Easy Boot Socks, Child’s Size for ages 6-9 yrs, size for adult in ( ) Feel free to print these directions, just don't sell them.

I am a spinner, weaver and knitter, not a pattern designer but I wrote down the directions for the children’s boot socks I am currently working on. I was amazed how difficult it was to put on paper what is in my head! I use wool yarns for socks, mainly my handspun, sometimes, commercial yarns. I also like to use a strand of fine weight mohair to make some, this added mohair makes the socks extra warm, attractive and the wool yarn wears better with the mohair added. This pattern is for boot socks, if I want a pair that is more comfortable in shoes, I will use a little lighter weight yarn and will make a cuff of 6” of ribbing Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows = 4 inches with size 6 needles in stocking stitch. Needles: I use casein needles, love the feel and the needles don't fall out of your knitting so you can take your sock knitting along with you and can stand and knit without losing needles! I use mainly size 6, the needles come in a set of 5 but I only use 4 needles. Sock sizes, these measurements are only averages, it works best to measure a person’s foot, then add a ½” for comfort. In the case of children I will add an inch for growth. Child’s sizes: finished foot length 7”

• Cast on 24 (40)sts. Divide on three needles: join. I use a k1, p1 ribbing for 1.5 (2)” Then I knit around for stockinette stitch for a total length of 5 (9.5)” knitting every stitch.
• Then I make the heel flap, I get to the end of the round on needle 3, knit 6 (10) sts from needle 1, then take 6 (10)sts from needle 3 and slide onto the end of needle 1. Divide the remaining 12 (20) sts on two needles.
• Then I work the heel flap in this manner:
• Row 1: Slip first st, purl to end, turn Row 2: slip 1st, k1, across the flap, repeat the last two rows for 16 (20) rows. End on row 2,
• Now it is time to do short rows across the heel flap.
• Row 1: slip 1 st, purl across to last 4 sts, purl 2tog, turn
• Row 2: slip 1 st, knit across to last 4 sts, knit 2 tog, turn
• Row 3: slip 1 st, purl across to last 3 sts, p 2 tog, turn
• Row 4: slip 1 st, knit across to last 3 sts, k 2 tog, turn
• Row 5: slip 1 st, purl across to last 2 sts, p 2 tog, turn Row 6: slip 1 st, knit across to last 2 sts, k 2 tog.
• Now it is time to pick up sts along side of heel flap, use the same needle that is holding your heel flap sts, pick up Pick up/knit 8 (10) stitches along the left side of heel flap.
• With second needle, knit across the stitches on the two needles holding your stitches that weren't knit when you were doing the heel flap, knit all 12 (20) sts onto one needle.
• Then take a free needle and pick up 8 (10) sts from other side of heel flap, knit 4 sts off of #1 needle, you now have 12 (16) st of #1 needle, 12 (20) st on #2 needle and 12 (16) on #3 needle.
• You need to reduce the stitches on needles 1 & 3 to the original 12 (20) stitches you started with before you started the heel flap. To reduce the number of stitches:
• Row 1, knit to last 3 stitches on needle #1, knit 2 tog, knit 1, knit across sts on needle #2, on needle number 3, you k 1, slip 1, k 1, psso
• Row 2, across all three needles Repeat these two rows till you have 6 (10) sts on needle #1, 12 sts on needle #2, 6 (10) st on needle #3 Now, knit even till you have the length you need for the foot minus 1.5”
• You will now make the toe:
• Row 1: knit across needle #1 to last 3 sts, k 2 tog, k 1, on needle #2, k 1, sl 1, k 1, psso, k to last 3 sts, k 2 tog, k 1. On needle #3 k 1, sl 1, k 1, psso
• Row 2: knit around on all needles Continue till you have 2 (3) sts on needles #1 & #3 and 4 (6) sts on #2 needle, put the stitches from #1 & #3 on one needle, break your yarn and weave these 8 (12) stitches together.

  Here is some pictures of my socks:

  This pair was knit using one strand of lavender wool and one strand of lavender brushed mohair in a slightly darker color, click onto the picture to see a large view.