Arundel, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.
INTRODUCTION
Arundel
by Ami Martinez
Inspired by a recent visit to the castles in England, I chose colors that reminded me of the Renaissance clothing and a slip stitch pattern to create vertical stripes. The stitch pattern is super easy to memorize and creates a good amount of stretch. The socks are knit toe up with a peasant heel so you can replace the heel easily if it wears out over time. Since I was in the mood to slip stitches, I also used eye of partridge stitch for the heel.
photos: Matea Freeman
SIZE
Women's S[M, L, XL]
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot circumference: 7[8, 9, 10] inches/ 18[22, 23, 25.5] cm
Choose a size with 0.5 inch/1 cm cm of negative ease compared to ball of foot circumference
Foot length: adjustable
Leg length: adjustable
MATERIALS
Yarn
KnitPicks Stroll [75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon; 231 yd per g skein];
[MC] Treasure; 1 skein
[CC1] Electric Blue; 1 skein
Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a machine washable fingering-weight Merino wool and nylon blend. I recommend solid, high-contrast colors for this stitch pattern.
Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75mm needles for small circumference in the round
Notions
stitch markers
scrap yarn no thicker than the yarn you're working with and a darker color than the yarns used
scissors
yarn needle
GAUGE
36 sts/44 rounds=4 inches/10 cm in stockinette
32 sts/76 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch in the round, unstretched
Note: stitch gauge is important for this, row gauge less so.
PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Construction method: Socks are worked toe up with a peasant (a.k.a. afterthought) heel.
Sl1: All sts are slipped purlwise with yarn held to WS of work.
Note: The slipped-stitch pattern continues on the sole in the sample as worked, and there are purl stitches worked on the sole in the Heel Setup. If you prefer a smoother sole, work all sole sts as just knit, throughout the Foot and Heel Setup.
Techniques:
DIRECTIONS
Toe
Using MC and Judy's Magic CO method, CO 24[28, 36, 40] sts.
Knit one round. Place markers or divide your stitches so that you can identify the halfway point of the round; the instructions below refer to the “sides” of the sock.
Rnd 1: *K1, YO, knit to last 2 sts of the side, YO, k1; rep from * to end. 4 sts increased.
Rnd 2: *K1, k1 tbl, knit to last 2 sts of the side, k1 tbl, k1; rep from * to end.
Repeat Rnds 1-2 7[8, 8, 9] more times, 56[64, 72, 80] sts total.
Note: The first half of the round forms the instep of the sock, the second half the sock is the sole.
Foot
Rnd 1 [With CC]: Knit to end.
Rnd 2 [With CC]: Purl to end.
Rnd 3 [With MC]: *K2, sl1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4 [With MC]: *P2, sl1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5 [With CC]: *Sl1, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6 [With CC]: *Sl1, p3; repeat from * to end.
Work Rnds 3-6 until length of foot from toe measures approx 2[2.25, 2.25, 2.5] inches/ 5[5.5, 5.5, 6] cm less than desired foot length. End with a Rnd 4 [MC].
Setup for Heel:
Rnd 1 [With CC]: (Sl1, k3) across instep, k to end of round.
Rnd 2 [With CC]: (Sl1, p3) across instep, p to end of round.
Rnd 3 [With MC]: (K2, sl1, k1) across instep, k to end of round.
Rnd 4 [With MC]: (P2, sl1, k1) across instep, drop MC yarn and knit 28[32, 36, 40] sts with scrap yarn. Slide scrap yarn sts back on left needle and knit across scrap yarn stitches using MC.
Rnd 5 [With CC]: (Sl1, k3) across instep, k to end of round.
Rnd 6 [With CC]: (Sl1, p3) across instep, p to end of round.
Resume working Foot Rnds 3-6 for an additional 2.5 inches/6 cm or to your preferred length to cuff, ending with Foot Rnd 4 [MC].
Cuff
Rnd 1 [CC]: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 2 [CC]: Purl to end of round.
Cut CC.
Rnd 3 [MC]: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 4 [MC]: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of round.
Rep Rnd 4 for approx 1 inch/2.5 cm, or to desired length of cuff.
Cut yarn leaving about 12 inches/30 cm of yarn tail and thread through a tapestry needle. Bind off using sewn bind off method
Heel
Return 56[64, 72, 80] sts held sts to needles; distributing them so that you can identify the midpoint of the round, as before. Remove scrap yarn.
With RS facing, starting at start of instep sts, join MC, and knit across the 28[32, 36, 40] sts on the instep, pick up and knit 2 sts at the gap between the needles and knit across the 28[32, 36, 40] sts of the sole, pick up and knit 2 sts at the gap between the needles. 60[68, 76, 84] sts.
Rnd 1: *K1, k2tog, (sl1, k1) to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 56[64, 72, 80] sts.
Rnd 2: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 3: *K2, (k1, sl1) to last 2 sts of side, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4: *K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 52[60, 68, 76] sts.
Rnd 5: *K2, (k1, sl1) to last 2 sts of side, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 7: *K1, k2tog, (k1, sl1)to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 48[56, 64, 72] sts.
Rnd 8: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 9: K2, (sl1, k1) to last 2 sts of side, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 10: *K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 44[52, 60, 68] sts.
Rnd 11: *K2, (sl1, k1) to last 2 sts of side, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 12: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 13: *K1, k2tog, (sl1, k1) to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 40[48, 56, 64] sts.
Rnd 14: Knit to end of round.
Rnd 15: *K2, (k1, sl1) to last 2 sts of side, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 16: *K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts of side, ssk, k1; rep from * to end. 4 sts decreased.
Repeat Rnds 15-16 2[3, 3, 5] more times. 28[28, 36, 40] sts.
FINISHING
Cut yarn, leaving approximately 12 inches/30 cm. Graft heel closed.
Handwash and weave in ends. Do not stretch or use blockers.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Ami lives in Massachusetts with her daughter and works in biotech. She loves knitting and all the different fabrics it allows her to create.
Pattern & images © 2025 Ami Martinez