Classic Seed Stitch Cuff Socks Knitting Pattern

These classic cuff-down socks feature a textured seed stitch cuff, a traditional heel flap and gusset, and a shaped toe. The original knitting instructions have been preserved while the materials, terminology, measurements, and formatting have been updated for modern knitters.

Pattern Overview

• • Skill Level: Intermediate

• • Sizes: Adult shoe sizes 9, 9½, 10, 10½, and 11

• • Construction: Cuff-down

• • Heel: Heel flap and gusset

• • Toe: Traditional wedge toe

Materials

Yarn

Fingering-weight sock yarn

• • Sizes 9–10: Approximately 2 oz / 57 g

• • Sizes 10½–11: Approximately 3 oz / 85 g

One standard 100 g skein of fingering-weight sock yarn should be sufficient for all listed sizes.

Note: The original pattern called for 3-ply sock yarn sold in 1 oz balls. Because the original yardage was not provided, the modern yarn recommendation has been converted by weight rather than estimated yardage.

If you like the yarn I used in my sample sock, I have some for sale in my shop and you can buy it right here!

Needles

• • US 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles for smaller sizes

• • US 2 (2.75 mm) double-pointed needles for larger sizes

Use the needle size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge

28 stitches = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Abbreviations

• • K – Knit

• • P – Purl

• • st(s) – Stitch(es)

• • K2tog – Knit 2 together

• • P2tog – Purl 2 together

• • sl – Slip

• • RS – Right side

• • WS – Wrong side

• • rep – Repeat

Pattern Notes

• • Socks are worked from the cuff down.

• • The cuff is turned so the wrong side becomes the public side of the cuff.

• • Heel is worked back and forth over the heel stitches.

• • Foot and toe are worked in the round.

Seed Stitch Pattern

Round 1

*K4, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * around.

Round 2

*K4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1; repeat from * around.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for pattern.

Instructions

Cuff

Cast on 64 sts. (20-20-24) on US 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles. Use US 2 (2.75 mm) needles for larger sizes.

Join to work in the round and work K1, P1 ribbing for 4 rounds.

Decrease 1 st at the end of the last round.

Change to the Seed Stitch Pattern and work for:

• • 2½ in (6.5 cm)

• • Larger sizes: 3 in (7.5 cm)

Turn work inside out (wrong side of cuff is right side of sock).

Leg

Decrease 3 sts evenly across the first round, then knit plain for:

• • 3¼ in (8 cm)

• • Larger sizes: 4¼ in (11 cm)

Divide for Heel

Divide the stitches as follows:

• • Slip 30 sts onto one needle for the heel.

• • Divide the remaining 30 sts evenly between the two instep needles.

Work over heel stitches only.

Heel Flap

Row 1 (RS)

Slip 1, K across.

Row 2 (WS)

Slip 1, P across.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for:

• • 26 rows

• • Larger sizes: 30 rows

End with a P row.

Turn Heel

Work on the right side as follows:

1. 1. Slip 1, K16, K2tog, K1, turn.

1. 1. Slip 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn.

1. 1. Slip 1, K6, K2tog, K1, turn.

1. 1. Slip 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn.

1. 1. Slip 1, K8, K2tog, K1, turn.

1. 1. Slip 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn.

Continue this way, always working 1 more stitch on each row, until 18 sts remain on the needle.

K across heel needle.

Pick Up Gusset Stitches

With another needle, pick up and knit:

• • 14 sts along one side of the heel

• • 16 sts for larger sizes

This becomes Needle 1.

Knit across all instep stitches.

This is Needle 2.

With another needle, pick up and knit:

• • 14 sts along the other side of the heel

• • 16 sts for larger sizes

Knit 9 sts from the heel needle onto the same needle.

This is Needle 3.

Slip the remaining 9 heel stitches onto Needle 1, ending at the center of the sole.

Gusset Decreases

Round 1

K around.

Round 2

Needle 1

K to within 3 sts, K2tog, K1.

Needle 2

K across.

Needle 3

K1, slip 1, K1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. Knit to end.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until there are:

• • 56 sts remaining

• • Larger sizes: 60 sts

Foot

Work even until the sock measures from the back of the heel:

Shoe Size	Foot Length
9	7 in (18 cm)
9½	7½ in (19 cm)
10	8 in (20 cm)
10½	8½ in (21.5 cm)
11	9 in (23 cm)

Or work until the foot measures 2 in (5 cm) less than the desired finished length.

Shape Toe

Round 1

K around.

Round 2

Needle 1

K to within 3 sts of the end of the needle, K2tog, K1.

Needle 2

K1, slip 1, K1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, K to within 3 sts, K2tog, K1.

Needle 3

K1, slip 1, K1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch, K to end.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 24 sts remain for all sizes.

Finishing

Weave stitches together.

About This Pattern

This vintage sock pattern has been carefully reformatted for modern knitters. The original knitting instructions have been preserved while the materials, terminology, measurements, and formatting have been updated for clarity and ease of use.

Please note: The original publication contains a stitch-count discrepancy after the cuff decreases. The instructions specify decreasing from 64 stitches to 63, then decreasing 4 additional stitches, but later divide the work into two groups of 30 stitches. The instructions have been modified to rectify this issue.

The original pattern can be found here.