Thoughts on the Random Rib Socks

My eccentricities, as I've implied recently, tend to whisper rather than shout.  I love the idea of those little details that you don't see right away, like an interesting curtain bracket above a window or the glimpse of a Fair-Isle sock cuff just under a skirt hem.  Some time ago, when I saw a ribbed sweater of Teva Durham's and the Random Stripe Generator within an hour or so of each other, my subconscious rather liked the two ideas together.  Thus, the Random Rib Sock,

 

at first glance with an ordinary rib, but in fact a randomly-generated series of ribs, different on either sock.  The pattern has been written up in a wide variety of sizes, from woman's small to man's extra-large, and includes a unique rib for each sock.  The shaping itself is quite straightforward; the rib requires a fair amount of attention, as it does not of course settle into a repetitive rhythm, but it is not difficult once the sequence has been established.

I modified the pattern slightly from the written-up version for the socks in the photos because David has a high instep, and this made the generic sock sit very low over his ankle -- it was a simple matter of lengthening the heel flap to his heel measurement, and then continuing the gusset decreases down to the indicated number of stitches.

I don't (yet!) have a PDF writer, and so I've merely added the instructions to the photo description, in the new Patterns album in the sidebar.

Comments

[--Deb]

Nifty--I like them!!

[le chat qui coud]

perfect!!!!

[debbie]

Thanks so much for the sock pattern. I can't wait to knit it up.

[David]

Holy cow! The lens makes it looks like I have pontoons for feet!! Next time we should get further away and use the zoom.
When do I get my next pair?
Black please, followed by grey, then maybe a lite green?

XXXOOO
I love 'em

[Barb in Texas]

What an excellent and subtle idea for socks! I have some burgundy "almost solid" sock yarn I've been meditating on for a few days that this concept would be perfect for.

As for the Nether Garments, yikes. I think I would go for reknitting the thighs with alternate skeins to see if that would break it up into narrow stripes.

[erin]

The socks are really cool!

[Elizabeth]

Mmmm, Man Socks! I am knitting a pair now with self patterning yarn but if I had known about these! oh well, I guess he gets these next time. I will defintiely try this pattern. Thanks so much.
I do love the random rib!

[Katy Sammons]

Do you know about this free PDF writer?
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Neat socks!

[Charity]

Fascinating! I love the idea of random ribs :0) Thanks!