Sock U-knit-versity | Summer 2023
This summer, The Chilly Dog is collaborating with Stitch Yarn Studio to bring you Sock U-knit-versity.
Whether you're a freshman, that is absolutely new to sock knitting or an upperclassman looking to challenge yourself with more advanced patterns and techniques, Sock U is for you.
All summer long the staff at Stitch Yarn Studio will be available to help you with your registration, swag and school supplies, in-person instruction and study hall sessions. The Chilly Dog has online lessons for the pattern curriculum so you can get help anytime you need.
ΔΡΝ (Delta Rho Nu) - join if you knit your socks on DPNs
ΦΧΙ (Phi Chi Iota) - join in you knit your socks on FlexiFlips
ΜΛ (Mu Lambda) - join if you use Magic Loop
ΘZ (Theta Zeta) - join if you use a small circular
ΘΘZ (Theta Theta Zeta) - join if you use two circs
Sock U Course Guide
Socks 101: Ready, Set, Go Socks (cuff down)
Knit a simply-patterned, gender-neutral, pair of top down socks with three different heel shaping options. The flap and gusset heel is a good fit for adults with an average instep. The gusset heel is a good fit for adults with a higher instep. The short row heel is a good fit for adults with a lower instep. This sock has a rounded wedge toe and is finished with grafting.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Anatomy and Fit Comparison of 3 Top Down Sock Heels
- Alternating Long Tail Cast On for Ribbing
- Pick Up and Knit
- Wrap and Turn for Short Rows
- The Unforgettable Kitchener Stitch
Socks 102: Ready, Set, Go Socks (toe up)
Knit a simply-patterned, gender-neutral, pair of toe-up socks with a rounded wedge toe and three different heel shaping options. The gusset and flap heel is a good fit for adults with an average instep. The gusset heel is a good fit for adults with a higher instep. The short row heel is a good fit for adults with a lower instep.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Anatomy and Fit Comparison of 3 Toe Up Sock Heels
- Make 1 (Right and Left)
- K1 or P1 Below Next Stitch
- Transitioning from Rows to Rounds in Sock Heels
- Back Stitch Bind Off
- Wrap and Turn for Short Rows
Socks 220: Cubicle Socks (toe up, mosaic, short row heel)
This pattern is a playful experiment in color theory. The trio of coordinating "mismatched" socks is created by rearranging the order of three contrasting colors when you knit each sock. The socks feature a boxy, mosaic (slipped stitch) design. If you are new to mosaic colorwork, it is basically like knitting stripes with a few strategically placed slipped stitches. You are only working with one color of yarn at a time. The mosaic motif is charted. The socks are knit from the toe up with a star toe and a short row heel.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Choosing Contrasting Yarns for Knit Colorwork
- Pinhole Cast On
- Attaching a New Color without Yarn Tails
- Carrying 2 Colors for Knit Stripes in the Round
- Shadow Wrapped Short Row Heel Variation
Socks 221: Riptide Socks (cuff down, lace, chart)
These socks, graded to fit most adult women's sizes, are worked from the top down and feature a lacy leg, heel flap, square turn heel, lightly patterned stitchwork across the top of the foot and a spiral toe.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Channel Island CO
- How to Use your DPN Tips for Tracking Rounds
- Square Turn Heel
- Avoiding Heel Flap Gap
- Spiral Sock Toe
Socks 222: Secret Admirer Socks (cuff down, heel flap, lace, faux cables)
This knit sock pattern has a secret element that is best seen by the knitter and the sock wearer, a panel of large, lace hearts down both the front and back of the leg. These socks are knit from the top down and have a subtly curved garter stitch cuff. The socks have a flap and gusset style heel.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Cable Cast On in the Round with addi FlexiFlips
- What Does the "No Stitch" Symbol Mean
- Knit 4 Together and Slip 4 Knit (k4tog/s4k)
- Right and Left Twists (t2r/t2l)
- Preventing Gusset Gaps
- Turning a French Heel
- Picking Up Stitches on a Garter Edged Heel Flap
- The Unforgettable Kitchener Stitch
Socks 223: Switchback Socks (cuff down, mirrored stitch pattern, chart)
These shortie, or ankle, socks are worked from the top down. The socks feature a zigzag pattern down one side of the foot and the socks are mirror images of each other. The socks have a band heel and rounded wedge toe.
Knitters should be able to read a basic stitch chart.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- 5 Tips for Casting on in the Round
- Old Norwegian Cast On
- How to Knit a Band Heel
- Picking Up Gusset Stitches
- How Decrease Slant Effects the Look of a Sock Toe
- The Unforgettable Kitchener Stitch
Socks 330: Spindler socks (toe up, heel flap, cables, chart)
With mirrored "S" and "Z" twist cables, these gender neutral socks are knit from the toe up beginning with a square toe and feature a gusset and flap heel.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Square Sock Toe
- Cable Needle Styles
- Cable Notation Basics
- The Knitting Tool You Never Knew You Needed
- Inverted Stem Stitch Bind Off
Socks 331: Waffle Cookie Socks (toe up, Japanese short rows, provisional cast on)
These sweet socks are knit from the toe up, with Japanese short row toes and heels, and mirrored, textured and lacy, waffle-like stitchwork on the foot and leg.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Provisional vs. Double Sided Cast Ons
- Pinned Japanese Short Row Toes (Toe-Up)
- Pinless Japanese Short Row Toes (Toe-Up): The Catch Method
- Yarn Over Twice
Socks 332: Feeling Loopy Socks (toe up, afterthought heel with lifelines, mosaic color work)
A colorful, toe-up sock knitting pattern featuring mosaic colorwork, so only one color is worked at a time. These socks, sized for men or women, have star shaped toes and star shaped afterthought heels so the ombre color pattern remains uninterrupted. The pattern includes a stitch chart.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Disappearing Circular Cast On
- Mosaic Colorwork in the Round
- Inserting a Lifeline
- Lace Bind Off
- Joining New Yarn in the Round
Socks 333: Rebound Socks (cuff down, texture, contrasting cuff/toe/heel, true afterthought heel)
Knit entirely in the round with no heel turn. These lightly textured socks are worked from the top down with self-patterning yarn and have a contrasting cuff, toe and afterthought heel. The heel is added after the rest of the sock is completely knit making the pattern easy to adjust for different foot lengths.
Recommended Video Support Topics
- Winding Schoppel das Paar Yarn
- Double Start Cast On
- The Daredevil Afterthought Heel
- The Unforgettable Kitchener Stitch
There's more to explore in the Learning Library!