INTRODUCTION

Quattro Socks

by Soft Sloth Knits

All frequent sock knitters have drawers full of tiny balls of yarn which cannot easily make up a whole sock pattern. These socks were created out of a desire to use up those odds and ends of scrap sock yarn (without even freeing up a pair of DPNs!) and are therefore rather economical. They are also ideal for knitters with an aversion to heel flaps and/or knitting in the round since they are knit flat, then closed by grafting across the toe and seamed using mattress stitch along the side of each sock. Shaping around the short row heel improves its fit. The pattern can easily be adapted for 2 or even 1 color yarns for those looking for a simple knit.

photos: Ben Kerrigan

SIZE

 XXS[XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Foot Circumference:  5.25[6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] inches/ 13.5[16.5, 18, 20.5, 23, 25.5, 28] cm
Choose a size approximately .75 inch/2 cm smaller than your foot circumference.
Leg Length:  4.5[5.5, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] inches/ 11.5[14, 18, 18, 18, 20.5, 20.5] cm, adjustable to preference
Foot Length: adjustable to fit

MATERIALS

Yarn
Ovis Yarns Poppy Super Sock [88yds/80m per 20g];
[CC1] Canary; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins
[CC2] Coral; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins
[CC3] Skye; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins
[CC4] Oz; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins

Approximately 148[176, 256, 304, 348, 432, 608] yds/ 135[160, 233, 277, 317, 393, 553] m total, divided equally between all 4 colors.

Yarn Characteristics
The sample uses a wool and nylon blend 4-ply sock yarn. It is best to use solid or nearly solid, strongly contrasting colors.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1.5/2.5mm needles for working flat

Notions
2 stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

30 sts/40 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: These intarsia socks are knit flat, then grafted closed along the toe and seamed with mattress stitch.

Techniques:

• Intarsia cast-on: Cast on the required number of stitches in the first color, plus 1 additional stitch. Make a slip knot or loop the next color around the needle for the first stitch in that color, and then pass the extra stitch of the previous color over it, as if binding off. This ensures an even cast-on edge with no gaps.
• Joining yarns: One stitch before the colour change, place a 4 inch / 10cm long tail of the new yarn on top of the current colour. Knit 1 stitch in the current colour to trap the tail of the new yarn. Weave in ends to finish.
• Grafting
  

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using a German twisted or long-tail cast-on and 2.5mm needles, CO 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] in stitches in C1, CO 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] stitches in C2, CO 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] stitches in C3, CO 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] sts in C4.

Row 1: Working the stitches in the colors as established, P1, (p1, k1) to last st, p1.
Repeat last row until work measures .5[.5, 1, 1, 1, 1.5, 1.5] inches/ 1[1, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 4, 4] cm, ending with RS facing.

Leg
Cut all yarns, leaving a tail 4 inches/10 cm long.

Row 1 [RS]: With C3, k 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] , with C4, k 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] , with C1, k 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] , with C2, k 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] .

Continue in stockinette stitch in the colors as established, until work measures 3.75[4.75, 5.75, 5.25, 5.25, 5.75, 5.75] inches / 9.5[12, 14.5, 13.5, 13.5, 14.5, 14.5] cm from cast-on edge, or desired length, ending with a WS row.

Gusset increases
Maintain color pattern throughout. Note that the first increase is placed 1 st before the end of the C3 section, and the second increase is placed after the first stitch of the second color section.
Row 1 [RS]: Using C3, K 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] , pm, M1R using C3, k2, M1L using C4, pm, k to end. 44[52, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88] sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K to marker, slm, M1R using C3, k to 1 stitch before next marker, M1L using C4, slm, k to end. 2 sts increased.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2] more times, ending with a WS row. 46[54, 58, 70, 78, 86, 94] sts.
Cut all yarns, leaving a tail 4 inches/10 cm long.

Heel
The heel is worked over the 24[28, 30, 38, 42, 46, 50] stitches, after the first slipped stitch. Place the remaining stitches on a holder while working the heel.

Row 1 [RS]: With C1, sl1, k 12[14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25] . With C2, k 11[13, 14, 18, 20, 22, 24] , wrap and turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Maintaining color pattern, p 22[26, 28, 36, 40, 44, 48] , w&t.
Row 3: Kto 1 before previously-wrapped stitch, w&t.
Row 4: Sl1, p to 1 before previously-wrapped stitch, w&t.
Repeat the last 2 rows until 8[10, 10, 12, 14, 16, 16] stitches remain unwrapped in the center of the heel ending with a WS row. 16[18, 20, 26, 28, 30, 34] rows worked – 8[9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17] wrapped sts each side.

Cut all yarns, leaving a tail 4 inches/10 cm long.

Next Row [RS]: With C4, k 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8] . With C3, k to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its wrap, w&t. This last stitch has now been wrapped twice.
Next Row [WS]: P to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its wrap, w&t. This last stitch has now been wrapped twice.
Next Row [RS]: K to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its two wraps, w&t.
Next Row [WS]: P to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its two wraps, w&t.

Repeat the last 2 rows 6[7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15] more times, until you have worked all the way back out again, and the edge stitches of the heel are double-wrapped, ending with a WS row.

Next Row [RS]: K to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its two wraps.
Next Row [WS]: P to wrapped stitch, work wrapped stitch together with its two wraps, P1.

Return the instep stitches from the stitch holder back onto the needle.

Cut all yarns, leaving a tail 4 inches/10 cm long.

Gusset decreases
Row 1 [RS]: With C2, k 13[15, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26] . With C1, k 12[14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25] . With C4, k 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] . With C3, k 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] .
Row 2 [WS]: Maintaining color pattern, p to end.
Row 3 [RS]: K 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] , pm, ssk, k 2[2, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6] , k2tog, pm, k to end. 44[52, 56, 68, 76, 84, 92] sts.
Row 4 [WS]: P to end.
Row 5: K to marker, sm, ssk, k to marker, k2tog, k to end. 2 sts decreased.
Row 6: P to end.
Repeat these last 2 rows 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2] more times, until 42[50, 54, 62, 70, 78, 86] sts rem.

Foot
Remove markers and continue work in stockinette stitch, maintaining color pattern, until foot measures 1.5[1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75] inches / 4[4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7] cm less than desired foot length, ending with a WS row.

Cut all yarns, leaving a tail 4 inches/10 cm long.

Toe
Row 1 [RS]: With C4, k 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] . With C3, k 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] . With C2, k 10[12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21] . With C1, k 11[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22] .
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3: K2, ssk, k 14[18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36] , k2tog, k1, pm; k1, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 4 sts decreased.
Row 4: P to end.
Row 5: K2, ssk, k to 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk, k to 4 stitches before end, k2tog, k2. 4 sts decreased.
Row 6: P to end.
Repeat Rows 5-6, 4[5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11] more times, until 18[22, 22, 26, 30, 30, 34] sts remain.

Slide first 9[11, 11, 13, 15, 15, 17] onto a separate needle and arrange so that toe stitches are opposite each other with RS facing. With the top of the foot facing, and beginning at the inside corner of the toe, graft closed, maintaining colors throughout. Leave a long tail, approximately 25 inches / 65 cm long to sew up.

FINISHING

Beginning at the corner of the toe, seam closed with mattress stitch. Wash socks; do not stretch. Weave in ends once dry.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Emily began knitting age 7, and still has the same sense of style. She designs mostly novelty patterns which are available on Ravelry under the moniker Soft Sloth Knits.

She lives in England with her partner and many pairs of socks.

Pattern & images © 2026 Soft Sloth Knits