Zig Your Zag

Zig Your Zag Socks by Corrine Walcher

What Is Being Made

Zig Your Zag socks are a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Corrine Walcher featuring mirrored zig-zaggy ribs throughout the leg and foot. These are stretchy, wearable socks that balance simplicity with visual interest through their distinctive ribbed texture pattern. The design offers three finished sizes: Small (7" around unstretched), Medium (8" around unstretched), and Large (9" around unstretched), making them suitable for a wide range of foot sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its signature mirrored zig-zag effect. The socks are knit in the round using either a set of five double-pointed needles or two circular needles, a traditional approach for seamless sock construction. The pattern incorporates cable stitches to achieve the zig-zaggy rib texture, specifically using left and right purl crossovers (2/1 LPC and 2/1 RPC) that create the mirrored visual pattern. Decreases are worked using standard shaping methods including knit two together (K2tog), purl two together (P2tog), and slip-slip-knit (SSK) techniques for tailoring the sock to fit properly around the foot and ankle.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the foundation stitch used to establish gauge and form the base fabric
• Ribbing – knit and purl combinations that create the stretchy, textured surface
• Cable stitches – specifically 2/1 left purl crossover (2/1 LPC) and 2/1 right purl crossover (2/1 RPC) to form the mirrored zig-zag pattern
• Decreases – K2tog, P2tog, and SSK for shaping the sock
• Slip stitches – used in cable work and as directional techniques throughout

Materials

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, a premium sock yarn containing 80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon. Each 100-gram skein provides 430 yards of yarn. The sample shown was knit in the Nitrogen colorway. The yarn weight is suitable for 3-ply and 4-ply applications, providing excellent elasticity and durability for everyday wear.

Needles: Size 1 US (2.5 mm) needles are required, either as a set of five double-pointed needles or as two circular needles. Knitters should select the needle type and size that allows them to achieve the specified gauge of 8 stitches per inch when working stockinette stitch in the round.