I’ll freely confess my fascination with self-striping yarns, whether ones with sharp color changes or where the colors softly meld into each other. The development of “sock flats” – machine-knit tubes or rectangles that can more easily be dyed in striped patterns – inspired me to play with ideas for patterns that make the most of self-stripers. Chevron-style stitches are one obvious choice, and this pattern uses one, along with rows of eyelets, to create vertical lines that contrast with the horizontal color changes of this handdyed, color-melding yarn. Although I haven’t yet had time to test my theory, I suspect this design would work well with all sorts of yarns: machine-dyed stripers like the Regia Kaffe Fassett series, Trekking XXL’s softly-changing colors, even a non-striping handpaint of the “muted multi” variety.
Sizes
Woman’s Medium
Finished circumference: 6 inches unstretched, approximately 8 inches when stretched.
Yarn
Black Bunny Fibers Sock Flat (75% superwash merino/25% nylon; 450 yards [411 meters]/100g flat): Tequila Sunrise, 1 flat.
Needles
US #3 (3 mm), or size needed to get gauge: two 24” circulars
US #2 (2.75 mm), or one size smaller than above: two 24” circulars
Gauge
One repeat of Chevron Stitch (10 sts) = approx. 1 inch unstretched; 7 sts = 1 inch over St st
Notions
Tapestry needle
Sunrise Chevron Chart
Abbreviations
Please see our standard list of abbreviations.
Pattern Notes
Socks are worked from cuff to toe using the two-circular-needle method.
Pattern
Using smaller needles, CO 60 sts. Divide evenly between needles, and join for working in rnd, being careful not to twist. K 3 rnds.
Next Rnd (Ribbing): *K2, p2, rep from * to end.
Rep Ribbing rnd until ribbing measures 1.25”. Switch to larger needles and k 3 rnds.
Begin Chevron Pattern
Rnd 1, 3, 5, & 7: *YO, k3, k3tog, k3, yo, k1, rep from * to end.
Rnd 2: K
Rnd 4: P
Rnds 6 & 8: K
Rep these 8 rnds until sock measures 5.5 (6, 7)” from cast on edge, or desired length to top of heel flap, ending with Rnd 8.
Heel
Note: Heel is worked back-and-forth on N1, using 30 sts.
Row 1 (RS): *Sl 1 wyib, bring yarn forward and p1, rep from * to end.
Row 2: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 3: P1, *Sl 1 wyib, bring yarn forward and p1, rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 4: Sl 1, p to end.
Rep these 4 rows 7 more times.
Turn Heel
Row 1 (RS): K17, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, k to st before gap made on previous row, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, p to st before gap made on previous row, p2tog, p1, turn.
Rep Rows 3 & 4 until all heel sts have been worked; 18 sts rem.
Pick-up rnd: Using N1, pick up and knit 15 sts up left edge of heel flap. With N2, work Rnd 1 of Chevron Pattern across 30 reserved instep sts. Using N1, pick up and knit 15 sts down right side of heel flap; k rem sts on N1; work sts on N2 keeping patt correct; end rnd here.
Rnd now begins at beg of sts on Needle 1.
Rnd 1: N1 – K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. N2 – Cont Chevron Pattern as set.
Rnd 2: N1 – K all sts. N2 – Cont Chevron Pattern as set.
Rep these 2 rnds until 60 sts rem.
Cont working foot without further decreases, keeping Chevron Pattern on instep correct, until foot measures approx. 6.5 (7, 8) inches from back of heel, or about 2 inches less than desired length. K 1 rnd (discontinuing Chevron Pattern on N2).
Toe
Rnd 1: N1 & N2 – K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Rnd 2: K.
Rep these 2 rnds until 16 sts rem on each needle (32 sts total). Work Rnd 1 only until 8 sts rem on each needle (16 sts total).
Cut yarn, leaving an 18-inch tail. Graft toe together using Kitchener Stitch. Weave in ends and make second sock to match.
About the Designer: Carol J. Sulcoski
Carol J. Sulcoski is the author of Knit So Fine and Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarns (both published by Interweave Press), and she has designed for Knitty.com; Big Girl Knits; JCA/Reynolds; and KnitScene. She blogs at Go Knit In Your Hat, where her “No-Bull Book Reviews” are a popular feature. She is proprietress of Black Bunny Fibers, where she sells handdyed yarns and spinning fiber.
Bome by Maria Leigh
