Knitted Children's Socks with Worsted Yarn (Free Pattern)

CUFF:
With one needle, cast on 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) sts. Divide evenly onto 3 needles.
 
Being careful not to twist the sts, join and work in the round as follows: (K2, P2) around for 3 (3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5)”. Knit 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) rounds.

DIVIDE FOR HEEL:
Transfer sts around so that there are 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts on the first needle, and 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts on each of the other two needles.
 
Work back and forth across the first needle ONLY as follows:
Row 1: (Slip 1, K1), repeat across.
Row 2: Slip the first st, PURL ACROSS ALL THE REMAINING STS.
Repeat these 2 rows for 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) rows total, then work row 1 once more. The heel will be 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) rows long.

TURN HEEL:
Row 1: Purl 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts, p2tog, p1, TURN.
Row 2: Slip 1, k5, k2tog, k1, TURN.
Row 3: Slip 1, purl to 1 st before the last turn (you’ll see a small gap where the last turn was), p2tog, p1, TURN.
Row 4: Slip 1, knit to 1 st before the last turn (look for the gap), k2tog, k1, TURN.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until all sts at the ends are used up, ending with a knit row. There will be 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts left.

GUSSET:
Continuing to work on the same needle, pick up and knit 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts along the side of the heel (needle 1). Using a new needle, knit across the sts on the next 2 needles (needle 2).
 
Using a new needle, pick up and knit 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts along the other side of the heel, and continue knitting to the center of the heel sts 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts. There should now be 11 (13, 14, 16, 17) sts on needles 1 & 3, and 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts on needle 2. The center of the heel is the beginning of the round; needle 2 contains the instep sts.
 
Begin decreasing as follows:
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Knit to within 3 sts of the end of the first needle, k2tog, k1. Work across second needle in st st. On third needle, k1, SKP, knit to end. Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts left on both needles 1 & 3. Needle 2 will remain at 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts since no decreases take place there. You will now be back to the original # of sts [24 (28, 32, 36, 40)].
 
Begin to work even again, until length from back of heel is 3 (3-1/2, 4-1/2, 5, 5-1/2)”, OR 1 (1, 1-1/2, 1-1/2, 1-1/2)” less than desired length of finished sock. At this point you can slip the sock on to see the length. Only the toenails should stick out.

TOE SHAPING:
Rearrange the sts on the needles, if necessary, so that there are now 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts on each of needles 1 & 3, and 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts on needle 2. The beginning of the round is still at the center back of heel.
 
Begin decreasing as follows:
Round 1: On needle 1: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On needle 2: K1, SKP, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On needle 3: K1, SKP, knit to end (center of heel).
Round 2: Knit. Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 12 (16, 16, 20, 20) sts left [3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts on needles 1 & 3, and 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) sts on needle 2].

KITCHNER STITCH:
Continuing to knit with needle 3, knit to the end of needle 1. There are now only 2 needles in use: 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) sts on each. Cut the yarn, leaving 18”. Thread it onto a blunt needle. Hold the 2 needles parallel, you will now have a front needle and a back needle. Always keep the yarn beneath the needle as you work.
 
Step 1: Go into the first st on the front needle as if to knit, pull the st off the needle.
Step 2: Go into the second st on the front needle as if to purl, leave st on the needle.
Step 3: Go into the first st on the back needle as if to purl, pull the st off of the needle.
Step 4: Go into the second st on the back needle as if to knit, leave the st on the needle. Now you have 4 new sts to work with.
 
Repeat steps 1 - 4 until all sts are woven. Anchor on inside, weave in ends. Make a second sock; counting rows to make sure it is the same length.