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Harlequilt Socks
Harlequilt Socks
Behold the Harlequilt Socks, in as highly saturated a combination of colours as Kaffe Fasett ever did conceive.
I am extremely happy with how these entrelac socks have turned out, but I am glad that they are finally complete. I did feel the project started to drag on a bit after about the fifth entrelac row of each respective sock, and actually found myself counting down until the end of the entrelac portion square by square, seeing the new task of turning the heel as a refreshing new task before sprint-knitting through the rows of stockinette to a short row toe.
Yarn is Regia Kaffe Fassett Design Line Crazy Colour in 'Zany'
This project is my first flirtation with entrelac, and thought the technique is quite engaging, the novelty of picking up stitches for each square wore off after the first sock. Entrelac is not difficult. If you can knit, purl, decrease and pick up stitches, then you can do entrelac. Once the foundation row of triangles have been completed, the structure is revealed and you suddenly have an epiphany over the logic of the technique, and it all falls quickly into place. Entrelac is just stockinette stitch knitted in small blocks. In this case, very small blocks. Entrelac isn’t time consuming because of complexities of this form of knitting, but because, when working in 6-stitch blocks such as the ones in this pattern, you have to pick up a stitch for every twelve you knit. You also have to turn your work every six stitches. You spend more time turning your work than you do actually knitting, so an ability to knit backwards can be a great time-saver, though if you are like me getting the yarn set up in a position that makes backwards-knitting comfortable takes just as long again…
Finished and matching. I think the effort was worth it.
Despite the time-intensive knitting that I found these socks represented, I do not regret the added effort needed to complete them. They are probably the brightest and boldest socks that I will ever make, and Craig has been asking over their progression every day or two and declared them to be ‘the best socks I have ever knit’ when I was only a third of the way into the first one. I started each sock at the same point in the colour progression of the yarn, and I am overjoyed at how well my tension behaved during relaxing knitting sessions in front of the TV in the evenings, through discussions whilst on lunch break and whilst knitting under stress. Each rectangle corresponds perfectly with its partner on the neighbouring sock, matching from the socks of the cuff, through the heel and to the tip of each toe.
The yarn threw up some interesting effects, too. Many of the stripes of this colourway change shade at a distinct and straight line, but at some colour junctions the new shade creeps in, making a wavy, patterned edge as you can see in the stockinette foot portion. Whilst knitting the socks it started to become apparent that all of the solid colours were lining up at the front of the sock and these intermediate waves of broken colour were all pooling at the back. What’s more, at the point where my 2×1 ribbing stopped to begin the foundation triangles, the yarn changed to a bright fuschia for the decrease round, before swiftly changing again, which give the impression of a line of little overhand stitches joining the ribbed cuff to the main body of the sock:
yarn and pattern coming together to produce a stitched effect
I didn’t like this at first, but as the lines of rectangles began to build like a patchwork quilt, with the appearance of little ’stitches’ where one colour would show through the decrease stitches that bind each tile to the next, I thought that these little chance quirks that came about because of the union of this particular yarn and this pattern were quite charming, and so suggested the name ‘Harlequilt’.
Very cool socks and very very matchy!
I am considering experimenting with sock knitting for my bus commute. I am going to have a lot of ‘Landscape Fire’ left over from my Babette Blanket and want ‘Fire Walk With Me’ socks. I think I might try to find a nice, simple stockinette sock to start with though…
I love the Kaffe Fassette Fire colourway – it’s all those hot colours offset by that shot of turquoise jewel – lovely!
If you like doing short-rows then this is a good starting point: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTuniversalsock.html it’s a simple stockinette sock with short-row heel and toe which you can do as you knit the sock or add in afterwards if you knit a row of waste yarn stitches where you are going to put the heel (like an afterthought thumb) also this lets you do your socks toe-up so you don’t run out of yarn (though it doesn’t sound like that will be a problem!)
The Harlequilt socks are the first time I have used a NON short-row heel, though, and the process is extremely easy – (easier, you might say, if you don’t like short-rows) but either way, socks are very simple and a great project for carrying around with you a it takes up so little room. Also, Firesocks are winsome even before they are cast-on!
Another technique I haven’t tried because it looks intimidating, but I may try it now. I’ve just turned the heel on a plain pair of socks using the Kaffe Fassett sock yarn in Landscaper Fire so I may buy another colourway and have a go at these. I love the bright colours in yours, and the way that each block is all one colour.
The Kaffe Fassett Fire colourway is my favourite! It seems popular, too
Mooncalf, commenting just above you, is currently using the same yarn for her own pattern.
I remember when I started to knit a friend of mine was knitting socks for the first time, and though she was an experienced knitter she was really fretting about turning the heel! I always thought it must be extremely difficult or fiddly, which is why my first pairs of socks all had short-row heels, but I decided a few months ago to be completely fearless about any pattern or technique, because I no longer think that anything in knitting can be THAT difficult, so when got to the heel in this pattern I didn’t even notice, and lo-and-behold I think it might be easier than the heel I have been using all along…
I used to use the short row heel because i thought it made the socks look more like shop bought ones. But the heel flap is so much better, once I got the hang of picking up stitches I didn’t look back. Toe ups are good too because you don’t have to pick up stitches, you incorporate a stitch each round as you go along.
love these SO much! It’s so awesome that they match EXACTLY! (well done picking the right point in the colour changes!)
Your socks are spectacular! Would you consider posting a tutorial on how to knit them?
Hi Heidi!
There is a link to the pattern used on the end of the first post on these socks, here: http://eskimimiknits.com/2010/01/entrelac/ I am going to have a look to see if there is a readily available free tutorial on how to do entrelac in the round, as it is easily applied if you know how to knit a basic sock. A quick google around throws up a load of ‘if it is your first time doing entrelac, it is best NOT to try entrelac in the round – that is nonsense. This was my first entrelac and being in the round presented no problems whatsoever, so ignore that advice if you come across it and haven’t tried entrelac before.
Hi Eskimimi,
) I’ll google entrelac in the round, try a small pattern, btw there is a truly adorable entrelac sheep toy pattern in the book Norwegian Handknits (ISBN 978-0-7603-3428-7), which would be a faily quick knit if I read the size correctly…
Thanks! I love knitting in the round as I am a die-hard anti seamist (is that even a word???
Thanks for your blog…and for Giantmonk! Love it
What absolutely fabulous socks! They look stunning!
Aaaaw these are pretty…I’m in love with entrelc after knitting Quant from Knitty, so maybe a pair of socks are in order now! Came to your blog by way of Ravelry, loving it so far
Beautiful Socks! I looove how they turned out! I will have to try entrelac. You have inspired me!
I love these !
another superior FO from you 
Is there anywhere I can get this pattern?
Hi Tyler. the link to the pattern is a couple of posts back, here: http://eskimimiknits.com/2010/01/entrelac/
Scroll towards the end of the post and the link is there