Introduction
In its first decade of publication, Interweave Knits has published dozens of sock designs. The second issue, published in the Spring of 1997, included our first sock pattern by sock designer extraordinaire Nancy Bush, a lovely pair of Estonian-inspired lace socks called Meida’s Socks. For the first few years, socks appeared sporadically, but soon we realized that these were among the most popular projects each issue.
Retro Rib Socks
Simple knit and purl stitches are bordered by a neat twisted rib in these easy unisex socks with retro appeal.
Elegant Ribbed Stockings
These elegant stockings taper from knee to ankle by decreasing the needle size instead of changing the stitch count. The simple but distinctive cable pattern, reminiscent of antique stonework, makes these socks fit closely but comfortably.
Ilga’s Socks
Common Latvian mythological symbols inspired this design.
Uptown Boot Socks
A versatile designer, Jennifer Appleby blends style with practicality to create knitwear with rustic elegance.
Priscilla’s Dream Socks
While studying hand knitted socks from around the world, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts always hoped to find the perfect structure: a well-fitting sock that is durable, flexible in design, and easy to knit and repair.
Embossed Leaves Socks
Mona Schmidt combined the Embossed Leaves stitch pattern with a smooth two-stranded tubular cast-on, a rib pattern with knit stitches worked through the back loops for crisp definition, to create an elegant sock.
Ute Socks
These patterned socks were inspired by traditional Ute beadwork. This Native American culture, located west of the Rocky Mountains, is known for highly decorated beaded clothing and accessories.
Merino Lace Socks
After reading stitch dictionaries and thinking about Aran sweaters, Anne Woodbury was inspired to combine four complementary eyelet and lace patterns the way that Aran knitting combines cable patterns.
Flame Wave Socks
This intriguingly sinuous stitch pattern is paired with a stretchy yarn to create a versatile sock.
Two-Yarn Resoleable Socks
After knitting many pairs of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Moccasin Socks, Wayne Pfeffer developed this ingenious technique to incorporate a conventional heel flap into a resoleable sock.
Austrian Socks
Candace Eisner Strick drew on her love of traditional Austrian textural patterns to create these bold socks.
Padded Footlets
Indulge your feet with Mary Snyder’s short socks knitted with a double thickness of yarn to cushion the soles.
Mock Wave Cable Socks
Ann Budd designed these classic socks to have the look of cables without the bulk.
Meida’s Socks
On her first visit to Estonia, Nancy Bush received a pair of lacy socks from her friend Meida Joeveer, who explained how she had made them. Nancy studied the socks and has reproduced them here.
Cable Rib Socks
For Erica Alexander, handknitted socks top the list of life’s little pleasures. The leg and instep of these socks are ribbed and decorated with a single classic cable at each side.
Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks
For these handsome socks, Ann Budd used a diagonal cross pattern that is achieved by knitting a simple twist every other row.
Anniversary Socks
Although readers of Knits know and love Nancy Bush’s sock patterns, they probably haven’t seen these delightful “party socks.” Nancy is the treasured knitting contributor to PieceWork, an Interweave publication dedicated to a variety of traditional needle arts.
Go With the Flow Socks
A pair of warm, pretty socks is an undeniable pleasure. In a soft, luxurious merino, this pair would make a great gift for a friend, or yourself!
Hidden Passion Socks
Depending on the light or angle of view, Jaya Srikrishnan’s illusion socks reveal colorful stripes or “hugs and kisses.”
Undulating Rib Socks
Inspired by a stitch pattern found in a Japanese knitting book, these socks feature an easily memorized pattern that alternates increase sand decreases to create columns that widen and narrow.
Eesti Trail Hiking Socks
These men’s hiking socks were modeled after a pair of socks Nancy Bush purchased in a village market in Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia.
Lace-Cuff Anklets
Linen might sound like an unusual choice for a sock, but this merino/linen blend brings out the best in both fibers.
Waving Lace Socks
A simple lace pattern waves back and forth along the length of these socks, creating a lovely and comfortable sock that designer Evelyn Clark finds particularly soothing to knit.
Eastern European Footlets
After researching the methods Eastern European folk knitters use to work seamless intarsia in the round, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts continues to discover new techniques. These footlets are worked from toe to cuff in typical Eastern style.
Up-Down Spiral Sox
These comfortable roll-top socks are an adventure in unusual construction: they can be knitted from the toe up or the cuff down, and they feature an “afterthought heel” worked from held stitches after the rest of the sock is completed.
Contributors
Glossary
Sources for Supplies
Index
