These easy-to-knit socks could be an ideal ‘first sock’ knitting pattern. The pattern is easily memorised - just four rows - and this lets you concentrate on knitting the different parts of the sock instead.

Traditional, top-down construction on DPNs.

The pretty little flower at the back is an optional extra. The petals are formed using short-row shaping. The pattern gives instructions on how to do this, if you are new to this technique.

Use a small button to sew in the centre of the flower, if you do not have any beads. A small pearl button with a shank would look very nice.

The large size is big enough to fit a man - though I would be tempted to leave out the flower!

Made from just one ball of 4 ply self-striping yarn, this is a relaxing knitting pattern, that is convenient to pick up and put down again.

If you plan to use self-striping yarn, to avoid a sudden break in the colour variation pattern over the instep when you work the heel: wind off about 40 meters of yarn before you start. Use this yarn to work the heel flap and heel turn, then break off this yarn, and continue with the original yarn to work the gusset and remainder of foot.