There are few patterns for argyles available in the knitters' current resources, aside from the odd leaflet some people might be lucky enough to have in their vintage collections. Unless you have a copy of The Good Housekeeping Needlecraft Encyclopedia (copyright 1947) like Julie does, you're sort of on your own (don't ask her for a copy, just congratulate her on her good fortune). If you're brave, like Djenn or Jonathan, you proceed anyway (with perhaps a little help from the sockknitter's tutorial . . . I have mentioned the socknitters tutorial haven't I? You really should go look at the sockknitter's tutorial). These knitters are proof positive that all you need is yarn, the basics of sock knitting, and no fear.
And please don't be offended on Stephanie's behalf that I haven't already mentioned that she's knitting argyles. She knows that I know.
So in the spirit of saving something that was once so common to knitting that has since become so obscure, I am offering the chart for the very argyle sock that is on my needles (click on it for better visibility). The diamonds are 34 stitches across to make a 68 stitch pattern, plus two for the seam selvage because, yes, they are knit flat (until the heel flap -- more on that later). You can knit anything you want into socks if you're willing to sew a seam up the back. One knitter suggested that the seam is the prime obstacle to more people undertaking the argyle, but another suggested it might just be that they're ugly (no links, because they know who they are. I love them both). I personally favour a theory that involves an intersection of preppy trauma with an unwarranted reputation for difficulty. Kind of like James Spader, but in a sock.
I know you might not want to knit a 70 stitch sock, so here's the same deal for a 66 stitch version.
The diamonds here are 32 stitches across for a sock with a total stitch count of 64 plus 2 stitches for selvages. If you wanted a sock with even fewer stitches, you'd draw up a graph for diamonds that are 30 stitches across for a total of 60 plus 2, and so forth. Got that? Once I finish the pink socks, I have promised the Mister that I will knit him a wild pair. We're still discussing colours, but I know my gauge and his foot necessitate an 80 stitch version which will look, all told, something like this.
Had enough?
I had a post a few months ago about places on the web for argylistas, so if you're new to this blog and are interested in argyles, go check it out.
I really like that last one, the colours are awesome!
Posted by: Samantha | July 21, 2006 at 08:40 PM
Quit it i am already impatient for my yarn to come stop making it worse! I want to make argyle everything.
Of course I have a hard time doing 2 colour knitting but everytime I want to learn a new knitting skill I jump right in. When I wanted to learn cables I picked this celtic woven knot repeat. I want to knit with more than one colour I'll do argyle. If it ever gets here.
Yours sitting here with a case of unrequited argyle lust,
Jinxsa
Posted by: Jinxsa | July 21, 2006 at 08:54 PM
Thanks for sharing those. My grandmother was really after me to learn to knit -- I've been knitting since January, now -- and very anxious that I learn to make socks, as she did. I did manage to learn socks, but not argyles ("MINE were argyles," she told me. "I knitted them on the streetcar."), before she passed away a couple of weeks ago. I still have argyles on the brain, so this will help a great deal!
Posted by: Valerie in San Diego | July 21, 2006 at 09:40 PM
Oh, I just love the reference to James Spader -- I'm thinking his role as Stef in "Pretty in Pink" -- the cruel, callous rich kid.
Posted by: Kathy | July 21, 2006 at 10:15 PM
My mother-in-law hasn't knit since her high school years in the 40's. *All* she ever knit were socks - mostly argyles. For herself, she used angora yarn as the single line (her brother refused to wear angora-trimmed socks, though). She knitted in, rather than duplicate stitching the line.
Too bad she no longer has the patterns! Hers were seamed, too.
Posted by: Sara | July 21, 2006 at 10:21 PM
James Spader. Heeheehee. Yeah, I can definitely see that.
Thanks for the charts - and the suggestions about altering them for size/gauge specificities. (and the link!) I like the effect you've gotten from working the single-stitch cross-line in the color of the "other" diamond. Very nice.
Looking forward to further posts and pics of the sock!
Posted by: Djenn | July 21, 2006 at 11:18 PM
If you scroll by those charts sort of fast, they make you really dizzy.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 22, 2006 at 12:44 AM
Charts appreciated! I can do flat, yeah. I don't mind a seam, no.
Posted by: Laurie | July 22, 2006 at 06:50 AM
I love argyle socks. It's the intarsia that keeps me from trying them. I'm terrified of intarsia. I used to be terrified of socks, so there is hope for me.
Posted by: Kat | July 22, 2006 at 09:39 AM
I think that this is called "enabling" and I am weak at resisting all things that are fibre related.
*Patons has several sock books for the Kroy line of yarn. I have one of them (will try to find it) and it does have a pattern in it for Argyle socks.
Posted by: Shell | July 22, 2006 at 11:44 AM
yum, argyle!
I have always wanted to knit argyles... I just need to find the right stash yarn for it and get over my issues with intarsia. I have some pamphlet that has argyle socks in it, and I love the sockknitters one.
thanks, enabler! :P
Posted by: jess | July 22, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Argh. I'll
keep resisting...
Posted by: S.Kate | July 22, 2006 at 12:42 PM
Oh sure, two days after I order the yellow-orange-red-black yarn, you come up with orange, red and grey, which is SO MUCH BETTER. Sigh.
But here's my question, after perusing three argyle sock patterns last night, why must they be knit in the flat up to the heel? Am I being dumb? Why can't they be knit in the round?
Posted by: Martha | July 23, 2006 at 08:41 AM
I smell an Argyle-along.
Posted by: Beth S. | July 23, 2006 at 09:19 AM
I'm a big fan of your blog and have loved watching your argyles. Your mention of the 1974 book reminded me of a book my husband's aunt found at a library book sale and sent to me. For anyone who is also lucky like me, the Good Housekeeping New Complete Book of Needlecraft from 1971 has two pages on doing men's argyle socks, complete with chart. I'm sure this could be helpful. Huzzah!
Posted by: Nancy in Redmond, WA | July 23, 2006 at 02:43 PM
I have a question....The socknitters tutorial says to work the diagonal lines of argyle in duplicate stitch. Is there a way to avoid this? Thanks! I'm excited about all this argyle-knitting information.
Posted by: Shannon | July 23, 2006 at 06:08 PM
Hey!
More like Andrew McCarthy.
Posted by: Juno | July 24, 2006 at 03:32 PM
For anyone who's interested, I have a pattern for argyle socks from McCall's 1964.
Posted by: Lee | July 24, 2006 at 06:10 PM
Love the charts and all, but the gals down at the shop and I have been pulling our hair out trying to figure out how to we make our own charts, where we can input our own images/color into each square.
Do tell your secret...please?
We do have the graph paper making down through microsoft.
Posted by: Bonnie Boheme | July 24, 2006 at 07:26 PM