How to knit socks that fit (4ply yarn)

This is a tutorial about how to get your socks to fit. Information on needle size and stitch count to start with applies to 4-ply/fingering yarns. However, the theory can be applied to any weight of yarn.
Here is the equations shown in the tutorial:
Leg circumference (in inches) - 1.5 inches = Sock circumference
Stitches per inch x sock circumference = stitches needed to cast on
Here is an example:
Leg circumference = 8 inches
Stitches per inch = 9 stitches per inch
Leg circumference (in inches) - 1.5 inches = Sock circumference
8-1.5= 6.5 inches Sock circumference
Stitches per inch x sock circumference = stitches needed to cast on
9 x 6.5 = 58.5 stitches
I would round this up to 60 stitches
See my toe up sock tutorials:
• Toe up socks, Part 1: ...
• Toe up socks, Part 2: ...
• Toe up socks, part 3: ...
Links to the sock patterns I have shown are as follows:
www.ravelry.co...
www.ravelry.co...
You can find me on the following sites:
www.ravelry.com...
/ crafthousemagic
www.etsy.com/u...

[@maggie2sticks717]

I'm amazed at how simple you have made this look! Your tutorials are better than the paid for class I bought from Craftsy. Thank you!!

[@socksformum]

Thanks, Ellie! I've been knitting socks forever and you taught this beautifully! I've never even thought about taking two measurements....brilliant!

[@crafthousemagic]

Thanks Becky, I sometimes like to watch little tutorials from other people even though I have done it before. You never know what you might pick up looking at things from another perspective. I am so glad you found it useful x

[@lois7055]

Thanks Ellie. I watched this video quite a while ago and forgot almost everything! After watching it again I am ready to begin a new pair of socks. I love my two pairs of hand knitted socks so number three coming up!

[@ladydlc550]

Thanks for doing this video. I've knitted socks that were loose and some that were tight. Your wisdom on this is quite helpful.

[@mariwhitmer5377]

Gosh Ellie this is wonderful! I thought I had a basic idea before but now I feel much more confident. My sock fit so far has been all over the map :) Super job!

[@yipsue3168]

Thanks for uploading this wonderful and informative video. I am reading a sock knitting book that explains in detail the measure ment and customization. After watching your video, I have found that it's easier than what I thought it was.

[@crafthousemagic]

Fantastic! So glad it helped you get on your sock knitting journey x x

[@hisalone7166]

Thanks so much Ellie! Tremendous help you are!!! Love the way you teach...straight to the point. Some videos just go on and on with to much verbiage. Blessings! Beverly

[@crafthousemagic]

Thank you Beverly! So glad you like it! I quite enjoy recording these little video's x

[@KnitAdjacent-ln2rx]

Thank you for all the wonderful information, Ellie!

[@sharonkeller7397]

I forgot to tell you how much I was looking forward to this tutorial. Now I feel like I have someplace to start. I think Sock knitting is going to be my goal for this next year 2018. I am looking forward to joining the Sock Knitters club lol!! Have a good day Ellie! xx

[@beverleyellis3180]

Sharon Keller i

[@crafthousemagic]

Thank you Sharon! I hope you really love knitting socks as much as I do! Thank you so much for watching x x x

[@RobynSkevington]

I've started knitting my first sweater now, but in the future I would like to knit a pair of socks. I have very tiny, skinny feet. I can even buy shoes in kids sections. This means that socks never fit me correctly. I'm definitely saving this video for later. Thank you!

[@shawnatripp3795]

I have been watching this video a lot!

[@sewcanjo]

Great tutorial, really handy.

[@beverleysimmons3778]

You are a nice writer

[@lindapenney5207]

thank you for sharing Ellie blessings

[@dainka65]

Love the Sugar Plum Fairy socks, too bad her shop is closed.

[@kayjay9516]

Ellie, thanks for this, I’m just learning how to knit socks so it’s really useful. My st count is 9 per inch and I have chubby legs, measuring 11 where my socks end. Now by your calculations it’s 11-1.5 x 9 which is 86 stitches. But I cast on 72 and have tried on and it’s fine around my leg, should I be looking to cast more on? This is my second attempt. My first was on 2.25mm which was too tight and way too tight over the instep (I now how how to correct that thanks!) so I’ve switched to 2.5mm and the yarn this time is very slightly thicker. I have decreased to 68 as I approach the ankle and I was going to go back to 72 for heel. Help! Thanks x

[@crafthousemagic]

Hi Kathryn, If you can get away with 72 stitches go for it. It depends on how stretchy your fabric is, so with some yarns you may need to cast on more stitches. What type of heel are you using? If you are doing the German short row heel like the one in my toe up socks tutorial you can just pick up extra stitches between the needles and not decrease them for the foot. Does that make sense? x

[@kayjay9516]

Craft House Magic Thanks for your reply. I’m not sure what type of heel to do, I’ve only done the one in Little Bobbins’ Twas the night before Christmas socks, which was a bit narrow. I’m just knitting the sock leg at the moment.

[@anntucker1065]

Thank you for this tutorial. I was wondering if you had any advice you could give regarding socks with cables? I usually knit a 64 sts sock on 2.25mm & it fits great. But I’ve cast on a sock that calls for 83sts , it has cables down the front which I know will pull the fabric in but it just seems like an awful lot of sts. Any advice would be gratefully received! Thanks Ann x

[@crafthousemagic]

Hi Ann, I can see why you need to cast on 83 stitches as the cable can pull the sock right in. I have knitted the sprouting socks by hedgehog fibres and I cast on 80 stitches and they fitted ready well. So 83 stitches sounds right for a sock that is cabled all around x

[@patriciagabrielides3146]

Great tutorial, Ellie... Thank you🐨🇦🇺🏖

[@aislinngraves4291]

Would you follow this same equation if you are knitting tube socks without a heel??? I have lymphedema in my feet and legs ( swelling from fluid buildup in the tissues ) so finding socks is difficult.

[@crafthousemagic]

You would need to allow for the length of sock to go around the heel. I would measure the length of your foot and the length from the floor to how long you want your socks and keep knitting until you reach that length from the toe up pattern x

[@aislinngraves4291]

@@crafthousemagic Thank you! I will do that.

[@caseylewis9444]

This was a super helpful video!!! I have a question though. Is there a way to factor in the size of the needles? Im trying to follow along with a pattern at the moment because im still new but only have one size needle and my sock seems like its the size of a Christmas stocking lol

[@crafthousemagic]

The same principle applies to whichever needle size you use. Measure how many stitches per inch you are getting when you are happy with your gauge. You can then work out how many stitches you need. Many people go down to a size 2mm for socks. As a tight gauge can make them last longer. It also depends on the yarn you are using. So you need to take into account 3 factors: yarn thickness, your tension (gauge) and needle size x

[@tasfour8962]

How do you decide the number of stiches to knit when you are first turning the heal, just after you finish the back flap?

[@crafthousemagic]

It depends on how many you have on your needles for the heel flap. I have a free pattern for a simple top down sock on my website and ravelry. Where I give you the numbers you needs for several different sizes x crafthousemagic.co.uk/collections/downloadable-patterns/products/simple-top-down-sock-pattern-pdf

[@sarahmatthews2737]

Question, what about how long to knot the foot of your sock? I’m having a hard time finding an answer. Thank you in advance for your help!

[@crafthousemagic]

You need to measure the length of your foot. Mark the back of your ankle and tip of your longest toe on a piece of card. This is the length you want to knit for your sock. If you are knitting my toe up sock pattern you need to knit until it is 2 inches shorter than your foot length. If you are knitting my top down sock. Knit until the foot is 1.5 inches shorter than the length of your foot. These instructions are in both my top down sock pattern (free) and toe up sock video tutorials. I have video tutorials for both in my knitting tutorials playlist. I will leave a link below x

[@crafthousemagic]

Knitting tutorials kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYCZhaSLZt6Nrc0 Knitting patterns on my website crafthousemagic.co.uk/collections/downloadable-patterns

[@sarahmatthews2737]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@masuganut2082]

I wanted to knit my husband socks for Valentine’s Day but I’ve never done it. I have worsted weight yarn that’s wool and I know that’s what he would prefer. (Especially since I can’t buy anything) there’s a pattern from Premier yarn company, it’s a knit slipper sock.... do you think this would work and should I do the negative ease with this as well? Any help would be appreciated. I would love this to be a surprise Please and thank you ❤️❤️

[@crafthousemagic]

I think it would work. Yes i would allow some negative ease but perhaps not quite as much as I have here. You would need to test it out as the need for negative ease would depend on what your tension is right. The pattern should give you an idea of how many stitches to go for depending on your size x

[@masuganut2082]

Craft House Magic thank you!! Well the problem is, the yarn and needles I want to use (what I have and what my husband likes, picky man lol) so I’ve sorta had to try and come up with something on my own..... but please, I wanted to ask, my husband always wears down the heels in his storebought socks. The heels and toes but mostly the heels. He’s on his feet all day. Can you please suggest a heel type that’s thicker and tougher? I saw on one pattern it was German short rows with stockinette. And there’s another pattern that does this “purl one, slip one” technique. I really value your opinion. I’m really hoping to surprise him lol. Any suggestions, if you have the time to write back of course, would be very much appreciated!! -Kathleen ❤️❤️❤️

[@sandra_brt]

hello Ellie, how can I knit a pair of men's socks without knowing the shoe size? 🤔

[@crafthousemagic]

It is difficult if you don't know the foot length. If you have a rough idea of the size you may be able to make a guess. You could always cut the toes off the socks and add or remove length if needed x x

[@sandra_brt]

@@crafthousemagic thank you very much, I'll try to get more informations about the foot I will knit for. bye 🤗