Step Up Your Sock Game: 11 Free Ankle Sock Knitting Patterns
Looking for a project to challenge your knitting skills? Look no further than these unique ankle sock patterns!
From beginner-friendly projects featuring pom poms and ribbing, to more complex patterns with lace and leopard prints - you'll find something fun and challenging here. We love knitting lots of free sock knitting patterns here at NobleKnits, so you may also enjoy checking out the best free yoga sock patterns, slipper knitting patterns, and basic sock patterns.
Plus, all the short sock patterns featured below are completely free!
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11 Free Ankle Sock Knitting Patterns
#1. Sunny Ankle Socks Free Knitting Pattern
Here’s a pair of cozy socks that are just right for lounging and wearing around the house. The Sunny socks are worked in the round from the cuff to the toe. The heel is shaped with short rows. In the end, the toe is finished with the Kitchener stitch.
Designed by Palina Jurko
Uses aran weight #4 yarn
Get Knit Picks Mighty Stitch Worsted Yarn for this project
#2. Laid Edges Socks Free Knitting Pattern
This is a very popular Ravelry sock pattern! Laid Edges features a simple cable motif down the sides of a stockinette sock. It’s knitted in the round from the top down.
Designed by Kellie Macpherson
Uses DK weight #3 yarn
Get Madelinetosh Tosh DK Yarn for this project
#3. Day Off Socks Free Knitting Pattern
Most of the socks in this post are knitted from cuff to toe. Day Off is an exception! These fun socks knit up in no time, and are a great way to experiment with a toe-up construction if you’ve been wanting to give it a try. What’s nice about toe-up socks is that you can try them on before doing the heel shaping so that you have the perfect fitting socks.
Designed by Jessica Gore
Uses fingering/sock weight #1 yarn
Get Manos Alegria Sock Yarn for this project
#4. Lyne Socks Free Knitting Pattern
These quick and easy ankle socks are perfect for the warmer months. They are are knit from the cuff-down, beginning with a long-tail tubular cast-on, and feature a fun scalloped cuff detail.
Though this pattern only features 2 sizes (the stitch counts are based on the stockinette gauge), the nature of the ribbed instep stitches allows for lots of versatility between sizes and an adjustment in needle size might also be helpful in decreasing or extending the sizing.
Designed by Dawn Henderson
Uses fingering/sock weight #1 yarn
Get Knit Picks Hawthorne Kettle Dyed Yarn for this project
#5. Leftover Sneaker Ankle Socks Free Knitting Pattern
The leftover sneakers are the perfect summer project: easy, quick and the the best thing - a way to reduce some leftovers from your stash. They are knitted in the round from the cuff to the toe with DPNs using two colours of your choice. It’s only simple stockinette stitch which should showcase your chosen yarns at it’s best.
Designed by Anja Heumann
Uses sock/fingering weight #1 yarn
Get Knit Picks Hawthorne Speckle Sock and Semi Solid Sock Yarn for this project
#6. Easy Peasy Socks for First-Timers Free Knitting Pattern
These socks are designed with the first-time sock knitter in mind. Sock knitting can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. All you need to be able to do is work in the round, decrease and pick up stitches, and you can make these socks!
Designed by Stacey Trock
Uses worsted weight #4 yarn
Get Knit Picks Muse Hand Painted Merino Wool Yarn for this project
#7. Pom Pom Socklets Free Knitting Pattern
To knit these cuties, you follow a basic cuff-down sock pattern, getting right to the action of turning the heel after just a few rounds of ribbing and stockinette for the ankle.
A hop, skip, and a jump and it’s time for those colorful little pom poms that add panache but also prevent your socks from slipping down inside your shoes… plucky, pretty, and practical, too!
Designed by Purl Soho
Uses fingering/sock #1 weight yarn
Get Purl Soho Posy Yarn for this project
#8. Spree Socks Free Knitting Pattern
These cozy knit socks can be made in DK or worsted weight yarn for a quick knit gift or treat for yourself. Got any single skeins of DK or worsted yarn? Perfect! Spree Socks only take 1 skein to make.
Small size fits feet with 8.5 to 9 in circumference; Medium size fits feet with 9 to 9.5 in circumference; Large size fits feet with +9.5 circumference. A small size will fit most womens’ feet, medium is for wider feet, large will fit most men! -- for reference.
Designed by Kemper Wray
Uses DK weight #3 yarn
Get Madelinetosh Tosh DK Yarn for this project
#9. Not Your Average Cat Lady Socks Free Knitting Pattern
These funky leopard print socks are knit cuff down with an afterthought heel, making it easier to concentrate on the stranded colorwork pattern without worrying about shaping the heel.
Designed by Emma LK
Uses fingering/sock weight #1 yarn
Get Knit Picks Hawthorne Kettle Dyed Sock Yarn for this project
#10. Pink Lemonade Short Socks Free Knitting Pattern
These socks were named Pink Lemonade because the little lozenges in the lace panel look a bit like lemons. And it’s pink. And when life gives you pink lemons, you make pink lemonade.
Designed by Amy Rapp
Uses fingering/sock weight #1 yarn
Get Knit Picks Hawthorne Kettle Dyed Sock Yarn for this project
#11. Pinky Socks Free Knitting Pattern
Looking for an interesting twist to your next pair of ankle socks? Try a cable and lace pattern! Pink is knitted in the round from the top down and features lovely cable and lace along the top of the foot.
Designed by Trude Hertaas
Uses fingering/sock weight #1 yarn
Get Madelinetosh Hand Dyed Sock Yarn for this project