Sneaker Socks Knit-Along, Part 1

How to Cast On Stitches and
Shape the Toe Part of a Toe-Up Sock

I am happy to invite you to our first-ever community knit-along!

In this knit-along, we’ll make a pair of Sneaker Socks together. I’ll record every step while I knit one of these super-comfortable low-cut socks in my studio. Then I’ll put together hours of recording into a set of three video tutorials and share those videos with you to help you confidently make a pair of Sneaker Socks even if you’ve never knitted socks before.

There are just a few things you will need to join this knit-along – sock yarn (you will only need one 50 g / 1.7 oz ball for most sizes), 2.5 mm (US size 1.5) circular needles, a locking stitch marker (a basic safety pin will do), a wool needle and a copy of the Sneaker Socks pattern.

The pattern provides instructions for 7 sizes from Toddler to Large Adult so you can make socks for everyone in your family. The exact yarn yardage for each size is listed on the pattern page. That’s also where you can get the pattern as an instant PDF download.

In the first part of this knit-along, we’ll work through the first 3 steps of the pattern.

Watch this part of the knit-along in a detailed video tutorial.

We’ll start by casting on stitches using a seamless cast on. This cast on forms an edge that looks very similar to the rest of the toe part of the sock. It is fully invisible and I’m not even sure we can call it “an edge”. Let’s just call it “the beginning of a sock” 🙂

As we make the sock, we’ll use a long circular needle and the magic loop technique, but you are more than welcome to use two short circular needles or even double-pointed needles. Just keep in mind that it could be a bit challenging to work the first few rounds of the sock using the double-pointed needles.

Once we get the initial number of stitches on the needles, we’ll get busy shaping the toe part of the sock. We’ll make sure the shaping mimics the natural curve of the toe part of a human foot to provide the best possible comfort when we wear these socks later on.

When the shaping is done, we’ll add a faux seam to visually separate the toe part from the foot part of the sock just as an actual seam separates these two parts on machine-made socks that we see in stores.

This step is optional and you can easily skip it. I added this little feature to the pattern not because I strive to match the look of mass-produced socks, but because people are often puzzled by an unusual look of usual items.

If you make socks for a non-knitter, they might not like the look of the socks because “something is missing”. The faux seam is meant to fix this issue and give the socks the “usual look”.

The fourth step of the pattern (making the foot part of the sock) is our homework. This part of the sock-making process is quite straightforward and calls for pleasantly relaxed knitting in a cosy chair with a cup of fragrant tea nearby.

A video tutorial with me telling you how to knit all stitches in a round is not part of this setting, so I’ll let you relax and enjoy the process of knitting on your own 🙂

Please, share your notes and remarks about this project in the comment section of this video tutorial on YouTube. I’d love to learn about your progress and I’d be happy to help if you get a question (or ten 🙂 along the road.

The second part of the knit-along is the most interesting one – we’ll work on shaping the heel part of the sock. A slightly unusual way of heel shaping is the main reason why Sneaker Socks don’t slip off the feet. Next time, I’ll show you every little detail of that shaping.

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If you enjoyed this tutorial,
here’s something else you might find helpful:

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