Cherry Cuff Coastal Socks: Free Knit Pattern
Introduction
These sweet little tube socks are made for the small feet in your life — kids' shoe size 10–12 — and they're a joy to knit from cast-on to cherry. The body is plain oatmeal stockinette, so the knitting stays relaxing, while a charcoal chevron band around the folded cuff adds just enough interest to keep you smiling. Six tiny red cherry bobbles with green chain-stitch stems are sewn around the cuff edge for a playful, coastal-grandmother touch. The short-row heel and star toe give a comfortable, rounded fit that stays put on busy little feet.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Fingering weight wool, approximately 200 yards (183 m) total — 150 yards (137 m) oatmeal (MC) and 50 yards (46 m) charcoal (CC). A small amount of red and green for the cherry bobbles.
- Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles, set of 5, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and a spare needle or holder for the short-row heel.
- Finished size: To fit kids' shoe size 10–12 (child medium). Foot circumference 6 inches (15 cm), leg length 5 inches (12.5 cm) from cuff to heel, foot length 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) from heel to toe.
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on — make the starting stitches.
- MC: main color (oatmeal).
- CC: contrast color (charcoal).
- k: knit.
- p: purl.
- yo: yarn over — wrap the yarn once around the needle to make an extra stitch (and a small eyelet).
- sl1-k2tog-psso: slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit the next 2 stitches together, then pass the slipped stitch over — a centered double decrease.
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together — a right-leaning decrease.
- ssk: slip, slip, knit — slip 2 stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops — a left-leaning decrease.
- wrap and turn: bring the yarn to the front, slip the next stitch, bring the yarn to the back, and turn your work — this creates a short row.
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side.
- st(s): stitch(es).
- Rnd / R: round / row.
Gauge
32 stitches and 44 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch in the round (or work a flat swatch and measure the knit side) and adjust your needle size until you match this gauge — the sock's fit depends on it.
Tips Before You Start
- Keep the chevron rounds tidy: the eyelet rounds (R9 and R13) are worked on a multiple of 12 stitches, so check that each repeat lines up before you move on.
- Wrap tightly on the short-row heel: give each wrap a gentle tug so the heel pocket closes neatly without gaps.
- Try the sock on as you go: slip it onto the child's foot (or a sock blocker) after the heel to confirm the foot length before starting the toe.
- Make the cherries last: knit all six bobbles after the sock is finished so you can place them evenly around the folded cuff edge.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cuff
With MC, CO 48 sts. Divide evenly on 4 needles (12 sts each). Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
R1–8: [k2, p2] around (48 sts).
Change to CC.
R9: [k1, yo, k3, sl1-k2tog-psso, k3, yo, k1] around (48 sts).
R10–12: Knit (48 sts).
R13: [k1, yo, k3, sl1-k2tog-psso, k3, yo, k1] around (48 sts).
R14: Purl (48 sts).
Change to MC.
R15–20: Knit (48 sts).
Leg
R21–40: Knit (48 sts).
Heel
Work the short-row heel on 24 sts (needles 1 and 2).
Row 1 (RS): K23, wrap next st, turn.
Row 2 (WS): P22, wrap next st, turn.
Row 3: K21, wrap next st, turn.
Row 4: P20, wrap next st, turn.
Continue in this manner, decreasing the number of sts worked by 1 each row until 8 sts remain unworked in the center, ending with a WS row.
Heel turn Row 1 (RS): K8, pick up wrap and knit it together with next st, turn.
Row 2 (WS): P9, pick up wrap and purl it together with next st, turn.
Row 3: K10, pick up wrap and knit it together with next st, turn.
Row 4: P11, pick up wrap and purl it together with next st, turn.
Continue in this manner, increasing the number of sts worked by 1 each row until all 24 sts have been worked, ending with a WS row.
Foot
Resume working in the round on all 48 sts.
R41–60: Knit (48 sts).
Toe
R61: [k1, k2tog, k16, ssk, k1] around (44 sts).
R62: Knit (44 sts).
R63: [k1, k2tog, k14, ssk, k1] around (40 sts).
R64: Knit (40 sts).
R65: [k1, k2tog, k12, ssk, k1] around (36 sts).
R66: Knit (36 sts).
R67: [k1, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1] around (32 sts).
R68: Knit (32 sts).
R69: [k1, k2tog, k8, ssk, k1] around (28 sts).
R70: Knit (28 sts).
R71: [k1, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1] around (24 sts).
R72: Knit (24 sts).
R73: [k1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1] around (20 sts).
R74: Knit (20 sts).
R75: [k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1] around (16 sts).
R76: Knit (16 sts).
R77: [k1, k2tog, ssk, k1] around (12 sts).
R78: Knit (12 sts).
R79: [k2tog, ssk] around (8 sts).
R80: Knit (8 sts).
R81: [k2tog] around (4 sts).
Break yarn, thread through remaining sts, and pull tight.
Cherry Bobbles (make 6)
With red, CO 6 sts.
R1: Knit (6 sts).
R2: [k1, yo, k1] around (12 sts).
R3: Knit (12 sts).
R4: [k2tog] around (6 sts).
Break yarn, thread through remaining sts, and pull tight. With green, make a small chain stitch for the stem.
Assembly and Finishing
Fold the cuff in half to the wrong side so the ribbed edge sits at the top and the charcoal chevron band shows around the fold. Sew the six cherry bobbles evenly around the folded cuff edge, using the photo as a guide. Weave in all ends on the wrong side. Block lightly by misting with water and shaping flat to the finished measurements, then let dry completely.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Color play: swap the charcoal chevron band for a soft sage or dusty blue for a different coastal palette.
- Cherry placement: space the bobbles with a stitch marker before sewing so they sit perfectly even around the cuff.
- Size up: add 12 stitches (one chevron repeat) and lengthen the foot rounds for a larger child's sock, checking gauge first.
