Illusions Socks

This is the October '08 Sock Club pattern.
About seven months ago, I found some to-die-for lovely Alexander Henry fabric. Called “Mini Calaveras” it was inspired by exquisitely colorful Dia de Los Muertos sugar skulls. I’ve had the fabric pinned up to my studio wall for all this time, waiting for inspiration to strike. Finally, it did!
The complex look of this sock belies the simple slip stitch pattern used to accomplish it. Using only one color on each row, there’s no stranding or other fussy work to get these fascinating stacked squares. Knit in a DK weight yarn at a tight gauge, they knit up quickly and the slip stitch patterning makes them extra sturdy. A simple garter stitch heel and toe in all black offers a nice contrast and excellent fit.
Gauge: 32 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
Needles: US 2 / 2.5 mm
Yarn: 140 yards each of two contrasting colors (pattern sample worked with one skein handpainted and one solid black)