I began letting my imagination flirt with designing when I received a ball of Knit Picks Felici, a self-striping yarn. They coupled and joined with inspirations from my grandmother’s rippled afghans that adorn my couch. The formation of a beautiful pair of socks took shape in my mind. I sat down with my circulars and began casting on. The result is this ziggy and zaggy pair of socks, which are warm on the toes and soft to the touch, triggering thoughts of snuggling under an old-style rippled afghan.
Gauge
7sts at 1” in Garter Ripple Stitch on US 3 / 3.00mm
Sizes and Measurements
Women’s medium shoe size. (Adjust length of foot / leg to your preference or size).
Materials
- Knit Picks Felici [75% superwash merino wool / 25% nylon, 218yd / 200m per 50g skein]; color: 24123 Martinique; 2 skeins (a third might be a good idea for longer soles / leg).
- Darning needle
- 2 circular Knitting Needles – US 3 / 3.00mm (each at least 24” in length) – or needle size to obtain gauge
Directions
(Popknits uses knittinghelp.com's standard abbreviations)
Please see pattern's other notes.
Special Stitch Instructions
Casting on two socks at once:
Cast on the required number of stitches to one of the circular needles. Slide half of the stitches to the other circular needle. While holding the two needles perpendicular slides the stitches toward the tip. Ensure the stitches are not twisted and flatten them out.
You will now switch and interlock the two top stitches. Pick up the dangling end of either needle and transfer the top stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Then pass the transferred stitch over the top stitch on the right needle. Finally, pull out that stitch and move it to the left needle.
Repeat for second sock, ensuring that the working yarns are symmetrical in placement. I always double check to make sure they are on the right when facing the needle. Position the stitches and stitch as usual making sure that you knit with the appropriate yarn for the proper sock.
Garter Ripple Stitch:
Round 1: *K2, yo, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, yo, k2; repeat from * around.
Round 2: Purl.
Ripple Stitch:
Round 1: *K2, yo, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, yo, k2; repeat from * around.
Round 2: Knit.
Cuff
Cast on 56 stitches loosely. Divide stitches on 2 needles (28 on each). Join in the round without twisting (see instructions above).
Repeat cast for sock #2 from second skein of yarn.
You will now have two sets of cast stitches and two skeins of yarn. Ensure that you work with the proper yarn for each sock.
Work in Garter Ripple Stitch for a total of 6 patterns repeats (12 rounds).
Leg
Switch to Ripple Stitch and work these two rounds until the entire sock is 7 inches long (or desired length) when measured from cast on edge. End with a work even round (Round 2).
NOTE: The heel flap, heel turn, and gusset pick ups are worked on each sock at one time. Before beginning transfer one sock to stitch holders (or waste yarn) and continue.
Heel Flap
With RS facing, work back and forth as follows:
Row 1: *Sl 1, K1. Repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Sl 1, purl across
Repeat these two rows 17 times total.
Turn Heel
Row 1: [RS] K17, ssk, k1. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, P7, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, K8, k2tog, k1. Turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, P9, p2tog, p1. Turn.
Continue shaping the heel as above, adding one additional stitch in the middle each time (K10, P11, K12, etc.) and decreasing one stitch as directed (ssk or p2tog) until all stitches have been worked. End with a purl row. 18 stitches remain.
Gussets
Work across the heel stitches. Do not turn. Using the same needle (Needle 1/N1), pick up one stitch in each edge stitch along the side of the heel flap (the right side should be facing you) for a total of 17 stitches. Pick up one additional stitch in the gap between the flap and the instep stitches (those “on hold” since starting the heel flap). 36 sts total.
Needle 2/N2 (instep stitches): resume Ripple Stitch, beginning with Round 1. 28 sts.
N1: Using Needle 1 again (yes, it may be awkward for this round, but do it), pick up and knit one stitch in the gap between the instep stitches and the heel flap. Pick up one stitch in each edge stitch along the other side of the heel flap for a total of 18 stitches (1 in the gap + 17 along the flap). 54 sts total.
Work 9 sts and place a marker. You are now at the beginning of your round, with one gusset, the turned heel stitches, and the other gusset on N1 and the instep/pattern stitches on N2.
Partial round: work to end of N1. Work N2 in pattern (should be a knit even round)
Repeat for second sock.
NOTE: You are now ready to begin working on both socks at the same time once again. Transfer both socks to your circular needles, ensuring that the working tail of yarn is on the right (when looking at the sock) and continue. The sock will be facing you in profile.
Round 1:
N1: K24 stitches; K2tog; K1; place marker; K foot stitches as set in pattern.
N2: K foot stitches as set in pattern; ssk; K1; K 24 stitches.
Round 2:
Work even.
Repeat these 2 rnds until there are 56 sts remaining (N1: 28 sts, N2: 28 sts).
Foot
Work even, keeping only the instep stitches (N2) in the Ripple Stitch until the foot measures 1.5” – 2” less than the desired foot length (approximately 9.5” for a women’s US 8 shoe), ending with N2.
NOTE: It is now time to rearrange your stitches once again. Instead of in profile, the sock will be facing you head on. The decreases for the toe will be at either end of the rounds / needles.
Toe
Knit all stitches now and decrease every 2nd round until 10 stitches remain on each needle (20 in total).
Round 1: Work until 3 stitches before marker K2tog; K1; slip marker; K1; ssk; knit remaining stitches (on each needle).
Round 2: Knit.
Finishing
Now it is time to rearrange your stitches. Arrange the stitches so that 10 are on each needle and the sock is no longer in profile but facing you.
Cut yarn leaving a 5 inch tail. Graft sts tog using Kitchener st.
Weave all ends in on the inside of sock.
Other Notes
This pattern will work well with a solid, but spectacular effects are achieved with the use of self-striping yarns.
The substitution of any chevron type pattern will work here. This is the first one that appeared when I opened my stitch dictionary, so this is the one I’ll highlight. Ensure that the number of stitches cast on matches with the number of stitches needed in the repeat. I recommend two repeats per needle. I prefer to err on the side of caution and increase the number of cast on stitches by one or two to match the needed stitches rather than decreasing.
About the Author
Bonnie Zink is a freelance writer and communicator in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. The landscape is constantly changes and provides her with many an inspiration for knitted wonders. With over 30 years of knitterly experience, she shares her love of the craft with local residents through the founding and facilitation of the Saskatoon Knitting Circle. Knitting for family, charity, and friends, Bonnie is keen on sharing her knowledge and love of all things wooly with the rest of the world. Most of her designs are inspired by the seasons, a stitch dictionary, and a good collection of basic knitting recipes.
Credits
Photos by Bonnie Zink
Model: Bonnie Zink
From Flickr
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Errata
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License
Meandering Circular Ziggies (with a Zag) by
Bonnie Zink is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at
http://www.popknits.com/index.php/patterns/page/meandering_circular_ziggies_with_a_zag/.
