How to Knit DK Vanilla Socks on 9" Circulars (+ Pattern)
A modified version of The Crazy Sock Lady’s DK Vanilla Sock pattern, featuring Freckled Whimsy’s “I Believe in Mermaids” yarn.
If you’re looking for a quick, satisfying sock project that shows off dreamy hand-dyed yarn, let me introduce you to my new favorite combination: a DK vanilla shortie sock, knit on 9" circulars, using a modified version of The Crazy Sock Lady’s DK Vanilla Sock pattern. This project checks all the boxes —easy to memorize, super comfy, and a great canvas for colorful yarn.
I used Freckled Whimsy’s Serendipity DK in the I Believe in Mermaids colorway for this pair. It’s a pastel party of ocean blues, dreamy purples, and magical speckles that made every round delightful.
Let’s walk through how I knit my shortie version — and how you can knit yours!
What You’ll Need
Yarn: DK Skein (85/15 SW Merino/Nylon, 231 yds/100g) and Mini (If you want to use a different yarn for cuff, heel and/or toes.).
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) 9" circulars for the cuff, leg, heel and foot.
– Plus DPNs to Kitchener the toes.Notions: (2) Stitch markers, tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape.
Pattern Base
I started with The Crazy Sock Lady’s DK Vanilla Sock pattern as a great foundation. I made a few easy modifications to convert the pattern into a shortie, to suit my 9" circulars and my preferences.
My Modified Shortie Sock Recipe
I am knitting a women’s size medium.
🧶 Cast-On
When you cast on, do not cast on too tightly. Cast on 48 stitches (in the cuff color) using the long-tail cast-on.
Cuff
Place a marker at the beginning (BOR) and join in the round.
Work 8 rounds of 2 x 1 ribbing (k2, p2) for a short cuff. I hold the tail and my working yarn together to weave the tail into the first round of the cuff. If you don’t do this, weave in the tail as part of finishing the sock.
TIP: If you do this, be careful not to treat the “double stitches” as single stitches when knitting round 2, or you will have too many stitches.
You can knit more ribbing if you like a taller shortie.
🧦 The Leg
After the cuff, I knit 13 rounds for the leg portion (in the main sock colorway). If you prefer a longer leg, you can knit more rounds of stockinette before beginning the heel.
🧰 Heel Flap
Knit 24 stitches (half of the stitches).
Place 2nd marker (It should be a different marker than your BOR marker to tell them apart.). Between this marker and the BOR marker, you work the heel flap. The heel flap is knit flat, so you will ignore the first 24 stitches that you knit to begin the heel flap (and through the heel turn). You will not touch these stitches again until the gusset pickup.
Row 1: (RS) With the heel color, k2 and then *slip 1, knit 1* across the remaining 22 stitches. Turn. TIP: The knit sides of the heel are the odd rows and the right side of your knitting.
Row 2: (WS) S1, purl the rest of the 23 stitches. Turn. TIP: The purl sides of the heel are the even rows and the wrong side of your knitting.
Row 3: (RS) *Slip 1, knit 1* all across. Turn.
Continue to R2 and R3 for 24 total rows (including the first 3 rows), ending on a WS row. Turn.
Heel Turn
Row 1 (RS): Sl1 purlwise with yarn in back, k12, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl1 purlwise with yarn in front, p3, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl1 purlwise with yarn in back, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1. Turn.
Row 4: Sl1 purlwise with yarn in front, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all stitches on the heel have been worked.
You will end with a wrong-side row and have 14 stitches left.
🔁 Gusset Pickup
(RS) With the main color of the sock, knit across the heel stitches. Pick up 13 stitches (12 stitches and 1 extra stitch) along the side of the heel flap. SM.
Knit the front 24 stitches (This is where you touch those 24 ignored stitches since the heel flap). SM and pick up 13 stitches (12 stitches, plus 1 extra stitch) along the other side of the heel flap.
Knit around to the BOR marker. SM.
Gusset Decreases
Work the gusset decreases:
Round 1: Knit to the second marker, SM, k1, ssk. Knit until 3 stitches before the BOR marker. k2tog, k and SM.
Round 2: Knit all the stitches.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you have 48 stitches.
👣 Foot
Knit the foot in plain stockinette until you’re about 1.5" from the tip of your longest toe.
For me, it takes me 50 rounds.
🧵 Toe & Finish
Round 1: K, ssk, k around to three stitches before the 2nd PM, k2tog, k. SM. K, ssk, k around to three stitches before the BOR marker, k2tog, k
Round 2: Knit all stitches.
Continue R1 and R2 until there are 24 stitches.
Continue with R1 until you have 12 stitches.
Kitchener the toe to close it.
Why I Love This Combo
9" circulars make the knitting fly, especially on the foot.
DK weight yarn means fast progress and extra squish.
Shortie socks are great for warmer weather and perfect for showing off fun yarn like I Believe in Mermaids.
This is a sock you’ll want to knit over again.
Have You Tried It?
Have you knit shortie socks in DK weight or used 9" circulars for your sock knitting? I’d love to hear your thoughts or see your projects! #ShortieSockSummerKAL