Socks in Regia Silk 4 Ply - 5435 - Downloadable PDF

Socks in Regia Silk 4 Ply – Pattern 5435: Free Downloadable Knitting PDF by Schachenmayr

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr provides instructions for knitting a classic pair of socks using Regia Silk 4 Ply yarn. Designed for knitters who enjoy working in the round on double-pointed needles, this pattern produces a beautifully fitted sock with a traditional heel construction, a shaped gusset, and a neat tapered toe. The pattern includes sizing guidance and is worked identically for both socks.

What Is Being Made

The pattern instructs knitters to create a pair of socks worked entirely in the round using a set of double-pointed needles. The socks are constructed from the cuff downward, progressing through a ribbed or textured cuff, a stitch-patterned leg, a heel flap, a gusset, a foot, and a finished toe. Instructions are provided for two sizes, with stitch counts clearly differentiated throughout (for example, 10/12 stitches and 13/15 stitches at key construction points).

Construction and Techniques Used

• Working in the round: The sock body and foot are knitted continuously in rounds across four double-pointed needles, with needles 1 and 4 typically holding the sole stitches and needles 2 and 3 holding the instep stitches.
• Heel flap (Fersenwand): A traditional heel wall is worked back and forth in rows over the stitches of needles 1 and 4 only, creating a reinforced heel fabric. The pattern notes that the first and last stitches of each row may be worked in garter stitch for a neat selvedge edge.
• Heel turn and gusset (Zwickel): After turning the heel, stitches are picked up along both sides of the heel flap — 13/15 stitches from each heel edge — plus one additional stitch picked up from the yarn over between needles to prevent holes, bringing needles 1 and 4 to 19/22 stitches each. The gusset is then decreased every third round: on needle 1, the second-to-last and third-to-last stitches are knitted together, and on needle 4, a slip-slip-knit decrease is worked at the beginning. This continues for 5/6 decrease rounds until 14/16 stitches remain on each of needles 1 and 4.
• Foot shaping: The foot is worked with the sole in stocking stitch (smooth knit) and the instep continuing in the main pattern stitch. At approximately 18/21 cm foot length, a preparation round is worked in which 2 stitches are knitted together twice or four times across needles 2 and 3 to align the stitch count for the toe.
• Tapered ribbon toe (Bandspitze): The toe is shaped according to the pattern's general foot instructions, worked entirely in stocking stitch. Once the required number of decreases has been completed, the remaining 8 stitches are drawn together firmly using a doubled strand of yarn to close the toe neatly.
• Both socks worked identically: The pattern explicitly states that both socks are worked the same way, simplifying the process for knitters.

Stitch Patterns Used

• Stocking stitch (glatt rechts): Used for the heel flap, sole, and toe sections, creating a smooth, stretchy fabric ideal for the foot.
• Main pattern stitch (Grundmuster): Applied to the instep stitches on needles 2 and 3 throughout the leg and foot, adding visual interest and texture to the upper portion of the sock.
• Garter stitch selvedge: Optionally used on the edge stitches of the heel flap rows to create a tidy, stable border for picking up gusset stitches.
• Decrease stitches: Includes right-leaning decreases (rechts zusammenstricken — knit two together) and left-leaning decreases (überzogen zusammenstricken — slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over) used symmetrically during gusset shaping.

Materials: Yarn and Needles