Valley Yarns Cobblestone Socks Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Cobblestone Socks

What Is Being Made

The Cobblestone Socks are a pair of classic cuff-down socks designed by Kirsten Hipsky. These seamless, top-down knit socks feature a richly patterned fabric created through simple alternation of a two-by-two ribbing stitch. The pattern is ideal for showcasing multi-color sock yarn, with finished measurements available in three sizes: 7 inches, 8 inches, and 9 inches around the leg.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several essential sock-knitting techniques:

• Seamless, top-down construction: The socks are knit from the cuff downward in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, smooth fabric.
• Ribbed leg: The leg section alternates between rounds of knit-two, purl-two ribbing and purl-two, knit-two ribbing to create visual texture and pattern interest.
• Heel flap: A traditional heel flap is worked back and forth in rows across the heel stitches, creating a reinforced, durable heel area with garter stitch edges.
• Heel turn: Short-row shaping is used to turn the heel, with strategic decreases (slip-stitch, knit two together, and purl two together) that shape the heel cup.
• Heel gusset: Stitches are picked up along the sides of the heel flap and decreased to transition smoothly from the heel back to the leg circumference.

Stitches Used

The Cobblestone Socks incorporate fundamental knitting stitches executed in the round and in rows:

• Knit (k): The basic stitch used throughout the pattern.
• Purl (p): Used to create the ribbed texture and pattern contrast in the leg.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in heel shaping.
• Purl two together (p2tog): A decrease worked on wrong-side rows during heel turning.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in heel construction.
• Slip stitch (sl): Used to create edge stitches and in the heel flap pattern.
• Garter stitch: Created on the heel flap edges through alternating knit and slip-stitch rows.

Materials

The Cobblestone Socks are designed to be knit with specific yarn and needle specifications:

• Yarn: One skein of Valley Yarns Leyden, a superwash merino wool and nylon blend (75% Superwash Merino Wool / 25% Nylon). Each skein contains 100 grams and 437 yards of yarn, providing ample yardage for a complete pair of socks.
• Needles: A set of five US size 0 (2.00mm) double-pointed needles, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. Double-pointed needles allow for seamless knitting in the round.
• Gauge: Approximately 8 stitches equal 1 inch when working stockinette stitch in the round, which ensures the finished socks will fit properly at the specified measurements.

Pattern Summary

The Cobblestone Socks pattern begins with casting on between 56 and 72 stitches (depending on size), divided evenly across four double-pointed needles. The leg is worked in alternating rounds of two-by-two ribbing: six rounds of knit-two, purl-two followed by six rounds of purl-two, knit-two. This 12-round repeat is continued until the leg reaches the desired length before the heel. The heel flap is then worked back and forth in rows across half the stitches, creating a reinforced section with garter stitch selvages. The heel is turned using short-row shaping with strategic decreases, and the heel gusset is completed by picking up stitches along the heel flap sides and decreasing back to the original leg circumference. This construction method ensures a comfortable, well-fitting sock with excellent durability in high-wear areas.