If you’re a sock knitter, you like to buy sock yarn. But sometimes the “sock” yarn isn’t right for socks: sometimes the yardage is too short, sometimes the colours don’t work out, sometimes it’s just too pretty (or too much fun) to hide.

I’m a rocker-chick at heart… For a long time, my wardrobe was almost entirely an homage to the Hamburg-era Beatles, and the early years of the Ramones. Although my tastes have broadened since then , I still tend towards clean lines and dark colors. Who am I kidding… it’s black. I wear a lot of black. Which is great if you’re a fashionista, but not so great if you’re a knitter. It’s hard to knit with dark colors, and equally, dark colored knits are hard to show off. What’s the point of all that fancy patternwork if no-one can actually see it?

All slightly off-kilter in some way, these patterns are designed to be versatile everyday pieces. They only require the most basic lace skills, and are well within the reach of any knitter who knows how to handle a yo or two. Don’t be afraid of the fineness of the yarn, you’re still using pretty big needles. There are three sizes of project, depending on how big a piece you want, and each adapts to whatever quantity of yarn you have.

A good everyday pair of top down socks – interesting to knit, but not so interesting that you have to carry the pattern with you.

UPDATE:

As always, instructions are written to be worked on any needle configuration: DPNs, magic loop, 2 circulars, Flexiflips, you name it…

Designed for Yarn Crush club March 2018 shipment.

A secret colorway, a secret pattern. The beautiful sock blank, laden with spring flowers, results in a fun and cheerful variegated yarn. Just as the flower pattern from the blank is hidden in the colorway when you knit it up, a flower motif is hidden in the ribbing pattern. At its heart, this is a ribbed sock, but the lace motif make them more ...

Suitable for knitters with a little sock experience. Slipped stitch colourwork experience not required.

A single skein of Koigu (less than 50gm of any medium-to-heavy fingering weight sock yarn) turns into a fabulous pair of fingerless mittens.

Pattern features both a fingerless version and a full-coverage version. They were originally designed for a retreat event held at a winery, and the cable seemed very suggestive of the path I typically walk after an afternoon sampling.

A classic motorcycle jacket looks good on everyone and

Looking for a different way to make a mitten? Want to learn German Short rows? This is what you are looking for!

A baby bonnet using the most special of yarns, for the most special of babies.

ALL PROCEEDS FOR THIS PATTERN BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF 2017 WILL BE DONATED TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD USA.

These socks are named for a common colloquial English phrase, which one might loosely translate as “A bit of bother”. And given that the stitch pattern contains an SSP, a left-leaning purl decrease, one might agree that this is an accurate way to describe them. And yet, I believe that the loveliness that results is utterly, utterly worth it.

An excellent second Brioche project, this will build your confidence with increasing and decreasing.

Sized for women and men, these argyle-inspired socks are classic in styling and fun to knit. Instructions are provided for working the cables twists both with and without a cable needle.

Sized for women, these fun and flirty lace socks are ideal for summer. I love working lace in a stretchy yarn, as the stretch of the fabric opens up the lacework for you. This slightly unusual trellis stitch uses a double yarnover, for a more dramatic open effect. Be careful to keep track of the pattern as you go, it’s easy to mix up pattern ro...

The quintessential ankle sock, this pattern features a basic toe-up construction in a wide range of adjustable sizes and includes instructions for an optional crochet edging or pom-pom. Directions are provided for knitting with both DPNs and magic loop or 2 circular needles.

Where I live, it gets cold. Really cold. Biting winds and Polar Vortex sort-of-cold. It’s not just need-a-hat cold, it’s need-two-hats cold. But the problem is that you look pretty silly with two hats on.

Inspired by a traditional Hap shawl, but entirely modern and utterly wearable. Taking a small liberty with caterpillargreen’s shawl-striping gradient colourway, this is an easy and fun knit, suitable for even the newest lace knitters.

For years I’ve adored the Spider cable pattern in Barbara Walker’s ‘Charted Knitting Designs’ A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns (the yellow one). As Hallowe’en approaches, a hat seemed like an excellent application for it.

Inspired to silliness by the Shark Tooth Edging and indigodragonfly’s Sharktreuse colourway, a funny little shawl. With a bite out of it.

Admit it. You’ve got one in your stash. That skein of one-of-a-kind limited-edition crazy-variegated sock yarn that you just couldn’t resist? The one with all the colours and the fast changes and the overall craziness? The one from the charming little indie dyer at the fiber festival? The one in the sale bin at the yarn shop with the hilarious ...

One yarn, two skeins, three directions. A shawl designed for two skeins of a busy variegated yarn.

This top-down cabled sock is engaging but not too difficult to knit, and the sunny colour will cheer up the dullest winter days.

UPDATED: Pattern now available for individual sale.

Top down sock with juicy but not too challenging cables. Suitable for a solid, heathered or tonally variegated yarn.

A single skein Entrelac project: just enough to get the hang of the technique. A brilliant double-wrap cowl, something a little beyond the ordinary.

NOTE: Early versions had a typo in the repeats.

Ms. Tharpe is not well known, but those who do know her call her the Godmother of Rock & Roll. Born in 1915, she was a gospel performer of great sophistication and skill, but also had rather a way with a guitar.

Top down, plain and simple socks, but sized for quick knitting and extreme cuteness. An excellent emergency baby gift, or just a nice way to use up some leftovers.

Top down, plain and simple socks, but sized for quick knitting and extreme cuteness. An excellent emergency baby gift, or just a nice way to use up some leftovers.

An easy-to-work, easy-to-memorize lace pattern works well with this fantastically outrageous variegated yarn from Vancouver’s Rain City Knits.

It’s the middle of February, it’s still snowing and miserably cold, and you’re tired of your scarves and cowls? Use a bit of laceweight to create something new and luxurious and lovely. It will take you through those chilly days of spring very nicely.

Long and cozy to keep you warm on your travels. Lots of stripes let you show your colors.

Worked toe-up, in fetching stripes that match your scarf. The kit makes a pair of knee socks, but if you prefer, there’s enough yarn to make two pairs of calf-length socks – one for you, one for your companion.

Because the men in your life need hats, but they insist they don’t want anything fussy. No bright colors. No fancy patterns. No design flourishes.

Keep your hands warm but your fingers free for playing the guitar, driving your psychedelic-painted Rolls Royce, or just having a quick smoke backstage.

Sometimes it’s too cold for fishnet stockings… Top down socks, mostly plain, but with a sexy little lace detail down the leg.

For a long time, I’ve loved the idea of a basic black lace shawl – chic! goes with everything! doesn’t show coffee stains! – but I’ve struggled to knit one without losing my eyesight.

Just my thing: a cabled Noro sock! And featuring one of my favourite design details: different left and right socks. And a patterned heel and toe for good measure.

A sideways shawl with biasing garter stitch makes for a beautiful drape, and a dramatic Shetland lace edging adds interest to the knitting – but not too much! – and to the finished product. Short-row wedges create a nice curved shape.

An easy way to get started with stranded colourwork: this hat is designed specifically as a skill-builder. The stitch patterns are easy to work and easy to remember, and the small pattern repeats help you keep your tension nice and even. As long as you know how to work in the round, you’re good to go!

I love the look of colorwork patterning, but I’m not always keen to work stranded Fair Isle. Mosaic Knitting is a fascinating “cheat” for colorwork: you only work one color at a time. It’s fun, easy, and requires no special skills at all!

The Argyle pattern evolved from the tartan of the Clan Campbell – the clan of my paternal Grandmother, who grew up in the glens of Scotland.

In addition to being a beautiful and fun knitting project, this sampler is designed to be a learning tool for lace knitters, as an option for knitters who want to expand their skills but can’t make it to one of my classes in person.

For those times when you regret not buying another skein… an engaging but quick-to-knit lace kerchief, using a surprisingly small quantity of yarn. Ideal for leftovers or those small skeins at the bottom of your stash. Suitable for knitters with some lace knitting experience.

The toughest, thickest, warmest socks you will ever knit.

Want to learn how to knit toe-up socks?

Want to learn how to knit toe-up socks?

Want to learn how to knit top-down socks?

Want to learn how to knit top-down socks?

I have a mild obsession with all those wonderful self-striping yarns with long stretches of color, like Noro.

This sampler is designed to be a learning tool for lace knitters, as an option for those who want to expand their skills but can’t make it to one of my classes in person.

I have a mild obsession with the Noro yarns - I love the way they combine colors. A successful Noro design keeps the stitchwork simple and lets the colors show off. This classic stitch pattern causes the rows to scallop, making lovely wavy stripes.

NEW: now graded to fit multiple sizes, up to 2 years.

Inspired by a fabulous colorway of hand-dyed sock yarn called Roasted Carrot, and a rather carrot-y sort of pattern stitch, these socks are elegant yet easy to work.

I love a top-down triangle shawl, but I don’t always want to knit lace. A plainer shawl is much more suited to wearing with a parka in the depths of winter, and is much easier to knit.

Suitable for knitters with sock knitting experience, this is a fascinating and fun way to knit two socks at the same time - one inside the other!

A good intro to toe-up sock knitting, this pattern works up quickly and easily in a worsted-weight yarn.

I may have a little bit of a Noro addiction, and I love coming up with new ways to use their yarns. And Entrelac may be the best way of all.

I loved the lace pattern used in the February Baby and Lady sweater, and it occurred to me that it would look terrific in a sock.

Inspired by a request from a home insurance agent who gets asked to take off her shoes at the door: in the summer, she wants to protect her feet, and in the winter she wants to protect her hosiery.

Traditional gansey pattern stitches make for an attractive, interesting to knit, but not too challenging sock pattern. Suitable for both men and women.

A great use for a fabulous cable pattern from the Barbara Walker treasuries. Hat is worked in the round. Suitable for knitters with experience working cables from a chart.

Foot section is worked flat on size US 13 needles. After seaming, cuff is knit in the round on US size 11 double pointed needles.

From Pattern Notes:

My classic, favourite, all-time favourite way to make socks.

Any easy and fun festive sock pattern -- and if worked in other colours it’s suitable for all seasons. Suitable for sock knitters with some experience.