Estense Socks in Regia 4 Ply - 7265 - Downloadable PDF

Estense Socks in Regia 4 Ply – Pattern 7265

The Estense Socks (Pattern 7265) is a free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by the REGIA Designteam and published by MEZ GmbH. It produces a pair of classic knitted socks featuring a decorative textured leg and a neat, well-fitted foot, making it an excellent project for beginner sock knitters who want to move beyond plain stockinette and explore simple stitch patterning.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a pair of matching knitted socks worked from the cuff down. The design includes a ribbed welt at the top, a patterned leg section, a short-row heel, and a shaped toe. The instructions are adaptable to any size using the REGIA SockGuide and accompanying size table, making this pattern versatile for a wide range of foot lengths. The sample sock has a total foot length of 28.5 cm, with the foot section beginning after a heel worked over 34 stitches.

Materials Required

• Yarn: REGIA 4-ply, 100 g ball in shade 01845 (bluestone meliert) – 1 ball is required. The yarn is a 4-ply weight, ideal for fine, durable sock knitting.
• Needles: A set of 5 double-pointed needles (DPNs) in sizes 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Stitches are distributed evenly across 4 needles during knitting, with the fifth needle used as the working needle.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is important for sizing accuracy. On 2–3 mm needles, the pattern specifies:

• Pattern mix: 32 stitches and 56 rows/rounds to 10 cm
• Stockinette stitch: 30 stitches and 42 rows/rounds to 10 cm

Techniques Used

• Cuff-down construction: The socks are worked from the top cuff downward to the toe, a classic and beginner-friendly approach to sock knitting.
• Working in the round: The majority of the sock is knitted in continuous rounds using double-pointed needles, distributing 68 stitches evenly across 4 needles (17 stitches per needle).
• Short-row heel: The heel is shaped using the short-row method, worked back and forth in open rows in stockinette stitch over the 34 stitches held on needles 1 and 4. Short-row heels create a smooth, rounded heel cup without the need for picking up stitches along a heel flap, making them approachable for beginners.
• Toe shaping: Once the foot reaches the correct length (22.5 cm in the sample), stitches are decreased in stockinette stitch to shape the toe.
• Chart reading: The pattern mix section is worked from a stitch chart. Right-side rows and rounds are read from right to left. The chart repeat covers rows/rounds 1–38, worked twice for the leg section.

Stitches Used

• Welt pattern (2x2 rib): Alternating knit 2, purl 2. This is used for the first 4 cm of the cuff to create a stretchy, snug top edge.
• Stockinette stitch (st-st): Knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows; when working in the round, all stitches are knitted. Used for the heel, toe, and portions of the foot.
• Pattern mix: A charted stitch pattern worked across needles 2 and 3 (the instep stitches) during the foot, and across all stitches during the leg. The chart includes knit stitches, purl stitches, and a special technique where the needle is inserted into the stitch one round below before knitting – a method that adds subtle textural depth to the fabric.