purlJam

<pattern>

# TEDDY BEAR TOE-UP SOCKS
### A Beginner-Friendly Pattern for Men's Size 10

---

## PATTERN INFORMATION

**Description:** These cozy toe-up socks feature an adorable teddy bear face motif on the front of each leg. Worked from the toe up, they allow you to try on as you go and use up every bit of your yarn. The simple two-color colorwork is perfect for beginners wanting to try their first fair isle project.

**Skill Level:** Beginner (with intro to colorwork)

**Sizes:** Men's US Size 10 (approximately 10" foot circumference, 10.5" foot length)

**Finished Measurements:**
- Foot Circumference: 10" (25 cm) slightly stretched
- Foot Length: 10.5" (27 cm) — adjustable
- Leg Length: 7.5" (19 cm) from heel to cuff — adjustable
- Cuff Circumference: 10" (25 cm)

**This pattern makes a PAIR of socks (2 socks).**

---

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** DK Weight (Category 3)
- **Main Color (MC):** 275 yards (250 m) — Background color (shown in light gray)
- **Contrast Color (CC):** 50 yards (45 m) — Teddy bear face (shown in brown)

*Suggested yarns: Any DK weight sock yarn with nylon content for durability, or superwash wool/nylon blend*

**Needles:**
- US 5 (3.75 mm) for magic loop, OR
- US 5 (3.75 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs), set of 5
- Adjust needle size as needed to achieve gauge

**Notions:**
- Stitch markers (4)
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and Kitchener stitch
- Row counter (helpful for tracking chart rows)
- Scrap yarn or stitch holders

---

## GAUGE

**22 stitches × 28 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in Stockinette stitch, worked in the round

*Gauge Math Verification: 22 sts ÷ 4" = 5.5 sts/inch; 56 sts ÷ 5.5 = 10.18" circumference ✓*

⚠️ **GAUGE IS CRITICAL FOR SOCKS!** Take time to swatch in the round. Too loose = sloppy, saggy socks that wear out quickly. Too tight = uncomfortable socks that won't fit.

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **k2tog** — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **M1L** — make 1 left (left-leaning increase)
- **M1R** — make 1 right (right-leaning increase)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **MC** — Main Color
- **CC** — Contrast Color
- **DPN(s)** — double-pointed needle(s)
- **pm** — place marker
- **sm** — slip marker

---

## SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

### Judy's Magic Cast-On (JMCO)
This creates a seamless, invisible toe. Many video tutorials are available online—search "Judy's Magic Cast-On tutorial."

### German Short Rows (GSR)
Used for the heel turn. When you see "turn and create double stitch":
1. Turn your work
2. Bring yarn to front
3. Slip first stitch purlwise
4. Pull yarn firmly over needle to back, creating a "double stitch" that looks like 2 legs
5. When you later knit or purl a double stitch, work both legs together as one stitch

### Reading Colorwork Charts
- Charts are read from **bottom to top**
- **Right-side rounds** (all rounds when knitting in the round): Read **right to left**
- Each square = 1 stitch
- Carry the unused color loosely across the back of your work (called "floats")
- Keep floats no longer than 5 stitches to prevent snagging

### Kitchener Stitch
Used to seamlessly graft the... *(Note: In toe-up socks, Kitchener isn't needed for the toe, but you may want to look this up for future projects)*

---

## COLORWORK CHART

### CHART A: Teddy Bear Face
**17 stitches wide × 21 rows tall**

Work this chart on the INSTEP (front) of the sock during the leg section. The sole/back of leg is worked in MC only.

```
    17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
    ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
21: □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □
20: □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □
19: □  □  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  □  □
18: □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □
17: □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □
16: □  □  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  □  □
15: □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □
14: □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □
13: □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □
12: □  □  □  ■  ■  □  □  ■  ■  ■  □  □  ■  ■  □  □  □
11: □  □  ■  ■  ■  □  □  ■  ■  ■  □  □  ■  ■  ■  □  □
10: □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □
 9: □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □
 8: □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □
 7: □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  ■  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □
 6: □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □
 5: □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □
 4: □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □
 3: □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □
 2: □  □  □  □  □  □  □  ■  ■  ■  □  □  □  □  □  □  □
 1: □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □  □
```

### COLOR KEY:
| Symbol | Color | Description |
|--------|-------|-------------|
| □ | MC | Main Color (Background) |
| ■ | CC | Contrast Color (Teddy Bear) |

### Chart Placement:
- The chart is centered on the 28 instep stitches
- Work 5 sts in MC, work 17-st chart, work 6 sts in MC
- *(Math check: 5 + 17 + 6 = 28 ✓)*

### Chart Reading Tips for Beginners:
- Row 1 is at the bottom — start there!
- Read every row from right to left (since you're always on the RS in the round)
- The ears (rows 16-19) and face (rows 2-15) form the teddy bear
- Eyes are the MC "holes" in row 12
- Nose/mouth area is in rows 7-8

---

## PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

### TOE (Both Socks)

Using **Judy's Magic Cast-On** and MC:

**Cast on 16 stitches total** — 8 stitches on each needle.

*Setup:* Place marker for beginning of round. The stitches on Needle 1 will become the SOLE; stitches on Needle 2 will become the INSTEP (top of foot where the teddy bear will go).

**Round 1:** Knit all stitches. (16 sts)

**Round 2 (Increase Round):**
- Needle 1 (Sole): K1, M1L, knit to last st, M1R, k1
- Needle 2 (Instep): K1, M1L, knit to last st, M1R, k1
- *(4 stitches increased; 20 sts total)*

**Round 3:** Knit all stitches.

**Repeat Rounds 2-3** until you have **56 stitches total** (28 sole sts + 28 instep sts).

*Increase Math Verification:*
- *Starting: 16 sts*
- *Need to add: 56 - 16 = 40 sts*
- *Increase 4 sts every other round = 10 increase rounds*
- *Total rounds for toe: 10 increase rnds + 10 plain rnds = 20 rounds ✓*

Your toe should measure approximately **2 inches (5 cm)** from cast-on edge.

---

### FOOT

Continue in Stockinette stitch (knit every round) with MC only until foot measures **8.5 inches (21.5 cm)** from toe cast-on, or **2 inches (5 cm)** less than desired total foot length.

*For Men's Size 10: Total foot length is typically 10.5", so work foot until 8.5" ✓*

**Foot Length Note:** Try on the sock! The heel will add approximately 2-2.5" to the length. When the sock reaches the back of your heel bone, you're ready for the heel turn.

---

### HEEL (German Short Row Heel)

The heel is worked **back and forth** on the **28 sole stitches only**. Place the 28 instep stitches on hold (on a spare needle, stitch holder, or scrap yarn).

#### First Half of Heel (Creating Short Rows):

**Row 1 (RS):** Knit 27 sts, turn. (Leave last st unworked)

**Row 2 (WS):** Create double stitch, purl to last st, turn. (Leave last st unworked)

**Row 3 (RS):** Create double stitch, knit to 1 st before double stitch, turn.

**Row 4 (WS):** Create double stitch, purl to 1 st before double stitch, turn.

**Repeat Rows 3-4** until you have **10 double stitches on each side** and **8 regular stitches in the center**.

*Stitch count check: 10 + 8 + 10 = 28 sole stitches ✓*

#### Second Half of Heel (Closing Short Rows):

**Row 1 (RS):** Create double stitch, knit to first double stitch, knit the double stitch (both legs together), turn.

**Row 2 (WS):** Create double stitch, purl to first double stitch, purl the double stitch (both legs together), turn.

**Row 3 (RS):** Create double stitch, knit to double stitch, knit double stitch