New Free Sock Pattern: Cubist Socks by Cookie A!

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May 28, 2010

New Free Sock Pattern: Cubist Socks by Cookie A! I met Cookie A at Sock Summit and a gracious stranger took our picture. We're so thrilled to be able to offer you a brand new sock pattern by Cookie A, brilliant sock designer and the author of the book Sock Innovation! Her new design, Cubist Socks, brings you one more of Cookie's amazing stitch patterns; she excels at making knit and purl stitches work with each other in a dance of ripples, cables, lace, zigzag, and much more. Her Cubist Socks continue that tradition, and guess what? Cookie is here to introduce her new pattern and show you what's special about it. She's also issuing a special invitation to you to attend a fantastic knitting event, Knit Nation. Welcome, Cookie! Cookie A's Cubist Socks Cubist Socks Greetings, Knitting Daily readers! As many of you know, sock knitting is as popular as ever and I'm excited to share the Cubist Sock pattern with you. The design behind these socks was influenced by my love for all things cube-like including Picasso, Cubism, and tessellations. The pattern features stylized textured "3D" cubes using a combination of garter stitch, decreases, and yarnover increases. Like many of the sock patterns from Sock Innovation, the basic pattern unit repeats all over in a tessellating fashion with special treatment for the cuff and heel. The cuff smoothly transitions from a rib into pattern, and the pattern continues partially onto the heel to transition to a standard slipped stitch commonly used to increase heel durability. What I love about these socks is that the stitchwork is pretty simple—just knits, purls, yarnovers and decreases-and it looks great in multicolored yarns. If you're like me, you have a lot of variegated sock yarn in your stash! The yarn I used for this pattern is special though. It came about after some back and forth discussion with Rhichard Devrieze of Koigu, one of my favorite artisanal yarn dyers. The stipled technique that creates the speckled colors is beautiful and works well with the simple garter lace pattern. The colors remind me of some of Picasso's paintings. Sketching the pattern for a sock can help you think through the different pieces and transitions. This was drawn in the following order: 1) Main shape drawn and tiled. 2) Texture (garter stitch) filled in, increases and decreases added to create shape. 3) Ribbing and transition between ribbing and main pattern filled in. Voila!  Cubist pattern closeup Join the Knit Nation! If you'd like to learn more about designing your own socks, I teach intensive sock design workshops including several sessions at the upcoming Knit Nation event in London, England. That's right, London! What could be more fun than traveling to the UK for a knitting holiday? Knit Nation is a knitting and spinning expo that will take place in London, England on July 29-31. There will be yarn, classes, fiber, and festivities including a Ravelry talk and party. Centrally located at the Royal College next door to the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum, you can absorb the sites of London between classes, indulge in some yarn shopping; and search for the perfect skein of Wollmeise. I'll be joined by esteemed instructors including Nancy Bush, Judith Mackenzie McCuin, and Shirley Paden. Please come join us! You can read more information at the Knit Nation website and see the full class list. And I hope you enjoy these socks. They're a perfect example of the techniques illustrated in Sock Innovation, too!

Kathleen Cubley is the editor of Knitting Daily. Kathleen's Knit-Along We're knitting the Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt. Come knit with us! More Knitting Daily •  Blogs •  Galleries •  Knitting Daily TV •  Free Patterns •  Join Knitting Daily •  Share Your Comments

Sock Innovation Knitting Techniques and Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks Cookie A. Take your sock knitting off the charts Known for her unconventional and unique socks, Cookie A. now shares with you the secrets of her design process!  She combines simple components and techniques to create stunning textures and patterns, and with the best-selling Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques and Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks, you can also explore the endless possibilities of knitted socks.  Explore traveling stitches, mirrored pairs, twists in the heel, cables, lace, and more.  Be inspired to fill your sock drawer with beautiful knitted socks. If you want to expand your sock knitting skills and start designing your own, then Sock Innovation is the perfect resource.  Fueled by Cookie's unique approach, you'll be able to make modifications to suit your needs and aesthetics (and not just in sock patterns).  Sock Innovation goes beyond the basic sock and explores complex stitchery, treating the sock as a knitted canvas where elements are strategically and intentionally placed. Kai-Mei Inside you will learn design techniques like: Cuff options like ribbed, hemmed, picot, or patterned. Heel variations such as the flap heel and turn, or short-row heels in stockinette or garter stitch, and afterthought heels. Toe options like wedge, round, and short-row Reading charts and converting flat to round, and vice versa Stitch techniques, such as inverting cables and complex stitches, resizing patterns for your needs, and playing with texture. How to plan and design socks, and combine different stitch patterns Sock Innovation also includes 15 new sock patterns, incorporating the techniques presented. Devon Vilai "Cookie A's sock patterns have been so popular that I know expectations were very high for this book. Having spent some time with it, I can say that the book meets and exceeds every expectation I had. This is a brilliant and valuable book that every avid sock knitter will want to own. "It's also a steal. You'd need an entire weekend workshop—which would cost you at least $100—to absorb what she presents in the design and technique section. And you get 15 gorgeous patterns that would normally retail for $6 to $6.50 apiece—adding another $90 to the tab. Instead, you get Cookie's wisdom, guidance, and inspiration for a mere $22.95. And best of all, it's captured on physical pages that you can leaf through again and again as you journey along your sock knitting path." —Clara Parkes, Knitter's Review Sam Start knitting gorgeous socks with this best-seller today