Coraline

I didn’t make a PDF for this pattern because it’s not anything overly complicated. It’s really just guidelines for making jogless stripes and using scrap yarns to your advantage.

But I still wanted to release something on it because Coraline is such an adorable book (and movie). I selected the dark blue and bright yellow for the main and contrasting colors because it reminded me of her hair and raincoat and boots in the film.

This is a sock I think Coraline would wear. She’s a resourceful girl who isn’t afraid of adventures. She’s smart, witty, and brave. If Coraline were a knitter, I think she’d definitely find uses for all of her scrap yarn and make something more beautiful than this.

I thought about knitting jacquard stars onto the socks, but I remembered Coraline’s striped socks from the film, so I went with stripes instead. A lot easier if you ask me!

This sock is officially endorsed by my black cat as an authentic Coraline-esque piece of footwear.he was not available for photos, so you’ll have to settle for my other cat loving it up.

I recently purchased a set of five 100 yard mini skeins of semi-solids with the intention that I would knit a lovely pair of Fair Isle socks, but I decided to knit something stripey instead.

I’m a sucker for rainbows – I just love the colors and they way they look together, especially when I can get some dark and light variations in there. And honestly, I cut out 3 other colors I wanted to include in the stripes because thinking about all those ends was giving me a bit of a migraine.

The yarns used, from cuff to the last pink stripe, are:

- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Lemongrass Luncheon (also stripe #3, heel, and toe)
- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Cruisin for a Blue Sin (also stripe # 7)
- dkknits technicolor smoosh toes, Happy Holly Days (leftover from Temperance!, also on the toe)
- dkknits technicolor smoosh toes, My Snowman’s Nose (also on the toe)
- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Leapin Leprechaun
- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Countin Clovers
- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Loungin Lagoon
- Spunky Eclectic Skinny Sock, mystery purple
- dkknits technicolor dream toes, Feminist Fuschia

For one sock, I used the following:

40 grams of Crusin for a Blue Sin (just shy of 150 yards) and 30 grams of Lemongrass Luncheon (a little over 100 yards). Each stripe used about 1 gram of yarn. For the colors that have two stripes, I used less than 1.5 grams of each total. This is an excellent way to use up sock yarn scraps if you can’t commit to making a blanket.

The sock is taller than Monkey by 1.75 inches. Because of this, I incorporated a set of decreases into the mix.

I used the stationary jogless stripe method from the ever so amazing TechKnitter in order to make my stripes perfectly lovely. And, would you believe it, I actually used DPNs for the entire sock. Underheard of, I know. I always knit Magic Loop or w/ two circular needles.

So if you’d like to knit a Coraline sock, I’ve included guidelines below. Although, I have to say my little heart would break if you knit a Coraline scrappy sock and didn’t use blue yarn for one of the main colors.

Happy knitting!

Materials:
- A set of 5 US #1 (2.25mm) DPN
- 300 yds +/- of MC (shown in dark blue)
- 200 yards +/- of CC1 (shown in yellow)
- 8 yards +/- of CC 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (shown in light green, dark green, light blue, purple, and pink)
- 16 yards +/- of CC 2 and 3 (shown in red and orange)
- Stitch markers

Notes:
This is a sock recipe, not a pattern. If you choose to do fewer stripes, you will need additional amounts of your main color. I have included instructions for stationary jogless stripes because it is a main feature of the recipe.

Instructions:
Using CC1, cast on 64 sts and join in the round, placing a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Knit in k2, p2 ribbing for approximately 12 rounds. Change to MC and knit for 2 inches. On the next round, decrease once at the beginning of each DPN by knitting two stitches together (k2tog). You now have 60 stitches. Continue in MC for 1 inch (3 inches total).

To obtain a rainbow striping pattern, knit these four rows in this color order: CC2, CC3, CC1, CC4, CC5, CC6, MC, CC7, CC8.
Switch to CC yarn of your choice. To obtain jogless stripes, knit the following four rows in each CC.
Round 1: knit all stitches
Round 2: slip the first stitch of the round purlwise, knit all remaining stitches
Round 3: knit all stitches
Round 4: knit all stitches

After completing 9 stripes of 4 rows each, switch to MC and continue knitting for 1.5 inches.

Switch to CC1 and knit 1 row across 30 stitches (two DPNs). Purl one row, and begin to knit a short row heel. I did my short row heel across DPNs 4 and 1 so that the row changes would line up across the back of my calf like a seam.

Switch to MC and continue knitting the foot until it is approximately 2.5 inches shorter than desired length. Switch to CC2 and knit 4 rows using the jogless stripe pattern above. Switch to CC3 and do the same. Switch to CC1, knit 2 rows and then begin toe decreases. Decrease to your desired toe width (I went down to 26 stitches total) and graft.