Braided Cable Knit Socks

Treat your feet to classic, cabled comfort! A chunky, 3-part cable climbs the leg of these braided cable knit socks. The toe-up construction with afterthought heels makes them as fun to knit as they are to wear! 

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Decoding Cables

If you’re new to cables, they can be intimidating. But they don’t have to be! This Decoding Cables tutorial uses licorice to talk through how cables and cable abbreviations work.

Once you learn the language and structure of cables, you’ll be able to knit almost any type of cable with ease!

Choosing a Yarn

For any type of socks, it’s important to choose a yarn that will wear well and is easy to clean. Consider the fiber content, texture, and washing instructions of any yarn you choose.

Many yarns are made specifically for socks and are labeled as sock yarns. Wool or cotton sock yarns often have a small amount of nylon or other synthetic material spun into them for added strength. These are always a great option!

If you’re choosing a yarn that is not specifically labeled as a sock yarn, look for one that is smooth and tightly spun, rather than one that is loose or fluffy. For all yarns, check the label to see if they can be washed in a washing machine, or if you need to hand wash them.

Braided Cable Knit Socks

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Abbreviations Used

• CO = Cast on / cast-on
• cn = cable needle
• k = knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• m1l = make 1 left
• m1r = make 1 right
• p = purl
• pm = place marker
• rep = repeat
• ssk = sl sl knit
• st(s) = stich(es)

Recommended Resources

• Judy’s Magic Cast-On from Very Pink Knits
• Figure 8 Cast-On from Knit Picks
• Slip Slip Knit (ssk) Decrease
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog) Decrease
• Make 1 Right (m1r) and Make 1 Left (m1l) Increases
• Decoding Cables (with Licorice)
• Sewn Tubular Bind-Off in the Round
• Kitchener stitch/Grafting from All Free Knitting

Cable Stitches

4 over 4 Right Cross (4/4 RC): Transfer next 4 sts to cn and hold at back of work, k4, k4 from cn.

4 over 4 Left Cross (4/4 LC): Transfer next 4 stitches to cn and hold in front of work, k4, k4 from cn.

Instructions

Left Sock

Toe

Scroll down for Toe chart.

CO 12 [12, 16] sts with Judy’s Magic Cast-On, a Figure 8 Cast-on, or any similar CO that creates 2 layers of sts with a seamless “grafted” edge. Alternatively, you can use a provisional CO with waste yarn, and graft the toe closed later with Kitchener stitch.  

Rnd 1: K1, m1l, k4 [4, 6], m1r, pm, k2, m1l, k4 [4, 6], m1r, k1. (16 [18, 20] sts)

Rnd 2: K1, m1l, k to marker, m1r, sm, k2, m1l, k to last st, m1r, k1. (20 [20, 24] sts)

Rnds 3-4: Rep rnd 2. (28 [28, 32] sts)

For remainder of pattern, slip the marker as you come to it, unless otherwise indicated.

Rnd 5: K each st around.

Rnd 6: K1, m1l, k to marker, m1r, sm, k2, m1l, k to last st, m1r, k1. (32 [32, 36] sts)

Rnds 7-10 [7-12, 7-12]: Rep [rnds 5 & 6] 2 [3, 3] times. (40 [44, 48] sts)

Rnd 11 [13, 13]: K each st around.

Rnds 12-13 [14-15, 14-15]: Rep rnds 5 & 6. (44 [48, 52] sts)

Rnd 14-16 [16-21, 16-24]: Rep last 3 rnds 1 [2, 3] times. (48 [56, 64] sts)

Rnds 17-18 [22-23, 25-26]: K each st around, removing marker when you come to it.

Toe Chart

Left Foot

Scroll down for Foot chart.

Rnd 1: K 1, p3, (k1, m1L) 3 times, (k1, m1R) 3 times, p3, k around. (54 [62, 70] sts)

Rnd 2: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rnd 3: K1, p3, 4/4 RC, k4, p3, k around.

Rnds 4-6: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rnd 7: K1, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k around.

Rnds 8-10: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rep [rnds 3-10] 5 [5, 6] times.

Sizes S & L only: Rep rnds 3-4 once more.

Size M only: Rep rnds 3-8 once more.

Left Heel Placement

If you are knitting right-handed, the “working needle” is the right needle and the “non-working” needle is the left needle. If you are knitting left-handed, this is switched.

Rnd 45 [49, 53]: K1, p3, k12, p3, k11 [15, 19], k24 [28, 32] with waste yarn, cut waste yarn leaving a long tail, place waste yarn sts back onto non-working needle, k all waste yarn sts with working yarn.

Secure waste yarn by tying a knot in each tail or tying the starting and ending tails together.

Foot Chart

Left Leg

Scroll down for Leg & Cuff Chart

Sizes S & L only

Rnd 1: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rnd 2: K1, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k around.

Rnds 3-4: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

All sizes

Rnd 5 [1, 5]: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rnd 6 [2, 6]: K1, p3, 4/4 RC, k4, p3, k around.

Rnds 7-9 [3-5, 7-9]: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rnd 10 [6, 10]: K1, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k around.

Rnd 11-13 [7-9, 11-13]: K1, p3, k12, p3, k around.

Rep [rnds 6-13 [2-9, 6-13]] 7 [8, 8] times more.

Rnd 69 [73, 77]: K1, p3, (k2tog, ssk) 3 times, p3, k around. (48 [56, 64] sts)

Cuff

Rnds 1-6: (K2, p2) around.

Bind off using a tubular bind-off or other stretchy bind-off.

Leg & Cuff Chart

Heel:

With one needle, pick up all stitches under (before) the waste yarn, and one additional stitch at each side (26 [30, 34] sts)

With the other needle, pick up all stitches above (after) the waste yarn, and one additional stitch at each side. (26 [30, 34] sts)

Double check that all stitches are secured, then carefully remove waste yarn.

You should now have an open heel, with (52 [60, 68] sts) stitches on your needles. Arrange stitches on your needles so that you are starting from one side edge – between extra picked up stitches.

Rnd 1: K1, ssk, k20 [24, 28], k2tog, pm, k2, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (48 [56, 64] sts)

Rnds 2-3: K each st around.

Rnd 4: (K1, ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, k2, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (44 [52, 60] sts)

Rnds 5-6: K each st around.

Rnd 7: Rep rnd 4. (40 [48, 56] sts)

Rnds 8-10 [8-13, 8-13]: Rep [rnds 5-7] 1 [2, 2] times. (36 [40, 48] sts)

Rnd 11 [14, 14]: K each st around.

Rnd 12 [15, 15]: Rep rnd 4. (32 [36, 44] sts)

Rnds 13-16 [16-21, 16-23]: Rep last 2 rnds (rnds 11-12 [14-15, 14-15]) 2 [3, 4] times. (24 [24, 28] sts)

Rnd 17-19 [22-23, 24-25]: Rep [rnd 4] 3 times. (12 [12, 16] sts)

With half the sts on the front needle and half on the back needle, sew heel closed using the Kitchener stitch.

Weave in all ends.

Heel Chart

Right Sock

Toe

Work as for Left Sock Toe.

Right Foot

See Foot chart above.

Rnd 1: K 35 [43, 51], place marker, p3, (k1, m1r) 3 times, (k1, m1l) 3 times, p3, k1. (54 [62, 70] sts)

Rnd 2: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 3: K to marker, p3, 4/4 RC, k4, p3, k1.

Rnds 4-6: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 7: K to marker, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k1.

Rnds 8-10: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rep [rnds 3-10] 5 [5, 6] times.

Sizes S & L only: Rep rnds 3-4 once more.

Size M only: Rep rnds 3-8 once more.

Right Heel Placement

Rnd 45 [49, 53]: K24 [28, 32] with waste yarn, cut waste yarn leaving a long tail, place waste yarn sts back onto non-working needle, k all waste yarn sts with working yarn. k to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Secure the ends of the waste yarn by tying a knot at each end or tying the two ends together.

Right Leg:

See Leg & Cuff Chart above.

Sizes S & L only:

Rnd 1: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 2: K to marker, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k1.

Rnds 3-4: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 5 [1, 5]: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 6 [2, 6]: K to marker, p3, 4/4 RC, k4, p3, k1.

Rnds 7-9 [3-5, 7-9]: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rnd 10 [6, 10]: K to marker, p3, k4, 4/4 LC, p3, k1.

Rnd 11-13 [7-9, 11-13]: K to marker, p3, k12, p3, k1.

Rep [rnds 6-13 [2-9, 6-13]] 7 [8, 8] times more

Rnd 69 [73, 77]: K to marker, p3, (k2tog, ssk) 3 times, p3, k1. (48 [56, 64] sts)

Cuff & Heel

Work as for Left Sock Cuff and Heel.

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