Monday, April 02, 2007

Slip Stitch Patterned Socks

I thought I would share the first pair of mosaic stitch socks which I made a few years ago. I love using slip stitch patterns, also known as mosaic stitches. They work well in socks for uniting leftover balls of yarn using a 50 gram ball of a solid color as the contrast. and using the leftovers as your contrast color. This does make a striking sock, but there are lots more ends to weave in.

These socks were made with a semi solid vintage Opal yarn and lots of little golf ball sized bits of leftover self striping sock yarn. I used the Peacock pattern from the knitter.com. I like my version much
better than the knitter's version, which is all in blues. The second time I made the socks I used the slip stitch pattern on the foot as well as on the instep, so the socks don't look quite as much like canoes. These socks fit fine, they're just a little baggy on the heel. I've found slip stitches are less stretchy and I need to use more stitches. YMMV, and the slip stitch pattern you use also has a lot to do with it. This one was relatively complicated: 32 rounds and a 30 stitch repeat.

Here's the finished spiral mosaic sock. I used 76 stitches for the ribbing and 84 for the pattern, which had a repeat of 14 stitches. 70 stitches would not have fit my ankle, but it would probably fit a normal sized ankle. I used 2.5 mm needles and navy solid Knitpicks Essentials with Regia color. I'm very happy with the look of the heel and gusset on this sock. I've made several mosaic patterned socks and the gusset decreases always wreak havoc with the pattern. I think I solved the dilemma with this design. On to sock #2 after I finish a few more second socks. Edited to add: Sock # 2 is at the toe finished! The toe looks very pointed on this sock but I tried it on and it fits me perfectly.

9 comments:

Susan said...

Those are just gorgeous! Reminds me of a stained glasss window ;)

Margie said...

They look even better in person, and they were made from yarn you'd ordinarily throw away.

Anonymous said...

Those are really fabulous

Anonymous said...

WOW! I love the idea of using leftovers for the mosaics. Lord knows I have enough sock yarn odds and ends!

Beautiful socks!

Anonymous said...

Great work! I've got to figure out how to do this. Do the socks end up double thick?

Margie said...

The socks DO end up double thick. If you've used a heel stitch pattern it's the same principle, except you are switching colors every two rounds and changing the stitch pattern.

Unknown said...

Awesome socks! Really cool. I have this pattern, too, from when she posted in the Knitting Page a Day Calender, and thought of making them up in scrap yarns, too. I was just looking at the pattern again this am, debating...

Margie said...

I also got the pattern from the 2005 pattern a day calender. If anyone has that, you don't have to buy the pattern. It was available online free at the pattern a day site because there were corrections (cast on stitches were missing). It doesn't seem to be there anymore, though. It was January 21-22, 2005. You can also use another slip stitch pattern and your favorite sock heels, toes and ribbing. I like to support judy at theknitter.com, too, since it's my favorite site for sock yarn. I just ordered some solid colors yesterday.

Lacey said...

Beautiful socks! Thanks for the compliment on my purple waffle socks. I agree with Susan above, that sock does remind me of a stained glass window.
:D