A sock pattern and a confession
I’m sorry dear readers, I have been keeping secrets from you (well, most of you… ) Sometime around the beginning of this year one night as I was settling down to sleep I was browsing through my Harmony Guide for a rib pattern with just a little interest to keep me going so I could make a sweater for John. But then I found myself looking at lace panels, and somehow lace panels didn’t seem right for a husband sweater… but wouldn’t a pair of socks with a narrow lace panel down the back look cute? And this lace looks best against a reverse stocking stitch (stockinette) background. Now I don’t mind purling, in fact there are times when I prefer it, but a whole pair of socks? No thank you. Hmmm. But what if I knit them inside out? ... And so a sock design was born. (And I didn’t get much sleep that night – I had to get it written down before I forgot it.)
And Knitty was asking for items for its accessories issue.
So I got my socks knitted, wrote out the pattern, enlisted a couple of test knitters (thank you so much Katie and Liz ), and submitted my pattern to Knitty. But they were inundated with patterns, so mine didn’t make it. Sigh. (And looking at their accessories issue, there are sooooooo many socks, and they all look great, so hey, you win some, you lose some.) So I tried Magknits , but again Kerrie was inundated with sock patterns, so had to turn it down. (But I have some more ideas for other designs which, who knows, may be more suitable.)
So then I saw on Alison’s blog that Angela was hosting
– a competition – enter your crazy sock pattern! The only problem for me was that Angela and her blog are German (not really a problem, except that I don’t speak/write German – although I can read very well with the aid of an online translator… ) Anyway, I left a comment asking if it was OK to submit patterns in English, and pretty much forgot about it.
And then yesterday I received an email from Angela, apologising profusely for not having got back to me sooner, saying yes, I could submit a pattern in English. So I have!
And because it’s now out in the open, and I no longer have to keep it top secret, here are the fab photos that John took with Liz and Ruth as models:
We had such a ball lying on our backs with our feet in the air (or “in the sky” as Ruth would say) so we could have photos taken against Kings College Chapel – and being Cambridge not a single person commented. Which felt slightly wierd in itself.
I just need to get my sysadmin (aka husband) to upload the pdf of the pattern, and then you will be very welcome to help yourselves. All I ask is that anyone who downloads it leaves a comment to let me know.
UPDATE:
Here is the pdf of the pattern. I’ll sort out some stuff on the sidebar soon, but I wanted to get it up quickly. Do please send me a link to a pic if you knit it (not essential, but I’m nosy, and would like to see them 
) I’ve written it so that people can knit them for feet of any size using yarn of any gauge. The maths is very very easy (use a calculator – I did), but if anyone finds it offputting, do please get in touch telling me the circumference of your foot and your gauge, and I’ll happily do the calculation for you.
FURTHER UPDATE
I’ve been playing with the lace panel – it’s not easy to get it symmetrical because some of the yarnovers happen at the transition between knitting and purling. I’ve put my latest version of the lace repeat here
27 comments:
Once I feel competent enough to do so, I’ll have a crack at these socks. And I love the photos.Big Ruth () (link) - 14 July '06 - 14:27
oh how cute!!! YAY!pixiepurls () (link) - 14 July '06 - 14:35
Oh, they’re cute! I’ll be downloading it for sure. (And hopefully knitting them soon after.)I get some of the cutest stitch patterns from Harmony Guides and I think they cost me less than a dollar in a used book store.
Carrie K () (link) - 14 July '06 - 19:38
I’ve been seeing so many cute socks lately that I’ll have to give them a try! These are great!Thanks for the comment – I didn’t even think I’d be a blip on anyone’s radar screen. I agree – the part between starting and finishing can be a real chore sometimes!
The Twisted Knitster () (link) - 14 July '06 - 20:08
Cute sock! Great job.Erin () (link) - 14 July '06 - 22:08
Hi Anne,If I had known earlier that Alison mentioned the design contest in her blog I would have translated the contest web site earlier.
So, everybody is invited to join the contest and I promise I will be finish the translation tomorrow!
And Anne, as I mentioned before….. thos sock pics are great!
angela () (link) - 14 July '06 - 23:15
Cool! I remember you knitting those socks, perhaps the first time I met you? Great!Mary de B () (link) - 15 July '06 - 12:18
I really like your sock pattern I am printing it out as we speak! These will be the next sock that I knit up!! Have a great weekend!!Mandy () (link) - 15 July '06 - 21:02
Love the socks Anne, especially the red ones!You look fab too hun!!
Caitlin says ldreirewopoeplsdklaw903j to Ruthie Roo
Denise
Denise () - 15 July '06 - 22:21
Hello,I found your blog while surfing through the Saturday Sky webring :)
I absolutely love love love those socks… I’m going to cast on as soon as I’m done with my computer stuff… I think I’ll be using some of my Socks That Rock yarn for them!!! I’ve posted a link to your blog on my own blog LOL. My blog only gets read by a handful of people, but those people know more people and so on hahaha.
Cheers Eva
Eva () (link) - 16 July '06 - 11:10
YAY! This means I can put pics of the test socks up on my blog! It’s a cool pattern everyone, go and knit it NOW!Daisy () (link) - 16 July '06 - 12:23
How did I miss this?? Bloglines hasn’t been updating you, for me anyway.So, I’ve downloaded the instructions and I may verrry well switch pattern for my next socks, depending on tension.
Your daughter, btw, is abominably cute. I’m sure that’s old news tho’.
Thanks for the henna info.. I may become a Scarlet Woman yet.
Fiona () (link) - 17 July '06 - 10:45
WOW – can I say I knew you before you were famous? Nice socks AnneDonni () (link) - 17 July '06 - 11:12
Oh, Anne! Those are beeeeeyoutiful! When I get home I’m going to download the pdf. :O)Hi!
Kirsten () (link) - 21 July '06 - 21:55
Thank-you so much for sharing your pattern. It’s wonderful!Gail
http://www.sockamaniac.com
Gail () (link) - 21 July '06 - 22:50
Anne, I love this pattern! Very inspired and you have inspired me. I am looking forward to making these and will definitely get a photo and comment to you when done. Thanks so much for making it available! SuzSuz () - 22 July '06 - 03:01
Thank you for sharing this beautiful pattern. I look forward to knitting these socks.Janet
Janet () - 22 July '06 - 03:29
Beautiful socks, Anne. They’re at the top of my to-do list. Thanks!Denise
Denise () (link) - 22 July '06 - 05:51
Hi Anne – love the socks. Am an avid knitter and also am coeliac, so will make regular visits to your blogJo - 22 July '06 - 19:13
Thanks for the pattern, will have to raid sock stash soon
Sue () (link) - 24 July '06 - 00:37
I meant it Anne, I’d love to see some more submissions to MagKnits from you. I’m gutted about the number of lovely sock patterns I had to turn down over the last couple of months.kerrie () (link) - 26 July '06 - 18:26
I got it! Downloaded the pattern! Thanks, Anne!Kirsten () (link) - 31 July '06 - 23:29
Great looking sock pattern! Thanks for offering it for free :)Vanessa Berkey () (link) - 09 October '06 - 06:52
Oh wow! I’ve never seen a pattern before that you can do in different gauges, I take my hat off to you. Well impressed.Rachel () - 17 July '07 - 22:02
How simple and pretty! I can’t wait to knit these up! I saw them on Ravelry and just had to snag the PDF. I hope to knit them soon! Great job! Keep up the good work. =DNabs-chan () (link) - 22 September '07 - 21:40
Sock is charming . . . how can there possibly be too many sock patterns? I never have enough!Linda () (link) - 27 November '07 - 02:53
These are so pretty, I can’t wait to make them … after I do all the calculations.Sherri () (link) - 28 November '07 - 03:52
