail through the last stitch and pull tight to secure.
• Weave in the tails, and you will have a tidy seam that looks even better on the purl side of the work.

Three-needle bind-off is another method to graft the toe of a sock

• Ensure you have the same number of stitches on both needles.
• Break the yarn, leaving approximately a 12-inch tail.
• Thread the tail through a tapestry needle.
• Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle.
• Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit, leaving the stitch on the needle, and pull the yarn through.
• Now, insert the tapestry needle into the same stitch on the front needle knitwise, slip the stitch off the needle, and pull the yarn through.
• Repeat the process for the second stitch on the back needle: insert the tapestry needle knitwise, slip the stitch off, and pull the yarn through.
• Continue grafting by alternating between the front and back needles: knit off, purl on for the front needle, and purl off, knit on for the back needle.
• When you have two stitches remaining on each needle, insert the tapestry needle through the last two stitches on the front needle as if to knit.
• Pull the stitches off the needle and pull the yarn through.
• Insert the tapestry needle through the last two stitches on the back needle as if to purl.
• Pull the stitches off the needle and pull the yarn tight.
• Pull the yarn tail through to the inside of the sock and carefully weave in the ends.

Frequently asked questions