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
Zigzag Lace Anklets Pam Grushkin
Punctuated Rib Socks Ann Budd
Staccato Socks Véronik Avery
Copper Penny Socks Nancy Bush
Multi-Directional Socks Chrissy Gardiner
Split-Toe Sweethearts Priscilla Gibson-Roberts
Whirlpool Socks Laura Nelkin
Herringbone Rib Socks Kristi Schueler
Wave and Knot Socks Charlene Schurch
Corrugated Socks Courtney Kelley
Hundred Dollar Socks Lorna Miser
Mega Chevron Socks Jodi Pirrello
Eyelet Rib Socks Carol Sulcoski
Spot Check Socks Beth Parrott
Potpourri Socks Deb Barnhill
Spread Spectrum Socks Kristi Schueler
Braided Gems Socks Margaret Heathman
Escher Socks Lorna Miser
Mustard Leaf Socks Mindy Soucek
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 Needles

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.
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 5

 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 Notions

About 61⁄2 (71⁄4)" (16.5 [18.5] cm) foot circumference, Markers (m); tapestry needle.
8X (10W)" (22 [26] cm) foot length from back of
heel to tip of toe, and 7 (8W)" (18 [21] cm) leg length Gauge
from top of sock to base of foot. To fit women’s U.S. 16 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
shoe sizes 5 to 7 (71⁄2 to 9). worked in rounds.

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.
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.
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.

Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn 7

 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 femi-
nine 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 Paperbound, 8 1/2" x 9", 120 pages
independent hand-dyed yarn and fiber company. Her 50 photographs, 10 illustrations
designs have been published in Knitty, MagKnits, and Big ISBN 978-1-59668-098-2
Girl Knits. She is a co-author of Knit So Fine (Interweave, $19.95
2008). She lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania. January 2009

interweavebooks.com