BASEBALL SOCKS (FESTIVE KNITTING PATTERN WITH PINSTRIPES)
BY MEREDITH DAVEY This is agreaittt ftutaalfak at tiz are ize woman who wears a size 8 shoe ora child who wears a size 6 shoe (with a footapproximately $9\%$ inches long) and a smaller size for a woman who wears size $5\,^{1}\!/\!_{2}$ shoe or a child who wears a size 4 shoe (with a foot approximately $8\%$ inches long).
I have included stitch patterns for 26 of the 30 Major League Baseballteams. (They are shown at the end.) Unfortunately, the logos for the Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Houston Astros are too complex to fit into a $10\mathrm{~x~}14$ stitch space. You will note that allof the logos are upside down; this is deliberate. This is a top-down sock patten, so you willfollow the chart from bottom to top (this will make sense once you start knitting. I have also included a blank grid, if you would like to design and knit thelogo of your favorite minor league or lile league team. (Just remember to design the logo upside down.)
Sock yarn (fngering weight in the your team colors.Get sock yan secificallit typically knits at about 30 stitches / inches, and is about $75\%$ wooland $25\%$ nylon. You willneed approximately 400 yads (2-50 gram skeins) of your main color (MC), 400 yards (2-50 gram skeins) of your contrast color (CC), and 400 yards (250 gram skeins) of your second contrast color (CC2),if your team’s sock has three colors. The list of team yarn colors is as follows: Chicago Cubs: (MC)-White, (CC)-Blue, (CC2)-Red New York Mets: (MC)-White, (CC)-Bright Blue, (CC2)-Orange Philadelphia Phillies: (MC)-White, (CC)-Red Colorado Rockies: (MC)-White, (CC)-Purple Minnesota Twins: (MC)-White, (CC) Dark Blue, (CC2)-Red New York Yankees: (MC)-White, (CC)-Dark Blue Chicago White Sox: (MC)-White, (CC)-Black ·A set of five Size O $\left(2\;\mathrm{mm}\right)$ double-pointed (DP) needles for the larger size, a set of five Size 000 $\mathrm{\left\lfloor.5\mm\right\rangle}$ doublepointed D ndle f e sall size or th sizeeceary tbtain the prpr gaue Th gae is discussed below.) ● Four stitch markers (for marking stitches along needles) · One detachable stitch marker (to mark the beginning of your row. I often use a paper clip or a safety pin for this.) Waste yarn (for knitting the heel flap and testing sock size) ? Blunt tapestry needl (not shown) Size 1 ( $2.75~\mathrm{mm}\$ crochet hook (not shown)
Stitch gauge:
Using the long-tailcast-on (or whichever cast-on you prefer), cast on 30 stitches and knit a swatch at least $2^{\circ}$ long Measure the number of stitches in two inches. You should have 20 stitches/2 inches for the larger size, or 22 stitches/2 inches for the smaller size. The correct gauge is very important for a proper fit.
Instructions:
Casting On:
Make a slip knot approximately 1 yard into CC yarn $\cdot$ Hook your slip knot over two DP needles. Using the long-tal cast-on ver two DP needes (or whichever cast-on you prefer), cast on 8O stithes.
Knitting the Cuff:
Distribute your 80 stitches evenly over 4 needles (20 stitches to a needle). Forming the needles into a circle, join the stitches in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches (otherwise you will end up with a mobius sock $\circledast$ ).Attach your detachable stitch marker at the beginning of your row, to keep track. Move this marker down as you work, so you do not get confused. Begin knitting in the following pattern: $*\mathrm{l}_{\xi2}$ ， $\mathrm{p}2^{*}$ , repeat until the end of the row. Continue this $2\mathbf{x}2$ ribbing for 5 more rows (6 rows total). After comleng thrbbin,kit anrea weaing teef stiths frmt96.thisbyki the following pattern: \*k5, $M1*$ , repeat until the end of the row. Once you increae your stitch cout to 9,rearrange your stitchs onto eedles, with 32 stches on each needle. Plce a stitch marker 16 stitches in on each needle. Your knitting should now be divided into six qual sections of 16 stitches each. You have now reached the logo pattern! Find your logo pattern (cut it out and tape it to a small piece of cardboard if you need to) and be prepared to follow it. This next row willstart at Row 2 of your logo pattern. If necessary, your logo may call for MC (and/or CC2) at this point. When you find you have to add an additional color(s), be sure to strand the non-knitted color along the back fairly loosely. Your knitting should lie flat (it should not pucker), and you should be able to stretch the stranded knitting slightly beyond its normal knitted tension. Try not to let any one strand hang loose for longer than 3-6 stitches. In those cases, wrap the stranded yarn with the knitted yarn, so the loose threads stay close to the fabric.
An example of stranding in the cuff along the inside (wrong side) of the fabric. Notice that the MC (orange) is twisted in every 3-6 stitches. Knit the next few rows as follows: \*Knit Row 2 of logo pattern, k4 of $\mathrm{CC*}$ , repeat until the end of the row (a total of six times). This is a 16- stitch repeat, and should end either at a stitch marker or the end of a needle. ·Knit Rows 3-15 of the logo pattern in a similar fashion: \*knit row of logo pattern, $\mathrm{k4}$ of $\mathrm{CC*}$ , repeat until the end of the row. As you knit Row 16, decrease to 93 stitches as follows: $*_{\mathrm{k}30}$ of CC, $\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog^{*}}$ , repeat until the end of the row. There will be three repeats total, one per needle. Your final cuff should look something like this:
After youhave finished the cuff, now wouldbe a good time to check that your sock willactually fit.tarting from the frst tithfw, teadallfyr sttywasteun testyrytltf over yoeland anItmiht lit suor yuheut th pnt is it shlftfit is th $\circledast$ (do not worry, this has happened tome too), try another gauge swatch on largerneeds with 8 stitches/2 inches for th larger size, or 20 stitches / 2 inches for the smallr size. Then go back to \*Casting $\mathrm{On}^{\mathfrak{s}}$ and try again. If it does fit,re thread your kniting back onto your needls and move onto the leg.
How to do FESTIVE KNITTING:
Examieypaafllfuaeanstihnyustat witmacfth stitches, and sip each of th CC andCC stithes a if to pul. listitches allthe way to th endof the ogo pat.
Knit the MC stitches in your row.
Slip any stitches that are supposed to be CC. 2. Turn your work around so that you are looking at the inside (wrong side) of the sock; now you can purl. (You should notice that, from this side,yourC and ine is nowin therght place to purlStarting frm this end of thelogo, take yourCCandCines and purl back along thlog,spcificallyint the stithes yuhad slippdbefore, ad slipping the MC stitches you had previously knit. When you have finished this row of the logo, tun your work and slip the logo stitches once again. You wil ow be ready to continue the MC pattern.
Slip the stitches you had already knit with the MC. Turn your work and purl the stitches you had slipped previously. NOTE: BE VERY CAREFUL TO KEEP YOUR TENSION LOOSE ENOUGH. IT IS VERY EASY TO MAKE FESTIVE KNITTING PUCKER, ESPECIALLY AT THE EDGES. But whatmyCCandCC2lineisat thewrong endandIhavenoMCstitches intheteam logo patten row.hould Ijust slip all 12 stitches and purl back? Good question. No. At the top or bottom of your logo, you are likely to run into a row where you need to do festive knitting, but it looks like you should strand across 12 stitches, which is too far. In that case (see the pictures below), make a point of twisting the CC and CC2 yarn around the MC yarn every 3-6 stitches as you purl. Additionally, make sure to pull your MC yarn tight(ish) behind your CC and CC2 yarn after you have caught your stitches.
1. Slip all the team logo stitches.
2. Catch your MC yarn with your first purled CC stitch.
3. Purl a few stitches, holing the caught MC loosely.
4. Twist the CC with the caught MC. Purl a few more stitches. Repeat 4.
Knitting the Leg:
Start from the beginning of your round and work as follows: 1. Start with Row 1 of your team logo. (You should be knitting already with CC [and maybe CC2] ball A.) Knit team logo (over 12 stitches, stranding MC), pm, (with MC) [k3, $\mathrm{p}1]\times4$ , k3 (NO STRANDING OF CC), attach CC (and CC2) ball B and knit next team logo (over 12 stitches, stranding MC), pm, (with MC) $[\mathsf{k}3,\mathsf{p}1]\times4$ , k3 (NO STRANDING OF CC), attach CC (and CC2) ball C and knit next team logo (over 12 stitches, stranding MC), pm, (with MC) [k3, $\mathrm{p}1]\times4$ $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}3}$ (NO STRANDING OF CC). You should now be carrying three separate lines of CC (and CC2), one (two) for each column of logo, but only the MC should be stranded behind the logos.
2. When you come to the logos on Row 2, you will find that your CC lines are on the far side. This may seem like a problem, but this is where we use festive knitting. Read the instructions in the box to see how it is done. 3. Complete Row 2 as follows: \*work team logo using festive kniting with the appropriate individual CC (and CC2) yarn, (with MC)[k3 $,\mathrm{p}1]\times4$ ， $k3*$ , repeat until the end o the row. There wil be tree repeats total, one per needle. 4. Complete Row 3 as fllows: \*knit tam logo normally with the appropriate individual C (and CC2) yan, (with MC) $[\mathsf{k}3,\mathsf{p}1]\times4$ ， $k3*$ , repeat until the end of the row. 5. Alternately repeat Steps 3. and 4. for even and odd rows of the team logo pattern, until you reach Row 16 (you will end with Step 3.). 6. Repeat Step 5. three more times, for a total of 4 repeats of the logo pattern. You now have ribbing running where the pinstrpes are supposed to go (see picture above). When the sock is completed, you willcrochet CC into these ribs to make the pinstripes.
Knitting the Heel Flap:
At the end of your fourth repeat of the leg team logo pattern, start the heel flap. Rearrange your stitches as follows: ·Needle 1 (including the first team logo): 30 stitches. Remove the stitch marker from this needle. · Needle 4: 18 stitches Set aside the removable stitch marker for now. Put the remaining 45 stitches on waste yarn. The heel flap begins as follows: If you have a CC2 strand, cut it at this point with a 4-inch tail. Knit Row 1 of the first team logo, then k18 of MC (to the end of Needle 1). For this first row, strand CC behind MC up to this point (you will need it in a minute). Combine allstitches not on the waste yarn onto one neede. While working the heel lap, you should only need two needls.) Cut your MC, leaving a 4-inch tail. Turn your work and purl back with CC for 48 stitches (these should be all of your live stitches). Using CC, work the hee flap using the “Eye of the Partridge” technique (which looks a little like k1, p1 ribbing): 1． \*sl1, $^{\,1\ast}$ , repeat until the end of the row. Turn. 2. l1, p to end of row. Turn. 3. Repeat Steps 1. and 2. twenty-four times, for a total of forty-eight rows. 4. Repeat Step 1. one final time.
Turning the Heel:
Work as follows: 1.Cut ball A of C, leaving a 4-inch tail. Sl23 stitches purlwise, so you are starting from the middle of the row. Starting frm the prl ie, with , ptog, tog, , t yur work to start niin in t opposite direction (yes, I know you are in the midle of the row). 2. You should now be looking at the knit side. Sl1, k1, p1, ssk, k1, turn your work. 3.Younw hblng at the purl i ,k,, pog, , tuy . 4.You now should be looking at the knit side. Sl1, k2, pl, k1, sk, kl, turn your work. 5.You now should be loking at the purl side. Sl1,p2, kl, p2, p2tog, k1, turn your work. 6.You now should be looking at the knit side. Sl1, k3, pl, k2,ssk, pl, turn your work. 7.You now should be loking at the purl side. Sl1,p3, kl, p3, ktog, pl, turn your work. 8. You now should be looking at the knit side. Sl1, p1, k3, p1, k3, ssp, k1, turn your work. 9.You now should be looking at the purl side. ll, purlcontinuing the3k, 1p pattern (as sen from the right side)uilone stitchbforeticale gapinthe stches see the picturebw)Ptog acro thisg p1, turn your work. 10. You now should be loking at the knit side. S1, knit continuing the $3\mathrm{k}$ , 1p pattern (as sen from the right side)—until one stitch before noticeable gap in the stitches (see the picture below). Ssk across this gap, k1, turn your work.
The "gap" in heel turning as you pur.
The "gap" in heel turning as you knit. 11. Repeat Steps 9. and 10.until there are no stitches left, ending with Step 10. Towards the end, you will probablyhave to doa p2tog or ssk at the end of the row; thisisfine. In the end, you willhave 25 stitches of MC on your needle. Congratulations! You have successfully turned a heel (see the picture below)!
Knitting the Foot:
Knitting the foot consists of several parts. When you pick up your stitches around the heel, you wil find you have many more stitches than the number you need to go around your fot. Therefore, you will decrease these extra stitches out in gussets. At the same time, you willbegin working the arch-shaped, fitted portion along the bottom of the fot. (All of this, of course, while you are continuing the logo repeats for the remaining two columns $\circledast$ 一. Work as follows: 1. Move the stitches held on the waste yarn to a new needle, removing waste yarn. 2.Starting from the endof your turne hel, use a ewneede to pickup and work 26 stitches along the side of th hee flap, continuing the $3\mathbf{k}$ ppatt youalreadyhave thehehis shoud endup wih $3\mathrm{k}$ adjoining the CC edge of the team logo. The final stitch between the heel flap and the stitches from the waste yarn may become loose, so twist this“corner”stitch once or twice before knitting it see picture of picked-up hel lp stitches above). 3. Knit the first stitch from the waste yarn and transfe it to the previous needle, so all of your $3\mathbf{k}$ 1p pattern stitches are on the same needle. 4. Knit the stitches formerly on the waste yarn as follows: Knit Row 1 of team logo (this should be a continuation of the previous column, using ball B of CC), $\mathrm{pm}$ , [k $3,{\mathrm{p}}1]\times4$ ， $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}3}$ in MC, $\mathrm{pm}$ , knit Row 1 of team logo (this should be a continuation of the previous column, using ball C of CC), $\mathrm{k}1~\mathrm{MC}$ 5. Use another new needle to pick up and work 26 stitches along the final side of the heel flap, mirroring the k3, p1 pattern on the other side of the hee lap. Since the first stitch between the heel flap and the stitches from the waste yarn may become loose, twist this corner stitch once or twice before knitting it, as you did with the other corner stitch.Transfer thefinal stitch of the stitches formerly on the waste yarn (the only MC stitch afte the second team logo) onto this needle. 6.You should nwhave four needles with stitche. Work twelve stitches into the next needl (this should lin up with the center of the hel) and rearrange your needles as follows: Needle 1: 40 stitches (from rough hee center to beginning of first team logo)
An example of the picked-up heel flap stitches ? Needle 2: 22 stitches (from beginning of first team logo to rough center of top of foot, also called the instep) Needle 3: 21 stitches (from rough center of instep to end of second team logo) Needle 4: 39 stitches (from end of second team logo to rough heel center) 7. Place your detachable stith marker lindup with the first stitch of Need 1 (at heel centr). (The stith shou be a purl stitch.) This is where your row will tart from now.
8. To decrease your gusset:
First row: Needle 1: Work the $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}3}$ p1 pinstripe pattern to one stitch from end of needle. Slip the last stitch to Needle 2. Needle 2: K2tog within pattern (so that the pinstripe pattern stitch disappears behind the team logo pattern). Finish team logo pattern. In MC, [k3, $\mathrm{p}1]\times2$ ,k2. Needle 3: In MC K1, [p1, $\mathbf{k}3]\times2$ . Knit first 1 stitches of team logo. Slip last stitch of team logo knitwise. Slip first stitch of Needle 4 to Needle 3 knitwise. Knit these stitches together through the back of the loop, like ssk (so that the pinstripe pattern stitch disappears behind the team logo pattern). ? Needle 4: Work the k3, pl pinstripe pattern.
Example of decreasing gusset on right side 9.Work sixrows of guset decreases (Steps 8. a. and b.) before youstart toinclude the arch shaping. The arch shaping ours on the uderside of the foot and creates abia stitch that causes the sock to ug” the arch of your foot in a way that store-bought socks never do $\circledcirc$ .Work the arch shaping as follows (all in MC, of course): a.Work the seventh row of gusset decrease until five stitches from the end of Needle 4. Pm, ssk (I know this seems likeit should be a purl), k3, M1 purlwise (you should be at the end of Needle 4). b. At the beginning of Neede 1, pl (your center bottom stitch), M1 purlwise, k3, ktog (I know this seems like it should be a purl), pm. c.Continue working the next row of your gusset decrease (this will be Row 8. b.). When you come back to the bottom, continue your pattern through to the marker. Afer the marker, p1, knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches until one stitch before the next marker, then p1. d.Continue working the next row of your gusset decrease (this will be Row 8. a.), until one stithbfr thmaNd4.Mvema sttht thrigbysl stitches. Ssk, k3, p1, M1 knitwise. At the beginning of Needle 1, p1, M1 knitwise, p1, k3, k2tog, moving the marker to just after the k2tog stitch. e. Work Step c. again. f. Continue working the next row of your gusst decrease (this willbe Row 8. a.), until one stchbefore tma onNdle Moemarone stchto t riht by sing stitches. Ssk, k3, pl, k1, M1 knitwise. At the beginning of Needle 1, p1, M1 knitwise, k1, p1, k3, k2tog, moving the marker to just after the k2tog stitch. g. Work Step c. again. h.Continue working the next row of your gusset decrease (this will be Row 8. a.), until one Sstchbefore the marker onNeede 4. Move marer one stith to theright by sliping stitches. Ssk, work the k3, p1 pattern that is emerging to the end of the needle, M1 in the appropriate stitch style to continue the patern. At the beginning of Needle 1, p1, M1 in the appropriate stitch style to continue the pattern, work the k3, pl pattern that is emerging to one stitchefore themarker, tog, moving the marker to just after the ktog stitch. (See pictures of the non-pinstriped version above.) i. Continue Steps g. and h. until you can count 20 stitches between your center bottom stitch and your markers. (You will finish your arch shaping before you finish your gusset decreases.)
10. Continue a. and b. in Step 8. until you have decreased to 82 stitches total, removing stitch markers when appropriate. After you finish the guset decreases, continue working the foot over those 2 stithes until you have added anthe four repeats of the team logo patern. There should be nine repeats total along the two long columns: one in the cuff $^+$ four in the $\log^{+}$ four in the foot. Finish your final row at the bottom of the foot, at the end of Needle 4.
Knitting the Toe:
To even out your stitches, shift one stitch from Needle 2 to Nedl 1 and one stitch from Needle 3 to Needle 4 (yes, I know we have just stolen stitches from the team logos!) You should now have as follows: Needle 1: 21 stitches · Needle 2: 21 stitches Needle 3: 20 stitches Needle 4: 20 stitches Continue your pattern until the end ofNeedle 1, making sure to knit the last stitch in CC, as it is part of the team logo column. Cut your MC (and possbly CC2) yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Move your detachable stitch marker to between Needle 1 and Needle 2, as our round will now be starting from here. Starting from Needle 2, and using only CC, knit the following decreases: 1. Knit entire row. 2. Knit as follows: ■ Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end. ■ Needle 3: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1. ■ Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end. ■ Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1. 3. Repeat Steps 1. and 2. until 42 stitches remain. 4. Repeat Step 2. until 22 stitches remain. Slip the stitches from Needle 3 to Needle 2, and the stitches from Needle 4 to Needle 1. You should have two needles with 11 stitches each. Cut the C yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread the 12-inch tal onto the tapestry needle and use the Kitchener Stitch see the box above) to graft the toe. Aferwards, turn the sock inside out and use the tapesry needle to weave in any remaining loose ends, remembering to pullthe associated stitches tight.
1. Pass the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit. Drop that stitch off the needle and pull the yarn through. 2. Slide the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl. Leave this stitch on the needle.
3. Pass the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl. Drop that stitch off the needle and pull the yarn through. 4. Slide the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit. Leave this stitch on the needle.
Attaching the Pinstripes
Ifyou havebeen knitting festive knitting socks with pinstripes you ave probablynticed thre arenly purld divts where the pinstripes are supposed to be $\circledcirc$ .This is where you put in the pinstripes. Take ball C of CC and the crochet hook and, using single crochet, crochet a chain of CC stitches down each row of purl stitches. At the edge of the arch shainyuwilyuarercn hanfsttistichu it willifyukt outside of the adjoining knitted line in the arch shaping. Crochet allof the longest lines first, and then crochet the shorter lines abutting them; this makes for a smoother lok. Also, be prepared to weave in many, many threads as you go, as each crocheted line produces two ut ends (at least that sthe way didit). n the otherhand, you end u with lovely, stretchy socks, and the pinstripes look wonderful, which makes it worth it in the end.
Photographs by Laurel Rachmeler, Meredith Davey, and Pamela Batchelor.
Chicago Cubs (Blue, Red, and White) PINSTRIPES: Blue
New York Mets (Bright Blue, Orange, and White) PINSTRIPES: Blue
Philadelphia Phillies (Red and White) PINSTRIPES: Red
Colorado Rockies (Purple and White) PINSTRIPES: Purple
Minnesota Twins (Dark Blue, Red, and White) PINSTRIPES: Dark Blue
New York Yankees (Dark Blue and White) PINSTRIPES: Dark Blue
Chicago White Sox (Black and White) PINSTRIPES: Black
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Dark Blue, Red, and White) NO Pinstripes
Auata Draves (Dark Blue, Red, and White) NO Pinstripes
Milwaukee Brewers (Dark Blue and White) NO Pinstripes
(Black and Dark Red) NO Pinstripes
(Blue and White) NO Pinstripes
(Red and White) NO Pinstripes
San Diego Padres (Dark Blue, Taupe, and White) NO Pinstripes
Boston Red Sox (Dark Blue, Red, and White) NO Pinstripes
(Red and White) NO Pinstripes
