Alton Brown! Don't hate me for adding to the indecision, but I like both! I like it for the varigated because it breaks up the texture of the stockinette and gives it more depth and texture.

i vote A. seriously, i think the socks are awesome either way! :)

I really think the stitch pattern looks great either way.

I vote for D!!

anywho....I think maybe the problem is that the yarn is striping instead of, you know, variegating.
in this case I'm gonna have to go with trusty solid.

I'm gonna have to vote for solid. The first time I saw the variegated ones, I thought they were 2x2 ribbing, and I had to look at them for a good long time before I figured out where you got herringbone. The solid, on the other hand, really shows off the pattern.

I really like both.

But then again, I AM completely floored that you're not knitting Jaywalkers.

Never one for giving conventional answers, I have to say C. It's a really nice pattern, and it doesn't look bad in the varigated yarn, it just looks completely different. The varying colors emphasize a different part of the stitch than the solid does--not better or worse. I like them both.

Well, when you put them side by side, yes the solids do pop more, but I honestly think that the variegated are lovely socks, but because of the yarn and not the pattern.

I have to say I like both of them. I think it is slightly difficult to tell how the variegated yarn looks in pattern because of the angle of the shot. I just love that Yarntini colorway so much though that I'm not sure I could say ever that it looked terrible. I think you should just knit the second sock. :)

Well. It's a tough one.
I loooove the Vintage colorway, and your stitch pattern is not overly busy, which goes very well with a variegated yarn.
On the other hand, yes, your stitch pattern is more visible with a solid color. But it's lost that extra special zing... (It would make a great guy sock though).
I vote for A! (And D).

i vote for B and D. i really do think it looks better in the solid... the first sock IS lovely looking... but you just can't see the stitch pattern! and with a fancy pattern, doncha want that? :) don't rip the first one... give it a mate! but for photos with the pattern, the solid's the way to go. (it's a personal pet peeve of mine when i can't even SEE the stitchwork on a pattern i'm contemplating using. just fyi!)

beautiful work. and if i havent said this before, i think your banner at the top of your page is my favorite. ever.

They are both great. I like the depth of the solid, but I also think the variegated yarns cause a cool criss-cross effect with the popping strands that I don't see as much on the other. That's a nice pattern - looks good but different both ways.

C!!!!

Well and D of course. I'm going to echo the response that I really like them both but they are polar opposites! The yarntini version is fun and funky while the solid is a sturdy classic. Both are great but they are apples and oranges.

I must say that I almost voted A just because of the Alton refrence!! Ah Alton!!

I love that pattern in solid. But mostly I am flummoxed about the non-Jaywalker status of the socks. I just started my first Jaywalkers, you see. And now I cannot imagine knitting anything else.

I just love the variegated one.

I agree that it looks like the pattern pops more with the solid yarn, but I like the varigated too...

I vote for A, but both socks look great.

I think solid is better for textured patterns otherwise it's too 'busy'. Patterned in stockingette or rib, plain to show off fancy stitching is my view as all that needlework gets lost in myriad colours. A nice slightly variegated, on the other hand...

Cindy

I like them both! and I also vote for D. : )

I like the variegated version, but I think you're right that the pattern doesn't stand out as well. But I actually had trouble seeing it in the dark solid yarn too. I'm going to go with A here, as Alton is my TV husband and I will go along with any Good Eats metaphor.

oh, Alton Brown, I love you. But I gotta say, I like the solid a little better for this pattern.

The herringbonieness shows up more in the solid, but who doesn't love varigated, indeed - C!

P.S. I've been reading your blog for a long time and your blog name is the best ever.

i like both!

i like both. even though you think the pattern gets lost in the sock yarn, look at the herringbones in the pic on the left - i think they're better defined bc of the color variations.

oh, and D. ^_^

I prefer the varigated version. I like the way that the herringbone stitch isolated certain colour sections in the yarn. The solid is fine but it is a little mellow.

A all the way!

Both of the socks are equally beautiful, just different. That is just my humble opinion, although I suppose it won't help you in your decision making. I can hardly wait for the pattern. Thank you.

Definately the solid! The variegated really reads more like a rib, and why do all that work and not see it? I love the herringbone stitch though.
Plus, that way you can use the variegated for Jaywalkers!

They are both beautiful, so I guess the answer is C :)

D is my vote.

ribbit...

Hahaha, the choices you gave us made me laugh out loud. I'd pick C. They're both beautiful in different ways, and you *are* perfect, after all.

Type A all the way. I like the way it breaks up the striping.

I'm going to go with "C." Don't think you completely lose the pattern in a varigated yarn, but it is definately the main attraction with a solid color. I think both look nice. (However, if you're anything like me, and it bothers you that much already, if you do finish the pink ones, you'll probably never wear them. They would make a lovely gift, but if you're really annoyed by the look I'd start over. But thats just me)

I'm gonna go with D for 100, Alex!

On a more serious note, i think it does look MUCH better with solid yarn.

Well C of course, but I DO like the solid version a little bit better. :-)

I think it works really well in the variegated yarn! I would go for C with dangerous hints of D.

I'm going with solid. That said, I ought to tell you that I rarely knit with anything variegated because I fear pooling and I'm the most boring knitter alive.

I like them both for different reasons... I like the variegated one because it is a different pattern that doesn't compete with multicolored yarns, which I am always looking for... But! I also like the solid because it shows off the pattern better.

So, if it is for showing off your new pattern, I'd go with the solid.

When you will publish the pattern, I will be doing them in variegated yarn. Or maybe try a tweed(ish) type of yarn.

hey there.

i came by your blog and realise you do fantastic knittings! im currently doing something myself, a hand knitted scarf and am actually encountering some problems. so i casted 56 stiches, and i did all knit for the first row. and when i do the reverse, it will be 6 knit and all the way pearl and the last 6 stiches will be knit again. now that im progressing on the scarf, i realise it tend to curl in starting from the first and last 6 stiches. so is there any way i can actually stop that? the fabric im using is actually wool but it feels like cotten.