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April 22, 2007

Charade

Thanks so much for everyone's input on my little sock dilemma. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give me their two cents. It really motivated me through the whole pattern writing process, knowing that you all care oh so much. :)

Charade socks

Pattern: Charade socks by me (!!)

Yarn: One skein of either Brooklyn Handspun Signature sock yarn in, uh, "Grey" (Marie never did get around to giving the colorway an official name) or Yarntini variegated sock yarn in "Vintage"

Needles: A set of 5 US 1 double-pointed needles


So is this sock supposed to be sleek, sober yet sophisticated? Or showy and spirited with a touch of a soft side? Hmmm. . . Who is this International Sock of Mystery exactly??

Well, I was reassured again by many of you that the variegated yarn works with the pattern. And you know what, I think you're right. The Yarntini sock has grown on me since my last post. I think I even may like it. As Leah pointed out to me, it's like comparing apples and oranges. Each sock is special in their own special way.

And by golly, I think she's right.

Charade sock (variegated closeup)

It's not nearly as horrible as I initially thought The pattern doesn't get completely lost in the colors. Yeah, the stitch looks a lot more subtle here than it does in the solid, but it's a good thing (with this yarn, anyway). Less is more, as they say.

The sock is worked top down with an old-school, reinforced heel flap and a wide toe. The stitch pattern is quite easy to memorize without ever getting too tedious.

And get this. . .

It's available to download for free! YAY! Just look over to your right. See the link for the pattern under "free pattern"? Just click, download, choose your yarn accordingly, and cast on.

ETA (2/18/08): ---->ETA (2/18/07): <----- Whoa. My website exceeded its bandwidth this weekend and crashed on me. :( I love that there are so many people are enjoying my free downloads but I love my blog up and running a wee bit more. ;) Please note that this pattern here (along with Bloody Mary) will be now available to download over at Ravelry now. Still free, mind you!!

Just click here. There is a permanent link to the download on my sidebar as well.

For those that still aren't up on Ravelry, just leave a comment here or shoot me a line and I'll send you a copy of the pattern via email.


Please do keep in mind that this is my first venture in the whole pattern writing business. Mistakes are gonna be way more than likely here so don't hesitate to email me if something isn't clear (or just plain wrong!).

So enjoy, and let me know what I think!

Posted by Sandra at April 22, 2007 05:09 PM

Comments

Waaahooooo! Leah is right, apples and oranges. This is a great pattern for both solid and variagated (given that the yarn doesn't pool). This is on my knit list fa'sho!

Posted by: yaiAnn at April 22, 2007 07:57 PM

They both look great. I am definitely downloading... Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: isel at April 22, 2007 08:00 PM

Congrats -- so cool!

Posted by: Melissa at April 22, 2007 08:04 PM

Thanks, Sandra! Both socks are fab. :)

Posted by: pamela wynne at April 22, 2007 08:05 PM

Yay!! So glad you shared the pattern, I really think it's a great one - esp since it works really well for solid and variagated yarn, now THAT'S an achievement.

Posted by: Schrodinger at April 22, 2007 08:18 PM

Yay! Something to knit when I finish these Jaywalkers.

Posted by: Annika at April 22, 2007 08:53 PM

how totally cool! it was only a matter of time before the queen of sock knitting became a sock designer.

Posted by: carrie m at April 22, 2007 09:06 PM

YAY! congratulations on your first sock pattern! be sure to spot a pair on my blog, for sure... especially since i've been on a sock yarn binge right now. ^_^ beard papa to celebrate?

Posted by: joy at April 22, 2007 09:31 PM

Weeee! The pattern looks great!
And I think that the socks each look fantastic and completely different at the same time.
Good job :)

Posted by: Veronique at April 22, 2007 09:41 PM

Brilliant! Just Brilliant! Thanks Sandra - do you think this would look good with self-striping vintage? or not so much?

so excited!

Posted by: Sarah at April 22, 2007 09:45 PM

Wow those socks look great in solid and variegated! Thanks for writing up the pattern.

Posted by: bee at April 22, 2007 10:43 PM

Thanks so so much for the pattern, so kind of you. Now.....which yarn to use, hmmmm......

Posted by: Heather at April 22, 2007 11:07 PM

THANK YOU!!!!! this is great!! :)

Posted by: Jen da Purse Ho at April 22, 2007 11:16 PM

They look awesome! And a freebie is always great. I agree, I thought the pattern was going to look better in the solid, but it looks great both ways. I shall cast on soon.

Posted by: elizabooth at April 23, 2007 12:37 AM

Those are lovely! It definitely pulls the colours out on the varigated, but lets the pattern do the talking on the plain. Yummy :D

Posted by: Bryony at April 23, 2007 02:44 AM

dude, you read my mind! This is the perfect pattern for my dad. I was looking for something like a two by two rib that wouldn't bore me to death and wouldn't look exactly like all his other socks. I owe you one! Great job :) Charade is a nice name, but will be Sandra Socks to me!

Posted by: kaitlyn at April 23, 2007 07:17 AM

Great job! I love both socks for different reasons. Can't wait to give the pattern a try.

Posted by: lola at April 23, 2007 07:42 AM

very nice! it's rare to find a pattern that works for both variegated and solid yarns!

Posted by: stacey at April 23, 2007 09:11 AM

Cute! I checked out the pattern and must find out where you got the owl shoes! So awesome.

Posted by: Lynn at April 23, 2007 12:28 PM

Beautiful socks! Thanks for sharing the pattern.

Posted by: Miss T at April 23, 2007 12:32 PM

I love the gauge in the pattern. "Meh"

I just laughed for like ten minutes about that.

Posted by: elizabeth at April 23, 2007 01:44 PM

nice socks! i like the way the vintage one looks. i've made many socks with that herringbone stitch pattern. it works well with pretty much any kind of yarn. i've done it with solids, stripes, and koigu. ref. my flickr gallery for examples if you need convincing of the variegated working with that pattern.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keohinani/sets/1292651/?page=2

Posted by: keohinani at April 23, 2007 06:11 PM

I love the Yarntini sock - I have some of that in my stash! Thank you for the sock pattern - it rocks!

Posted by: stacey at April 23, 2007 07:30 PM

Thanks for the pattern! =) I like the variegated version better, personally.

Posted by: Tiffany at April 23, 2007 07:49 PM

Thanks for the great pattern. I downloaded it and am about to cast on for it right now. I was looking for a different pattern to knit. yay!!!

Posted by: Tawana at April 23, 2007 08:22 PM

Wow, these socks are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing the pattern, I will definitely try my hands at them very soon! Great work!

Posted by: Dipsy D. at April 24, 2007 01:13 AM

I am SO excited by this pattern!

Glad I helped you like both versions! They are so fantastic! Yay!!!

Posted by: Leah at April 24, 2007 08:42 PM

OK if you get two comments from me sorry.

I'm SO excited by this pattern! The MEH thing totally has me & Isaac cracking up. We love Meh.

Glad I could help you feel OK about both yarns. I really think they both look awesome!

Posted by: Leah at April 24, 2007 08:47 PM

I love them! I so totally thought I commented about how much I love these but I guess I didn't! (Maybe I commented on Flickr.. hmm) Anyways, they both turned out gorgeous, and they both have high points that are different than the others high points. And man, every time I see that Yarntini colorway I fall even more in love with it. I need to look into selling my soul to get some!! :)

Posted by: Teenuh at April 25, 2007 02:24 AM

What an awesome sock pattern! And it does indeed look quite different in the varigated yarn (but nice!) Thanks for making it available, you ROCK!

Posted by: Katie at April 25, 2007 10:56 AM

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

Posted by: Sharon at April 25, 2007 11:34 AM

I wasn't so into the variegated ones at first, but on second look, I love how each little herringbone stitch shows the different colors of this yarn. Great job; I will probably make this pattern someday.

Posted by: Caitlin at April 25, 2007 01:48 PM

Thank you so much for the pattern- I have just cast on my Yarn Pirate "Rosie" - I'll let you know how it turns out.

Posted by: Sarah at April 25, 2007 01:55 PM

Thanks for the great pattern! I love both versions.

Posted by: Ina at April 26, 2007 12:28 PM

what can I say I'm partial to the grey :) Great pattern!

Posted by: Marie at April 26, 2007 04:43 PM

So very elegant! And just in time for Sockapalooza 4!

Posted by: Jeanne at April 26, 2007 09:35 PM

Woohoo! I love this sock and just happen to have some Vintage variegated coming to me from a sweet fairy. :)

I can't wait to knit these with it. yay!

Posted by: frecklegirl jess at April 26, 2007 10:17 PM

thanks so much for the pattern! Both socks look wonderful.

Posted by: eyeleen at April 26, 2007 11:15 PM

Woo-hoo! They both look awesome, and I can't wait to try the pattern! BTW you inspired me to join Sockapalooza this year, since it looked like way too much fun last year.

Posted by: Ashley at April 27, 2007 11:17 AM

Eeeeee! Sandra, you totally made my week. Can't wait to make it. Both socks are just gorgeous.

Posted by: shirley at April 28, 2007 09:50 AM

What a fab pattern! Well done.

I like both socks equally, and think hubby would really go for this in a man-colour. :) Thanks for sharing it.

Posted by: Put a Sock in it at May 2, 2007 06:52 PM

Hey I just found this pattern on Ravelry and I can't wait to cast on. Do you know anyone that's done them two at a time on one long circ? Maybe I can see if they've reorganized the pattern a lil bit rather than trying to do it (and inevitably screwing it up) myself.

Posted by: Amber at June 20, 2007 03:37 PM

Ok, I feel stupid. I have looked right for the pattern download and all I see is white. Has it moved?

Posted by: Sally at January 12, 2008 12:16 AM

I'd love to hsve s copy of your pattern for the Charade socks, but I'm not a member of Ravelry! Is there another place where this is available?
Thanks,
Janet

Posted by: Janet at February 25, 2008 06:08 PM

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