Bábóg doll sock knitting pattern for 18 inch dolls
The Bábóg knitting pattern is for a doll’s sock for an 18 inch doll such as Gotz Precious Day, Our Generation or American Girl.
The socks can be knitted either top down or toe up. They use contrasting colour toes, heels and cuffs, with a gusset at the heel. This pattern is used as part of a tutorial on creating gussets for short row, colour block heels, (link coming soon – why not sign up for my newsletter to hear about new patterns and tutorials?)
Size
The socks fit a typical 18 inch doll such as Our Generation, American Girl or Gotz Precious Day.
The finished socks have a foot circumference of 3 ½” / 9 cm, foot length (adjustable) of 2 ⅛” / 5.5 cm and leg length (adjustable) of 2 ¾” / 7 cm. To be worn with slight negative ease on a doll with a foot circumference of 3 ¾” / 9.5 cm.
Yarn and materials:
Yarn required:
Small scraps of any sock yarn or 4 ply yarn in 2 contrasting colours. Colour A: for toes, heels and cuffs – approx. 4g, 16 meters Colour B: for main body of socks – approx 8g, 32 meters
Needle size: 2.25mm needles, or as required to match gauge
Needle type: recommend circulars for magic loop, or preferred needle type for small circumference knitting in the round.
Notions:
Stitch markers (3)
Darning needle for weaving in ends.
Construction:
The socks are worked with a colour block, boomerang heel technique. It has a gusset on the top of the foot before and after the heel. This pattern includes a tutorial on creating gussets for colour block heels. Read more about these techniques (insert link when it exists).
This pattern also uses a contrast cuff and toe.
One great thing about the heel technique featured is that it is exactly the same whether knitted toe up or top down. Therefore, the pattern can be followed in either direction. Instructions are given for both top down and toe up construction.
Tension/gauge
36 stitches = 4 inches / 10 cm 46 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm
To swatch, cast on 44 stitches and swatch for 54 rows using the ‘shortcut’ method of swatching in the round, as described by Kate Atherly
Alternatively, you may be making these dolls sock as a swatch for the Weirs on the Dodder sock knitting pattern. Create the doll’s sock, then carefully check that the finished dimensions match those stated above, and fit as intended. If you need to make 2 or three, it won’t take longer than 2 or 3 swatches, and somewhere a little girl will love you!
Accessibility
This free pattern is written to be as accessible as possible, using the British Dyslexia Association guidelines. For this reason, some traditional features of knitting patterns are altered slightly. For those who prefer a more traditionally presented pattern, the PDF download for this pattern can be purchased as part of the Weirs on the Dodder sock pattern, where a traditional layout is available.
The pattern is written in clear black text on an off white background.
There is a space between each line of instructions.
No Abbreviations are used. All instructions are written out in full. For example, instead of saying ‘k1’, the pattern will say ‘knit 1’.
All emphasis is created using bold font, no text is in block capitals or italics.
Where instructions need to be repeated, this is stated both before the repeat, and afterwards. This aids screen reader accessibility, and those who need clarity on sequencing steps. For example, instead of saying: Round 1: knit to end. Repeat 9 times’ the pattern will say: ‘You will work the next round of stockinette stitches 10 times in total Round 1: knit to end Repeat round one another 9 times for a total of 10 rounds of stockinette’
Stitches and terminology used:
Beginning of Round marker a stitch marker to indicate beginning of the round of knitting
Cast on
knit
knit 2 stitches together
make a double stitch – slip a stitch, and pull on the working yarn so that the stitch pulls over the needle
Middle of Round marker
Make one left
Make one right
purl
Special Stitches:
For all options:
Double stitch / short row
How to knit German short rows – video by Ysolda Teague
For toe up construction:
Stretchy bind off – (needed if working toe up)
For Top down construction:
Stretchy cast on techniques
Jeny’s Stretchy Cast On | Knitting Tutorials by Carol Feller
Grafting – My preferred method of grafting is the Finchley graft. The Finchley Graft // Technique Tuesday
3 needle bind off – easy alternative to grafting in this pattern.
Three-Needle Bind Off (3NBO) Basics // Technique Tuesday.
Dolls Sock Knitting Pattern Starts
Top down socks start here. To knit toe up, jump to the section below.
Cuff – worked in colour A
Using colour A, cast on 32 stitches using a stretchy cast on. Join to work in the round without twisting, and place a beginning of round marker.
Work 6 rounds of rib in total for the cuff as follows: Cuff Rib Round 1: *knit 1, purl 1, repeat from * to end. Repeat round 1 another 5 times, for 6 rounds of rib.🎈
Work now measures ½” / 1.5 cm.
Leg – worked in colour B Work the leg for the length desired, between 16 and 32 rounds in total, depending on whether you want a short or long sock.
Round 1: change to colour B, knit to end. Stitch count: 32 stitches.
Repeat round 1 until the sock is the desired length.
Heel gusset – worked in colour B 🪆
Before commencing to knit the gusset, ensure your 32 stitches are distributed evenly, with 16 for the front on needle 1, and 16 on needle 2 for the back. If using double pointed needles, ensure you have a beginning of round marker and a middle of round marker, separating 16 front stitches and 16 back stitches.
The gusset will be worked on the first set of stitches, on the front of the foot.
Gusset round 1: knit 1, make one right, knit to last stitch on needle 1 or middle of round marker, make 1 left, knit to end. Stitch count: 34 stitches, 18 for front and 16 for back.
Work the following 2 rounds 3 times, for 6 rounds in total.
Gusset round 2: knit to end.
Repeat gusset rounds 1 and 2 twice more, for 6 rounds in total.
Stitch count with 6 gusset rounds worked: 38 stitches in total, 22 for front and 16 for back.
Boomerang heel – worked in colour A
The boomerang heel is now worked back and forth in rows on the stitches for the bottom of the sock only.
Set up round: change to colour B, knit to end, slipping markers as you reach them, then turn to work in rows.
Work the following 2 rows 5 times in total.
Row 1: make a double stitch, purl to middle of round marker or end of needle 2, turn, leaving the front stitches unworked. Stitch count: 1 double stitch and 15 knit stitches worked, the remaining 22 stitches for front of foot are left unworked.
Row 2: make a double stitch, knit to the previous double stitch, turn.
Row 3: make a double stitch, purl to previous double stitch, turn.
Row 4: make a double stitch, knit to the previous double stitch, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 another 3 times, so both rows have been worked 4 times (making 10 rows in total). Do not turn after final repeat of row 4.
You now have 5 double stitches up each side of the heel, with 6 knit stitches between them.
Boomerang rounds:
Round 1. Resolve next 5 double stitches by working the 2 legs together (as if working a knit 2 together stitch), knit next 22 stitches for front of foot, resolve next 5 double stitches through the back loop (as if working a knit 2 together through the back loop), knit 6. Place marker to indicate beginning of heel round. Stitch count: 38 stitches, 22 for front and 16 for back.
Round 2: knit to marker, remove heel marker, turn.
Second half of boomerang heel
Row 1: make double stitch, purl 5, turn.
You will work the next 2 rows 4 times in total, then work row a row 2 once more, for 10 rows in total.
Row 2: make double stitch, knit to previous double stitch, resolve the double stitch, knit 1, turn.
Row 3: make double stitch, purl to previous double stitch, resolve double stitch, purl 1, turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until 10 rows have been worked, ending on a purl row.
Sock gusset – worked in colour B
Work now changes back to rounds
You will knit 6 gusset rounds, repeating the 2 rows 3 times in total. You will be decreasing the stitches that were increased before the heel.
Round 1: change to colour B, knit to end. Stitch count: 38 stitches, 22 for top of foot and 16 for bottom of foot.
Round 2: knit 1, work a slip-slip-knit (ssk) decrease, knit to last 3 stitches for top of foot, knit 2 together, knit to end. Stitch count: 36 stitches, 20 for top of foot and 16 for bottom of foot.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 another 2 times, which will give 6 rounds worked in total. You will now have a stitch count of 32, 16 for top of foot and 16 for the bottom. 🤟🏿👟🦖🦋🦄🦝🌻❄️🎏
Sock foot – worked in colour B 🧸
You will work approximately 6 rounds of stockinette for the rest of the foot. Adjust row count to fit your doll, remembering to leave ½” / 1.5 cm for the toe.
Round 1: knit to end.
Repeat round one another 5 times, or until reached desired length.
Toe – worked in colour A
You will now work 4 rounds in colour A for the toe, decreasing 4 stitches each round.
Round 1: in colour A, *knit 1, slip-slip-knit decrease, knit to last 3 stitches for top of foot, knit 2 together, knit one, repeat from asterisk * once more for bottom of foot. Stitch count: 28 stitches, 14 for top of foot and 14 for the bottom.
Repeat round 1 another 3 times, for a total of 4 decrease rounds. Stitch count: 16 stitches, 8 for top of foot and 8 for the bottom.
Finishing
Recommended method (because dolls don’t complain that seams are uncomfortable!)
Turn sock inside out, and work a 3 needle bind off on remaining stitches.
Alternatively, graft stitches closed using your preferred grafting technique.
Toe up sock.
Toe – colour A
In colour A, cast on 16 stitches using a closed cast on method such as Judy’s magic cast on, and place a beginning of round marker.
For circular needles, divide these stitches evenly, 8 on needle 1 for top of foot and 8 on needle 2 for bottom of foot.
For double pointed needles, place a middle of round marker, to separate half the stitches with 8 for top of foot, and 8 for bottom.
Work increase rounds for the toe, with 4 stitches increased every round for a total of 4 rounds, until you have 32 stitches in total, 16 for top of foot and 16 for bottom.
Round 1: Knit to end.
Round 2: *Knit 1, make 1 right, knit to last stitch before marker, make one left, knit 1, repeat from asterisk * once more for bottom of foot. Stitch count: 20 stitches, 10 for top of foot and 10 for bottom
Repeat round two another 3 times for a total of 4 increase rounds. Stitch count: 32 stitches, 16 for top and 16 for bottom
Foot – work as for foot of top down sock. Jump to this teddy bear symbol.🧸
Gusset and boomerang heel – work from start of gusset for top-down sock, including instructions for boomerang heel, and second side of gusset, from this Russian doll symbol.🪆
Leg. Work for leg of top down sock, from this balloon symbol to this symbol.
Cuff. Work as for cuff of top down sock.
Cast off toe up sock – cast off loosely using a stretchy bind off technique.
Finishing:
Weave in ends.
If giving as a gift you may wish to lightly block. Spray gently with water so they are slightly damp and place on the doll’s foot. Position for a perfect fit, and allow to dry.
Thanks and acknowledgements:
This pattern was Tech Edited by Louise Plumridge, and tested by a wonderful team, my thanks as always. Any errors that remain are my own.
Copyright
This pattern, including the wording and the pictures, are my work and copyright. Please do not distribute them in any way except by using the link to this blog post. You may not copy in any way, including by making your own videos, if they are directly based on my work.
This blog is not intended for commercial use. You may sell finished items based on this pattern only if you have made them in your own home, with your own hands. However, selling your own makes from this pattern, especially for charity, is strongly encouraged. I would love to hear about your event, and how it went.