Sampler by Yuliya Sullivan

Knitting with self-patterning yarn can be great fun -- it's hard to put down your work when you're watching the colors change with every row -- but can present a challenge to someone who doesn't (always) like to knit stockinette socks.  A solution came to me after many hours of trying to find an interesting pattern that would not be overpowered by the very strong color changes of the Schoeller+Stahl Sockina Cotton.  The long stretches of solid color can be knit up into any pattern, while the faux fair isle parts can be knit in stockinette.  This creates an unusual sock that incorporates both texture and color, much like a sampler Afghan or quilt.  Any patterns with short repeats will work for the solid color areas, so you are limited only by your imagination and perhaps the number of stitch dictionaries you have on hand.

Sizes

Approximately 7.5” (19 cm) around; will fit a foot up to 8.25” (21 cm) around.  10%  negative ease is recommended.

Yarn

Schoeller+Stahl Sockina Cotton (55% cotton, 25% nylon, 20% acrylic; 339 yds (310 meters) /100 gms skein): Color 01: blue/white/black: 1 skein

Needles

US #1 (2.25 mm): either a 40" circular for Magic Loop, or two shorter circulars, or a set of 4 or 5 double pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge).

Gauge

32 sts = 4” (10 cm) in St st knit in the round.

Notions

2 stitch markers (optional); tapestry needle; 3 feet (90 cm) narrow ribbon or narrow elastic to sew into top of sock