Knitting Socks Handpainted Yarn

Knitting Socks with

Handpainted Yarn

Carol Sulcoski

Contents Handpainted Yarns: The Insider’s Guide Making Sense of All Those Colors Repeats, or Why Yarns Pool Strategies to Tame That Skein

Patterns Longbourn Socks Kristi Schueler

Hundred Dollar Socks Lorna Miser

Punctuated Rib Socks Ann Budd

Eyelet Rib Socks Carol Sulcoski

Zigzag Lace Anklets Pam Grushkin

Mega Chevron Socks Jodi Pirrello

Staccato Socks Véronik Avery

Spot Check Socks Beth Parrott

Multi-Directional Socks Chrissy Gardiner

Spread Spectrum Socks Kristi Schueler

Copper Penny Socks Nancy Bush

Potpourri Socks Deb Barnhill

Split-Toe Sweethearts Priscilla Gibson-Roberts

Braided Gems Socks Margaret Heathman

Herringbone Rib Socks Kristi Schueler

Mustard Leaf Socks Mindy Soucek

Whirlpool Socks Laura Nelkin

Wave and Knot Socks Charlene Schurch Corrugated Socks Courtney Kelley

Escher Socks Lorna Miser

Rib Fantastic Socks Barb Brown

Longbourn Socks Kristi Schueler These socks were inspired by

the wallpaper in the dining room of

Longbourn, the Bennets’ house, in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. This tessellated pattern works best when there is a value contrast between the solid and multicolored yarns. The lazy daisy embroidery on the cuff not only adds a feminine touch but also helps tack down long floats inside the sock.

Finished Size About 7V (9)" (19 [23] cm) foot circumference and 8V (9V)" (21.5 [24] cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe. To fit women’s U.S. shoe sizes 6V to 8 (8V to 10). Yarn Fingering weight (#1 Super Fine). Shown here: Araucania Ranco Solid (75% wool, 25% nylon; 376 yd [344 m]/100 g): #106 semi-solid denim (blue), 1 skein. CC: Araucania Ranco Multi (75% wool, 25% nylon; 376 yd [344 m]/100 g): #303 pink/coral/lavender, 1 skein.

Needles Inner picot edge—Size 1 (2.5 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Outer picot edge and remaining sock—Size 2 (2.75 mm): set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Notions Marker (m); tapestry needle. Gauge 16 stitches and 17 rounds = 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round on smaller needles.

Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn

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Punctuated Rib Socks Ann Budd Although she generally prefers

solid or heathered sock yarns, Ann

Budd was immediately taken by the colors in this hand-painted yarn and developed a stitch pattern to show it off. To get the most from the skein, these socks are worked from the toe up. The leg and instep are worked in a modified pattern punctuated with horizontal two- and four-stitch floats to interrupt potential color pooling.

Finished Size About 61⁄2 (71⁄4)" (16.5 [18.5] cm) foot circumference, 8X (10W)" (22 [26] cm) foot length from back of heel to tip of toe, and 7 (8W)" (18 [21] cm) leg length from top of sock to base of foot. To fit women’s U.S. shoe sizes 5 to 7 (71⁄2 to 9).

Notions Markers (m); tapestry needle.

Yarn Fingering weight (#1 Super Fine). Shown here: Black Bunny Fibers Superwash Merino Sock (100% wool; 400 yd [366 m]/4 oz): Marie Antoinette, 1 skein.

Note Because the stitch pattern repeats over a relatively large number of stitches, only two sizes are provided. To make a slightly smaller or larger sock than given, use needles one or two sizes smaller or larger (but understand that the knitted fabric will be slightly tighter or looser if you do so) and adjust the length of the foot as necessary.

Needles Foot and lower leg—U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm): set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Upper leg—U.S. size 2 (2.75 mm): set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Gauge 16 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in rounds.

Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn

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Happy knitters, happy feet! Do you have a stash of handpainted sock yarn that just won’t behave? The gorgeous

shades and contrasts in hand-dyed yarns are the very same traits that can make them frustrating and disappointing to knit with. Sock knitter and hand-dyer Carol Sulcoski offers readers a close-up look at working with unique and colorful sock yarns, offering spectacular sock patterns and techniques for getting the most from handpainted yarns.

Readers will find:  Tips for avoiding pooling and splotching  Strategies for choosing patterns that complement handpainted yarns

 Guidelines for understanding how the colors in a sock

work together  21 patterns by top sock designers including Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Charlene Schurch, and Priscilla Gibson-Roberts If the gorgeous colors in your skeins look more like a muddy pool or a blotchy spiral on the needles, the techniques and patterns in Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns can rescue your treasured yarn from the frog pond. Choose among simple unisex boot socks, lacy feminine anklets, and spectacular colorful socks with multiple yarns. Find new inspiration for your treasured skeins.

CAROL SULCOSKI is the owner of Black Bunny Fibers, an independent hand-dyed yarn and fiber company. Her designs have been published in Knitty, MagKnits, and Big Girl Knits. She is a co-author of Knit So Fine (Interweave, 2008). She lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Paperbound, 8 1/2" x 9", 120 pages 50 photographs, 10 illustrations ISBN 978-1-59668-098-2 $19.95 January 2009

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