Madelinetosh Dimpled Socks Knitting Pattern

Madelinetosh Dimpled Socks

What is Being Made

The Madelinetosh Dimpled Socks are a pair of women's socks featuring a distinctive polka dot-like textured effect across the surface. This downloadable knitting pattern produces socks sized to fit women's medium (US shoe size 7½–8½) and women's large (US shoe size 9½–Man's 8½) feet. The design combines classic sock construction with a decorative stitch pattern that creates visual interest while maintaining the comfort and functionality of everyday hosiery.

Techniques Used

These socks are knit from the top down, a popular method that allows for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the sock as you work. The pattern is worked in the round using either double point needles or the magic loop method on a circular needle, which creates a seamless tube of fabric ideal for sock construction. The heel is constructed using a short row heel technique, which involves strategic yarn-overs and slipped stitches to create shaping without traditional heel flap and gusset increases. The toe is finished with a traditional wedge toe, a common closure method that decreases stitches evenly to taper the sock end, which is then grafted closed using a darning needle.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs several fundamental knitting stitches. The cuff begins with a 2×2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2), which creates an elastic edge that helps the sock stay up on the foot. The leg features the dimpled stitch pattern, a repeating 20-round motif that creates the signature textured surface. This pattern alternates between plain stockinette knit rounds and rounds featuring the MK (make knot) stitch, which produces the raised polka dot-like dimples. The MK stitch is worked at regular intervals—every 8 stitches on round 5, and every 7 stitches offset on round 15—creating an allover textured design. The heel and toe sections are worked primarily in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), with short-row shaping accomplished through yarn-overs and slipped stitches that wrap the working yarn around stitches to create smooth transitions in the fabric.

Materials

The pattern calls for Madelinetosh Tosh Sock yarn, which is composed of 100% superwash merino wool. One skein provides 395 yards (361 meters) of yardage, sufficient to complete both socks. The pattern shows the socks pictured in the colorways "Oxblood" and "Chamomile." Knitting needles required are US 1 (2.25 mm), available as either one set of 5 double point needles or one 40-inch (102 cm) circular needle for the magic loop method. Additional notions include one stitch marker to denote the beginning of the round and one darning needle for grafting the toe closed. The recommended gauge is 7 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch, and knitters should adjust needle size if necessary to achieve this gauge for proper fit.