How to Knit Shortie Socks on 9” Circulars

Jul 08, 2025

I only knit socks on 9" circulars. It is my preferred method for knitting socks and a lot of knitters ask me about knitting socks on 9" circulars.

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As a Floridian, I primarily knit shortie socks, so I decided to share how to knit shortie socks on 9" circulars.

Cast On & Cuff

With US size 1, 9” circulars (2.25 mm), CO (48) S 57 (M 6, L 72) stitches.
PM and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist your sts.
Est 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuff: [k2, p2] to end.
Continue working the ribbing until your cuff measures ¾” or your desired length.

Leg

Work 15 rounds even in stockinette, or until the leg, including cuff, is your desired length!

Heel Flap

Knit across the first (24) 28 (32) stitches. PM.
Begin working the heel flap back and forth across the remaining (24) 28 (32) stitches (so between the marker you placed and the beginning of round (BOR) as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K2, (sl 1wyib, k1) to end. Turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, p to end. Turn.
Row 3: (Sl 1 wyib, k1) to end. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until Heel Flap measures (1.75) 2 (2)”. End after you have worked row 3.

Heel Turn, Gusset & Foot

Heel Turn

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, p (12) 14 (16), p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1 wyib, k3, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1 wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1 wyib, k5, ssk, k1, turn.
You have now established the following pattern for your heel turn: sl 1, knit or purl to 1 st before the gap created by turning on the previous row, ssk or p2tog, k1 or p1, turn.
Continue in this pattern until all your heel stitches have been worked, ending on a right-side row. You should now have (14) 16 (18) heel stitches.

Gusset

7. With the right side of your work facing, pick up and k (10) 12 (14) stitches along the left side of the heel flap.

8. Next, K across the first (24) 28 (32) stitches that we’ve left undisturbed on our needles while working the heel flap.

9. PM, and pick up (10) 12 (14) stitches on the right side of the heel flap.

10. K across the heel sts, then k down the first set of new stitches you picked up on the left side. You’ve reached the end of the round, and all your sts have now been picked up. You should now have (58) 68 (78) sts on your needles.

Gusset Decreases

11. Rnd 1: K across (24) 28 (32) stitches, sl marker, k1, ssk, k around to 3 sts before the end of rnd, k2tog, k1.
12. Rnd 2: Work even with no decreases.

13. Repeat these two rounds until you have (48) 56 (64) stitches on your needles.

Foot
14. Continue knitting in stockinette until your foot reaches 1.5” less than your longest toe.

Toe

Rnd 1: K1, ssk, k (18) 22 (26) stitches, k2tog, k1, pm, k1, ssk, k (18) 22 (26) stitches, k2tog, k1.
Rnd 2: K.
Rnd 3: K1, ssk, k to 3 stitches before next marker, k2tog, k1, sl m, k1, ssk, k around to 3 stitches before end of round, k2tog, k1.

Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until (20) 24 (28) stitches remain.

Kitchener

Use Kitchener stitch to close the toe.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.