Cafe Socks: Free easy knitting pattern for toddlers

Looking for the perfect almost-vanilla sock pattern for toddlers? Seek no more! The Cafe Socks are a great everyday sock, with ribbing throughout for a great fit. The ribbing continues into the classic heel flap and gusset, and finishes with a wedge toe. Knit this free knitting pattern for toddlers in a solid color, or knit it color-blocked.

Either way, this is a keeper for all your sock knitting needs and is particularly great as a quick project for gift knitting. This easy project is the best knitting pattern for advanced beginner knitters who'd like to learn to knit socks. The fit is forgiving, and it uses small amounts of yarn stash easily.

This free knitting pattern for toddlers is suitable for all levels of knitters. Whether your skill level is advanced beginner or you are a seasoned knitter, this free knitting pattern for toddlers is a great one to keep in your back pocket.

Shown here in child size, photo by our tester Christina W (@yarnsprinkles on Instagram)

This free knitting pattern for toddlers is an ad-supported excerpt of our full Cafe Socks pattern, which is sized for ages 2 - 12 years (kids) and adult sizes (S-M-L). If you are looking for a size other than the toddler size, you can purchase it here on our website.

However, you can add it to cart with any sock yarn and check out and receive the pattern as a free digital download! This pattern is for personal use only. Happy knitting! 

Pattern Specs

Size Selection

Sized for toddler with a finished circumference of 5” / 12.5 cm. Foot length and leg length are both adjustable.

This size is suitable for 2 to 4 year olds, and is not suitable for younger babies who are mobile. Knit socks can be quite slippery for little ones as they learn to walk!

Gauge

32 sts x 40 rnds = 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm knit in stockinette stitch and 3x1 rib

Construction Notes

• Pattern is worked top down from the cuff, with 1x1 rib on the cuff and 3x1 rib throughout.
• The heel uses heel flap and gusset construction with the rib continuing through the flap.
• Finally, the sock is finished with a classic wedge toe.
• Optionally, work the entire sock in a single color or vary the color blocking. This would also be beautiful striped to use up small amounts of matching yarn weights! As long as all your necessary components add up to the MC yardage, you're good.

Shown here in size Toddler, photo by tester Shreya (@stitchedbyshreya on Instagram). 

Materials

Yarn Selection

The best yarn for this pattern is a sock yarn fingering yarn weight with good definition for ribbing.

For sensitive skin types, we do recommend superwash yarn with a little nylon. We recommend wool or acrylic yarn, and do not recommend fully alpaca or cotton yarn, or similar, because of the lack of recovery. You'll need a good amount of bounce and crimp to keep the socks on feet with negative ease!

We used: 1 set of Coast to Coast Yarn Co’s Classic Sock Set (400 yards / 100 grams + 80 yards / 20 grams).

OR fingering weight yarn in the following amounts:

• MC: 120 yards / 110 meters
• CC: 50 yards / meters

You can find our full collection of great quality yarns for sock knitting on our shop, and get this pattern in all sizes free when you add it to cart with a sock yarn. Or, just knit from this blog for a free knitting pattern for toddlers. :) 

Knitting Needles

Needles to work small circumferences, such as DPN’s (we like Addi FlexiFlips) or circular needles for magic loop, in needle size US 1.5 / 2.5 mm.

This pattern for toddlers is not suitable for small circulars.

Notions

Stitch markers, plus unique marker for BOR (if not using needles to mark BOR), tapestry needle.

Special Techniques

German Twisted Cast On (Tutorial at Interweave Magazine) 

Grafting (Tutorial at Purl Soho)

Stitch Glossary

BOR	beginning of round
CC	contrast color
k	knit
k2tog	knit 2 together
MC	main color
p	purl
p2tog	purl 2 together
rnd	round
Sl	slip (purlwise, in this pattern)
ssk	slip, slip, knit
st(s)	stitch(es)

Shown here in our Coast to Coast Classic Sock Set sample in size Adult S.

Pattern Instructions for the Cafe Socks, free knitting pattern for toddlers

Cuff

Using a stretchy method, such as German Twisted, and cast on 40 sts using MC. Being careful not to twist, place marker for BOR and join to work in the round.

1x1 Rib: (K1, p1) to BOR.

Repeat 1x1 Rib for 9 more rounds or until rib measures 1" / 2.5 cm from cast on edge when lightly stretched.

Leg

3x1 Rib: (K3, p1) to BOR.

Repeat 3x1 Rib until sock reaches 3.5" / 9 cm from cast on edge, or until desired leg length.

Heel Flap + Turn

Break MC, leaving 8” / 20 cm. Join CC to work a garter stitch on each edge of the heel flap over the first 19 sts for heel flap as follows, holding the remaining sts for later:

Row 1 (RS): (K3, p1) x 4, k3, turn.

Row 2 (WS): K1, work in pattern to last st, k1.

Repeat the last 2 rows another 9 times for a total of 20 rows.

Heel Turn

Work short rows across the heel flap:

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k9, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1, p2, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Sl1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 4: Sl1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 3-4 twice more. Knit across remaining sts. Break CC, leaving 8” / 20 cm for weaving in. 11 sts

Gusset + Foot

Join MC, pick up and knit 11 sts on the side of heel flap, place marker, work in pattern across top of foot, place marker, pick up and knit 11 sts on other side of heel flap, knit across 11 heel sts, place marker for new BOR. 54 sts

Rnd 1: Knit to marker, slip marker, work in pattern across top of foot, slip marker, knit to BOR.

Rnd 2: Knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, work in pattern across top of foot to marker, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end. Decreased 2

Repeat Rnds 1-2 another 6 times. 40 sts

Continue working rib across top of foot, and stockinette stitch across bottom, until foot measures 5” / 12.5 cm long from the back of the heel, or 1.25" / 3 cm shorter than desired foot length.

Break MC, join CC, and set up for toe:

Move BOR Round: Remove BOR marker, knit to marker, remove marker, p1, place BOR. 20 sts in each section

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Toe

Work stockinette stitch during toe decreases:

Rnd 1: *K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker; repeat from * once to end. Decreased 4

Rnd 2: Knit to BOR. Repeat Rnds 1-2 another 5 times. 16 sts

Cut yarn, leaving 16” / 40 cm of tail. Graft toe together.

Make second sock as for first. Wet block and lay flat to dry, or dry on a sock blocker if desired.

Weave in ends and enjoy!

If you are interested in the other sizes of this pattern, please see our full pattern for the Cafe Socks.

Moreover, we hope that you have enjoyd this free knitting pattern for toddlers and that your loved one enjoys their socks! Happy crafting!

More quick knits for your next project for your own personal use or for gift-giving:

If you enjoyed this free knitting pattern for toddlers, you may enjoy.. 

• An Arrow to the Moon Hat: an adult or kid's hat in various sizes with a simple colorwork motif (optional, if you want basic hats instead!)
• Looking for a sock with a lace pattern instead? That's my favorite kind of sock to design!
• Coloring Book Raglan: A cozy sweater for adult sizes. You can make colorful sweaters with stripes or plain ones--it's super versatile. With minimal shaping, this one is suitable for beginners looking to knit their first sweater. Alternatively, you can work it up with different stitch patterns for mod
• Campus Vest: A light worsted/DK weight vest pattern that's suitable for beginners as well.
• K's Back to School Vest: A worsted weight version of the Campus Vest, as an alternative sized for toddlers and kids.
• See our collection of free knitting patterns by independent designers like myself.