I've started a small project using up sock yarns (especially the ones I'm less interested in) combined with soft 100 percent wool yarn that is about a US sports weight.
I started trying to make socks with the soft yarn and realized it would tear to pieces in the foot - so the first pair I am wearing and has the sock yarn added just on the foot.
This second pair just finished today (Happy Earth Day Socks) for Nightwolf (though I can wear them) using the sock yarn plus soft sports weight yarn all the way through and the results are like 10 Euro a pair "work socks" sold in town but much nicer and made to fit.
I am about to start a pair for me, I'm doing these mostly on five needles and knitting each sock by itself rather than dragging 4 balls of yarn around, though I may try that at some point - as it is I'm finding these relaxing and they go fast enough I avoid the dreaded "second sock syndrome" where one sock gets done and the other sits around as a UFO (Unfinished Object).
This is more of a technique than a pattern but I like the effect better than the heavier Aran weight socks (though those are nice in deep Winter) in our climate these "work socks" can be worn almost year-round and given that Nightwolf often refuses to wear slippers with his socks, may even last more than one season.
Basically to make these socks you just use a sport weight or even laceweight pure wool yarn and combine it with sock yarn (wild or single-colored).
These socks were cast on as 64 stitches
K2 P2 Rib for about 3 inches
A pattern of:
round 1 - K3 P1
round 2 - K 3 P1
Round 3 - k all
Round 4 - K all
Repeat for a long time.
Because these were knee socks I did leg shaping by knitting two stitches together at the start of a row and then K1 S1 SSK at the end (leaving 2 stitches in the middle - next sock I'm going to add two stitches as a line to make it easier).
I did this 8 times to get down to 48 (or I did on the second sock, I made a mistake and only got down to 52 on the first one)
Basically you can decide how narrow you want the sock at the ankle, I decreased every 2 pattern repeats at the start and every pattern repeats at the bottom, next time I will try to space it a bit better.
To make shorter (not knee socks) just cast on 48 stitches (or 12 on each needle) and forget the leg shaping and/or just add multiple of 4 stitches to fit YOUR leg.
Do any "usual" heal pattern (I used the typical k1 S1 row one Pearl all stitches back and then turn the heal after 10 to 12 rows) but any good heal pattern will work, this is strong yarn, you can just garter stitch it or even put a piece of waste yarn in if your riding in a car or busy, go back later and knit a reverse "toe" for the heal.
Note if you do the "reverse toe" heal remember to make your sock at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches shorter than you would usually do because you will add those inches in the "afterthought heal."
Then just knit your usual foot - I continued the pattern down the top of the sock and added a couple of extra side stitches to have a pearl stitch on each side of the top of the sock but you don't have to.
Then I knit a toe about 2 inches from the end of the sock - I wanted an 8 1/2 inch total sock so I stopped at 6 1/2 inches then made the toe, any good toe pattern will work.
Then make a mostly identical sock - it doesn't matter if all the decreases are in exactly the same place as long as they mostly match, these are work socks, not art socks lol!
Oh and you can either do the heal with the smaller number of stitches after you decrease or re-configure your stitches evening again with 12 on each needle (which I find fits better but some people prefer a 2/3'rds heal rather than a half one).
If you forget don't worry, as long as it goes on you or your intended victim I mean wearer's foot that is all that matters.
Have fun with this - My first pair (that I'm wearing) I just mostly did in knit stitch with a few garter stitch rounds to hide the decreases. I may do another one in the cables.
I want to make at least three pair for each of us for next Winter, especially if heating fuel is scarce we will need them and Nightwolf may need them now doing all that digging and garden work, some days it still gets down into the 40s here.
Here is the photo of Work Sock II - Earth Day Edition (for Nightwolf)
now working on new grandbaby (due the 26th of THIS month!!!) leggo baby blanket and I don't think I am going to have enough of specific color yarn~ 
hahahaa
I've got some light grey and light oatmeal color skeins in Finullgarn, and skeins of white Jaimeson & Smith Shetland. Should make a nice range of blues for the granny square afghan. Also have piece of Japanese style Shibori that is stitched and tied from years ago, and has been waiting all this time for an indigo dip.
) Perhaps conversion to an old fashioned Sig Vat is in order, I have the *recipe.* Also have fresh supplies to make a new one from scratch.
