Gardiner Yarn Works Slippery Slope Socks Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Slippery Slope Socks

What Is Being Made

The Slippery Slope Socks are a pair of women's medium fingering-weight socks designed by Chrissy Gardiner. These socks feature a distinctive zigzagging cable rib pattern that creates visual interest in both gently variegated and solid-colored yarns. The socks are sized with an 8-inch foot circumference and are worked from the leg down to the foot using seamless, in-the-round knitting techniques.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced beginner knitting techniques to create a sophisticated finished garment:

• Top-Down Construction: The socks are worked from the cuff downward, beginning with a cast-on at the leg and progressing toward the heel and foot. This method allows for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the sock as you work.
• Seamless, In-the-Round Knitting: The entire sock is worked in continuous rounds, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish. This technique is ideal for socks as it produces a comfortable, seamless fabric against the skin.
• Cable Work: The zigzag cable rib pattern is the signature design element, requiring the use of a cable needle to create the twisted, interlocking stitches that form the decorative motif.
• Heel Flap Construction: The pattern includes a traditional heel flap worked back and forth on a single needle, creating a reinforced heel that provides durability and structure.

Stitches Used

The Slippery Slope Socks utilize fundamental knitting stitches combined to create the textured cable rib pattern:

• Knit (K): The basic knit stitch forms the foundation of the pattern.
• Purl (P): Purl stitches are combined with knit stitches to create the ribbed texture and definition of the cable pattern.
• Cable Stitches: Stitches are crossed over one another using a cable needle to create the zigzagging cable rib effect that gives the socks their distinctive appearance.
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): This decrease stitch is used for shaping as needed throughout the pattern.
• Knit Through Back Loop (K-tbl): This variation creates a twisted stitch that can add texture and definition to specific sections.
• Pick Up and Knit (Pu): This technique is used to pick up stitches along the edges of the heel flap to transition into the foot section.

Pattern Structure and Gauge

The pattern begins with 66 stitches cast on and divided across needles for working in the round. The first 10 rounds establish a knit-purl ribbing pattern using the sequence K1, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, which is repeated around. Following the ribbing, the Zigzag Rib pattern is worked from a chart or written instructions, continuing until the leg measures approximately 6 inches from the top or the desired length to the heel flap.

The recommended gauge is 32 stitches and 40 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which ensures the socks will fit properly and have the correct drape and stretch.

Materials Required

The Slippery Slope Socks call for specific materials to achieve the intended fit and appearance:

• Yarn: Approximately 400 yards of fingering-weight yarn. The pictured sample uses Crystal Palace Panda Wool Prints in the Basil Curry colorway, a variegated yarn that showcases the cable rib pattern beautifully.
• Needles: Either a set of two size 1 (2.25mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches, or a set of five size 1 (2.25mm) double-pointed needles. Circular needles allow for 33 stitches to be placed on each needle, while double-pointed needles distribute the stitches as 14, 19, 14, and 19 stitches across four needles.
• Additional Tools: A cable needle is essential for working the cable stitches that create the zigzag rib pattern.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as