Lost Stripes: A Variegated Knitting Pattern for Stretchy Socks using Slipped Stitches and Spiral Technique with Fingering Weight Yarn

Lost Stripes

I had found a nice yarn with beautiful coloring except for the striping pattern. I wanted to make the yarn mix itself while knitting, so a less striping color would appear sort of variegated. Therefore I've used slipped stitches along a 3 row pattern and a technique I've learned from 'Stashbuster Spiral Sock'. De used pattern gives a very stretchy sock, which you knit t from the cuff/top down. Size: M and L. Check your gauge so you can pick the right size. Length is easily adaptable. Sizes are noted in pattern as follows: M/L = 60/72

Materials:

4 x 25 gr. (approx. 0.88 oz.) 4-ply fingering weight yarn. This can be a 100 gr (approx. 3.52 oz.) ball divided in 4 or 4 balls or left-overs. In the pattern is written color A, B, C and D, if you use just one striped yarn please replace colorwithball. Needles 2.5 mm or US 1.5 (The pattern is written for 5 dpn, but it's easily adaptable to circulars). 1 cable needle if you're not acquainted with cabling without. Tapestry needle, measuring tape and scissor 30 sts. in stockinet = 10 cm/ 4 inch Gauge:

Abbreviations:

RS: right side WS: wrong side CO: Cast on k: knit p:purl sl1p: slip 1 stitch as if to purl ktbl: knit through back loop k2tog: knit 2 stitches together p2tog: purl 2 stitches together ssk: slip 1 st knit wise, slip a second st knit wise, knit slipped stitches together tbl YO: yarn over cross 1 L: put 1 stitch on cable-needle in front, knit 2 stitches and knit the stitch from the cable-needle. Pick up the second and third stitch on the left needle with your right needle across the back of the work. Drop the first stich, pick it up with the left needle and put the second and third stitch back onto the left needle. Knit the 3 stitches.

Spiral Technique:

The theory behind this technique is that you work 4 colors at the same time without ever crossing them like you would in intarsia knitting. An example: For size M you'll have 18 stitches on needle 1 with color A, 12 stitches on needle 2 with color B, 18 stitches on needle 3 color C and 12 stitches on needle 4 in color D. Again when you'll go from one needle to the next you do not cross the yarns over or spin them around each other. The colors will find their way through your knit spiraling around. This technique is used all the way through the whole sock and therefore color changes are only mentioned in the pattern when needed. There is a link at the bottom of this pattern for Stash buster spiral socks.

Used patterns/extra info:

For the cuff: [1 ktbl, 1p] repeat. For the sock: the cabling pattern is repeated over 5 rows and 6 stitches, a chart can be found on the last page of the pattern, the pattern itself is also writtenoutbelow.

Cuff:

CO 60/72 stitches with color A and divide them over 4 needles. Use a stretchy CO like the Twisted German Cast On. (A link to a video tutorial is given on the last page or the pattern page). Close to form a round and knit 1 round with color A in Cuff Pattern. Round 2: 18/18 sts. color A, 12/18 sts. color B, 18/18 sts. color C, 12/18 sts. color D Round 3: 18/18 sts. color D, 12/18 sts. color A, 18/18 sts. color B, 12/18 sts. color C Round 4: 18/18 sts. color C, 12/18 sts. color D, 18/18 sts. color A, 12/18 sts. color B Round 5: 18/18 sts. color B, 12/18 sts. color C, 18/18 sts. color D, 12/18 sts. color A Repeat rows 2 to 5 until you've done a total of 16 rounds allin cuff pattern

Leg:

Continue the color changes as established in the cuff, just follow the pattern as written below: Round 1: [1 ktbl, p1, YO, k3, p1] repeat Round 2: [1 ktbl, p1, drop the Y0, sl1, k2, p1] repeat Round 3: [1 ktbl, p1, sl1, k2, p1] repeat Round 4: as round 3 Round 5: [1ktbl, p1, cross 1 L, p1] repeat Repeat the pattern for at least 10 or 12 times. End with a round 5.

Heel Flap:

You're knitting a strengthened heel flap over 29/35 stitches with 3 of the 4 colors. If needed you can break the yarn, but leave a piece to weave in later. Row 1: RS: Pick the color you want or the color that's first up. 1 ktbl, move this stitch to the previous needle now you have 17 sts. on the left needle and 13/19 sts. on the previous needle (number 4). Continue the heel flap as follows: [sl 1, k1] repeat ending with k2. After 17/17 sts. do not change the color but continue knitting until the 29/35 sts. are knitted. Turn. The color dangling from the middle of your working needle can be cut off and sewn in later. Row 2: Ws Pick the next color: sl 1, p28/34, turn. Row 3: RS Pick the third color: [sl1, k1] repeat ending with k2, turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 14/16 times. Repeat row 2 one more time.

Turn Heel:

The turn heel has a v-shape and is knitted with 2 colors. Row 1: RS sl1, k 15/18, ssk, k1, turn Row 2: WS sl1 with yarn in front, p4, p2tog, p1, turn. Row 3: RS Pick new color: sl1, knit until 1 st before the gap, ssk, k1, turn Row 4: WS sl 1, purl until 1 st. before gap, p2tog, p1, turn Row 5: RS pick up previous color, sl1, knit until 1 sts. before gap, ssk, k1, turn Row 6: WS sl1, purl until 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn. Repeat rows 3/4 and 5/6 until you have 13/19 stitches remaining on the needle. Knit 7/10 st. Now you're at the beginning of the new rounds for the gusset.

Gusset:

Because the color pattern got a bit confused during the knitting of the heel-flap and the turn heel it's necessary to return to the original color sequence. When necessary don't hesitate to cut off yarn and re-attach it in the right place. Round 1: knit the remaining sts. on the left needle (from now on needle 1), pick up and knit 14/17 sts. on the side of the heel-flap put those sts. on needle 1 (color A), knit needle 2 and 3 for the foot in pattern (colors B and C), pick up and knit 14/17 sts. from the heel-flap and knit the second half of the turn heel stitches (needle 4 and color D). You now have: 70/90 sts. total excluding the YO's!!!!. Round 2: Knit until 3 sts. before the end of needle 1, k2tog, k1. Knit needle 2/3 in pattern. Needle 4: k1, ssk, knit until the end of the needle. Round 3: knit needle 1 and 4, knit needle 2 and 3 per pattern. Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until you have 29/35 sts. on needle 1 and 4 and 31/37 on needle 2 and 3.

This sock is knitted with 4 leftovers of totally different colored sock yarn by Denise / Nieslief. Who did also a great job for me to translate this pattern.

Foot:

Continue knitting needle 1 and 4 stockinette and follow pattern on needle 2 and 3 until you reach your desired footlength minus 5/6 cm / 2 inch for the toe.

A very useful note from Nieslief who has translated this pattern:

A nice and easy way to know when you're there is to lay your hand on the bottom of your foot (I know that's not easy but just give it a try). Make sure the point where your hand starts and your arms end is aligned with the heel of your foot. Check where your middle finger comes!!! See!! Just below or spot on your little toe. Now you can use this knowledge to know when to start your too shaping. As soon as your sock reaches the length of your hand you can start decreasing for the toe. Isn't the mathematics of your body marvelous?? Oh and for sock knitter addicts: supposedly the same accounts when you do toe-up socks. When you reach the handlength I'm told you can start the gusset shaping. This made life so much easier now I can finish a sock while travelling.

Toe:

To align the number of sts. on the needles transport the previously moved stitch (row 1 of the heel-flap) to needle 4. Round 1: needle 1: knit until 3 sts. before the end, k2tog, k1, needle 2: k1, ssk, knit all needle 3: knit until 3 sts. before the end, k2rog, k1 needle 4: k1, ssk, knit all Round 2 and 3: knit all sts Round 4: repeat round 1 Round 5 and 6: knit all sts Round 7: repeat round 1 Round 8 and 9: knit all sts Round 10: repeat round 1 Round 11: knit all sts Repeat round 10 and 11 until 32 sts. remain (8 sts. per needle) Repeat round 1 until 8 sts. remain (2 sts. per needle) Close the toe with Kitchener stitching. Weave in the ends and wear with pride!!!!

Don't forget to knit the second sock!!!

Chart

De pattern repeat is 6 st. (including YO: 7st.)

Useful links:

Stashbuster spiral socks:http://hipknitism.com/classes/stashbuster spirals/lesson2.shtml Twisted German cast on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfFadEumBak kabelen zonderkabelnaald: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6DB6WhAKvY Kitchener stich:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhQYq-6uCKl