The Mother of Invention

Last summer I lived with my in-laws for a month while my husband and I looked for a house and our belongings lived in storage. My yarn stash was at my parent's house. I only had one set of needles and a little crummy yarn. I had only made Joan's socks before, but understood the concept. So I took to making my own pair. What follows is a very basic sock pattern, great for beginners.

Michelle's Simple Socks
Yarn: crappy acrylic worsted my husband found in the prop room. Any worsted will do.

Gauge: 6 stitches per inch

Needle: 5 3.25 mm dpns—but I was knitting very tightly when I wrote this pattern. You will probably use a smaller needle.

Leg
Cast on 56 stitches.
Divide them between 4 needles, 12-16-16-12.
Join without twisting and work in K1P1 rib for 12 rounds
Stitch to K3P1 rib for desired length, about 5 inches

Heel Flap
Knit across needles 1 & 2, leaving stitches on needles 3 & 4.
Work stitches in needles 1 & 2, always slipping first stitch.
Use preferred your heel pattern. I used moss stitch on these socks, but stockinette is also comfortable.
Work heel flap 2 ½ inches, ending with a right side row.

Turn Heel
Wrong Side: Slip 1, P12, P2tog, P1, turn
Right Side: Sl1, K3, SSK, K1, turn
Wrong Side: Sl1, P4, P2tog, P1, turn
RS: Sl1, K5, SSK, K1, turn
WS: Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn

Continue until 16 stitches remain

Pick up 13 stitches with same needle on the side of the heel flap + 2 in the corner of the heel and instep. This will be needle 1
Knit across needles 3 & 4, the instep.
Pick up 13 stitches on the side of the heel flap + 2 in the corner.
Knit 8 stitches with same needle. This will be needle 4.
Divide stitches 23-14-14-23.

Instep Pattern
Row 1: On #1, K until 3 stitches left. K2toget, K1. Knit across 2 & 3. On 4, K1, ssk, knit to end
Row 2: K all
Continue until needles 1 & 4 contain 14 stitches.
Knit until you have 1 ½ more inches to go.

Toe Shaping
Repeat these 2 rows:
1: #1-K until 3 stitches remain, K2tog, K1
#2-K1, ssk, K until end
#3-K until 3 stitches remain, K2tog, K1
#4- K1, ssk, K until end
2: K all

Continue until 8 stitches remain on each needle, then switch to all row 1.
Repeat until 4 stitches remain on each needle.
Knit needle 1 with needle 4.
Combine 2 & 3.Graft together with kitchener stitch.