Sock Planning Reference
Every figure below is computed by the sock size and yardage calculators themselves. Cast-on counts assume the standard 10% negative ease and are rounded to a 4-stitch rib repeat.
Cast-on stitches by foot and gauge
| Foot circumference | Sock circumference | 7 sts/in | 8 sts/in | 9 sts/in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 in | 6.3 in | 44 | 52 | 56 |
| 7.5 in | 6.8 in | 48 | 56 | 60 |
| 8 in | 7.2 in | 52 | 56 | 64 |
| 8.5 in | 7.7 in | 52 | 60 | 68 |
| 9 in | 8.1 in | 56 | 64 | 72 |
| 9.5 in | 8.6 in | 60 | 68 | 76 |
| 10 in | 9 in | 64 | 72 | 80 |
The sock is knit smaller than the foot on purpose — a 8.5-inch foot gets a 7.7-inch sock, which at 8 stitches per inch is 60 stitches. Knit to the foot measurement instead and the fabric sags, wrinkles under the heel and wears through faster.
Yards for the pair
A 9-inch foot with a 7-inch leg at 11 rows per inch, in fingering weight, with the standard waste buffer. These are figures for both socks.
| Foot circumference | 7 sts/in | 8 sts/in | 9 sts/in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 in | 378 | 430 | 490 |
| 7.5 in | 404 | 464 | 524 |
| 8 in | 430 | 500 | 560 |
| 8.5 in | 464 | 524 | 594 |
| 9 in | 490 | 560 | 628 |
| 9.5 in | 516 | 586 | 662 |
| 10 in | 542 | 620 | 696 |
This is the table worth looking at before buying. A great many sock skeins are put up around four hundred yards, and a large part of this grid is above that — which is why running out on the second toe is such a common experience, and why it usually happens on the bigger foot or the finer gauge rather than at random.
What the leg costs
| Leg length | Yards for the pair | Extra over the shortest |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 384 | +0 |
| 4 in | 454 | +70 |
| 6 in | 524 | +140 |
| 8 in | 594 | +210 |
| 10 in | 664 | +280 |
The leg is the one dimension you choose freely, and it costs about 35 yards per inch on the pair. If the yardage table says a skein will be tight, shortening the leg is the cheapest place to find the difference — and it is a decision better made at the cuff than at the second heel.
Yardage is an estimate from a plain stockinette tube at average tension. Cables, colourwork and dense textures use more; your own gauge swatch and the pattern’s stated requirement both beat this table. Buy the extra skein if it is close.