We all know I'm a sucker for striped sock yarn. Heck, I developed a whole yarn line just to feed my need. When I knit striped socks, I tend to knit a plain stockinette sock. Knitting is my meditation and my relaxation and I enjoy seeing the colors develop stitch after stitch, row after row. Once in awhile, I'll try something new with stripes. Last week, I gave a try to a pattern I'd seen several people on Instagram try out recently. Shown below, you basically just knit one, slip one on rows where the color changes so that you get that little offset row look. See what I mean?
While I enjoy how this looks with thicker stripes of coor, I felt it made my three-row striped sock a bit too busy, so I tore it out and did a plain stockinette stripe.
See the difference? What do you think? Would you have kept doing the pattern at the top? Or would you have torn out like I did. I guess i felt that the color was bold enough and the top pattern just took away from that. But maybe I'm so use to the look of plain striping socks that I just prefer that. What about you?
The color is the new Heartbreak Hotel from our Poste Yarn striping. It's sold out at the moment, but we'll be dyeing more through Valentines Day if you want to check the link once in awhile to see if there's more available.
I agree with you and would have done the same. The colors are wonderful enough w/o needing embellishment.
Posted by: Lisa B | January 16, 2015 at 12:53 PM
I recently did a slip stitch, fair isle looking, fingerless mitts. I love them.
I agree the pattern is bold, but I do love the visual interest that the slip stitch brings. (Maybe it's just because I finished the mitts with bold colors).
I will definitely be trying this out on my next pair of stripped socks.
Posted by: Cindy M | January 16, 2015 at 02:28 PM
I think that with a boldly striping yarn, I would not use the slip stitch addition. But, I think it would give a great visual effect to striping yarns that have muted or pastel colors.
I do think the slip stitch pattern would be great when knitting a cowl using a gradient set - a great way to transition from one color to the next.
Posted by: Leslie Fehr | January 16, 2015 at 05:35 PM
Just snagged my own! Yay!
Posted by: Beth | January 17, 2015 at 12:54 AM
I always just knit plain stockinette. I love the clean crisp lines of the stripes. I will be doing the same when my heartbreak hotel yarns arrives!
Posted by: Denise | January 17, 2015 at 08:49 AM
I liked the slipped stitch pattern and so decided to post because everyone else liked the plain stockinette. I don't have any striping sock yarn on hand but I think I would try what you took out. It wouldn't look good though with the self patterning sock yarn that makes fair isle style and stripes.
Posted by: Diane | January 17, 2015 at 11:00 AM
I agree although I try different patterns with my self striping yarn. I get tired of doing straight stockinette stitch. If the stripes were larger I think it would look better. I may try that on some of my larger self striping yarns.
Posted by: Judi Kennedy | January 17, 2015 at 12:39 PM
I like both the slipped stitch pattern AND the stockinette. I would use the slipped stitch socks for foot warmers to wear around the house--they look cozy and homey! The stockinette I would wear out in public with loafers. Both styles look great.
Posted by: Amy S. | January 18, 2015 at 01:57 AM
The slip stitch pattern is fun, but I discover time after time that the finished socks that become my favorites and that get worn the most and receive the most compliments are plain ol' stockinette. Now I usually only knit patterned socks with solid or near solid yarns. And stockinette is so relaxing and meditative with a fun hand-dye or stripe yarn.
Posted by: Nonstopknitter | January 18, 2015 at 10:26 AM
I agree, your sock looks better knit in plain stockinette stitch. Love the colors!
Posted by: Sharon | January 18, 2015 at 11:52 AM
I like the slipped stitch version! I enjoy striping sock yarn but I also love having something a little different happening. It makes that pair of socks unique! I think it is best with these narrow stripe bands as the shifting effect is like a small fair isle. If you tried this with a larger stripe it would break up the colour change and be more disruptive to the eye. I agree with Diane (above) this is best with solid colour stripes. Now I want to go try it!
Posted by: Nancy | January 18, 2015 at 02:30 PM
I like the plain stockinette because it shows off the stripes better.
Posted by: Pam | January 19, 2015 at 08:06 AM