Cheerful Cable Slipper Socks

These knitted house slippers will change your Christmas morning.

Spread some Christmas cheer this year by knitting the grandkids a pair of Cheerful Cable Slipper Socks! Who doesn't love reaching into their stocking on Christmas morning to find a cozy pair of socks to wear all day long? The cables on these slipper socks paired with the pom poms give them a really festive look, and we bet they'd look just as holly jolly in green. These are great slippers to learn the basics of sock knitting on, as well, but be sure you're ready for the challenge since they use a lot of intermediate techniques.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size9 or 5.5 mm, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge17 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 24 rounds = 4" [10 cm] in Stockinette st (knit every round). 8-stitch Cable pattern repeat = about 1½" [4 cm]. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Finished SizeFinished Foot Circumference: 7 (8, 9)" [18 (20.5, 23) cm]; Finished Foot Length: 9 (10, 11)" [23 (25.5, 28) cm]

Materials List

RED HEART® With Love™ Metallic: 1 (1, 2) ball(s) 8922 Fuchsia
Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 5.5mm [US 9] double-pointed needles (set of 5)
Stitch markers
Cable needle
Stitch holder
Pompom maker
Yarn needle

Instructions

Notes

Each sock is worked in rounds from the cuff to the heel.
Heel is worked back and forth in rows. When heel is complete work resumes in rounds for gusset, foot, and toe.
A cable pattern is started at the beginning of the leg. One repeat of the cable pattern is continued along the top of the foot. The cable pattern can be worked by following the written instructions or reading the chart. Read all rows of chart from right to left.

Stitch Guide

2/2 LC (2 over 2 Left Cross) = Slip next 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 RC (2 over 2 Right Cross) = Slip next 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
ssk = Slip next two stitches as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop.
Cable Pattern (worked over multiple of 8 sts)

Round 1: *K6, p2; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: *2/2 LC, k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Rounds 3–5: *K6, p2; repeat from * to end.
Round 6: *K2, 2/2 RC, p2; repeat from * to end
Rounds 7 and 8: *K6, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat Rounds 1–8 for Cable pattern.

Sock (make 2)

Cuff

Cast on 40 (40, 48) sts. Distribute stitches over 4 needles, placing 10 (10, 12) sts on each needle. Place marker for beginning of round. Join, taking care not to twist sts. Prepare to work in rounds.

Rounds 1–10: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 11 (eyelet round): *K2, yo, p2tog; repeat from * to end of round
Leg

Beginning with Round 1 of pattern, work in Cable pattern for 32 rounds.
Set-Up for Heel

Size Small Only:
Round 1: [K1, k2tog] twice, p2, k6, p2, *[k1, k2tog] twice, p2; repeat from * 2 more times—32 sts.
Round 2: K4, p2, 2/2 LC, k2, p2, knit toend of round.

Proceed to Heel Flap.

Size Medium Only:
Round 1: K1, k2tog, k3, p2, k6, p2, *k1, k2tog, k3, p2; repeat from * 2 more times—36 sts.
Round 2: K5, p2, 2/2 LC, k2, p2, knit to end of round.

Proceed to Heel Flap.

Size Large Only:
Round 1: K1, k2tog, k3, p2, k6, p2, k1, k2tog, k3, p2, *[k1, k2tog] twice, p2; repeat from * 2 more times—40 sts.
Round 2: K5, p2, 2/2 LC, k2, p2, knit to end of round.

Proceed to Heel Flap.
Heel Flap

Note: Heel flap and heel turn are worked back and forth in rows.

Row 1: K2 (2, 1), turn work.
Row 2 (wrong side): K18 (20, 22) for heel, place remaining 14 (16, 18) sts on holder for instep, turn.
Rows 3-11 (11, 13): Beginning with a right side (knit) row, work in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side), over the 18 (20, 22) heel sts only, for 9 (9, 11) rows.
Turn Heel

Size Small Only:
Row 1 (wrong side): P11, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, do not turn—12 heel sts remain.

Proceed to Gusset.

Size Medium Only:
Row 1 (wrong side): P11, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, k3, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8: Sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, do not turn—12 heel sts remain.

Proceed to Gusset.

Size Large Only:
Row 1 (wrong side): P13, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, p6, p2tog, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, k7, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, p8, p2tog, k1, turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, k9, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 7: Sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 8: Sl 1, k11, ssk, k1, do not turn—14 heel sts remain.

Proceed to Gusset.
Gusset

Round 1: With RS facing, pick up and knit 9 (9, 10) sts along side of heel flap, place marker; working over insteps sts on holder, k2 (3, 4), p2, work Round 3 of Cable pattern over next 8 sts, k2 (3, 4) to end of instep sts; place marker, pick up and knit 9 (9, 10) sts along other side of heel flap, k6 (6, 7) to center of heel turn, place marker for new beginning of round—44 (46, 52) sts.
Round 2: Knit to 4 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, slip marker, k2 (3, 4), p2, work Round 4 of Cable pattern over next 8 sts, k2 (3, 4), slip marker, k2, ssk, knit to end of round—42 (44, 50) sts.
Round 3: Knit to marker, slip marker, k2 (3, 4), p2, work next round of Cable pattern over next 8 sts, k2 (3, 4), slip marker, knit to end of round.
Round 4: Knit to 4 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, slip marker, k2 (3, 4), p2, work next round of Cable pattern over next 8 sts, p2, k2 (3, 4), slip marker, k2, ssk, knit to end of round—40 (42, 48) sts.
Rounds 5-12 (10, 12): Repeat Rounds 3 and 4, working next round of Cable pattern in each row, for 4 (3, 4) more times—32 (36, 40) sts
Foot

Round 1: Knit to marker, slip marker, k2 (3, 4), p2, work next round of Cable pattern over next 8 sts, k2 (3, 4), slip marker, knit to end of round.

Repeat Round 1, with Cable pattern on top of foot and Stockinette st (knit every round) on sides and bottom, until foot measures about 7 (8, 9)" [18 (20.5, 23) cm] from back of heel, or 2" [5 cm] less than desired finished length. Remove markers while working last round of foot.
Toe

Round 1: K5 (6, 7), k2tog, k1, place marker, k1, ssk, k10 (12, 14), k2tog, k1, place marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of round—28 (32, 36) sts.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: *Knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk; repeat from * once more, knit to end of round—24 (28, 32) sts.
Rounds 4-8 (10, 12): Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 for 2 (3, 4) more times—16 sts. Knit to first marker.

Arrange sts on 2 needles, with 8 sts from top of foot on one needle and 8 sts from sole on the other needle. Thread yarn needle with long length of yarn. Hold the 2 needles in the left hand with wrong sides together. Keeping the yarn needle and yarn under the points of the knitting needles, graft the stitches together as follows:
1. Insert yarn needle through first st of front needle as if to knit and slip the st off.
2. Insert needle through 2nd st of front needle as if to purl, but leave the st on the needle.
3. Insert yarn through first st on back needle as if to purl and slip the st off.
4. Insert yarn through 2nd stitch on back needle as if to knit, but leave st on needle. Repeat from * until all the sts are joined. Take care to draw yarn up so that gauge of grafting equals gauge of knitting. Fasten off. Weave in ends on wrong side.
Finishing

Weave in ends.

I-Cord

Working with two double pointed needles, cast on 3 stitches, *Knit all the stitches, do not turn work. Slide all the stitches to opposite end of needle. Carry yarn tightly across back of work, and knit all the stitches. Repeat from * until I-cord measures about 20 (22, 24)" [51 (56, 61) cm]. Thread cord through eyelets at base of cuff.

With pompom maker, make 2 small pompoms following manufacturer’s instructions. Sew or tie a pompom to each end of cord.