Went to the sale bin and picked out some nice black, purple, and red Marathon (25% wool, I think)for me. Fiddled with it and came up with a most pleasing design which looks good, is super mindless, and yet not boring:
Do your usual cast on with favorite yarn, needles, and # of stitches. Join in CC color and k 1, p1 around. When you get around; pick up the cast on yarn and k the ks and p the ps around where you change to CC color (don't forget to do the twist thing each time). Very easy and probably in several books and I certainly will wait till I think of a more complicated pattern to claim as my own. This is a great pattern when you are short enough yarn to make the whole pr. of one yarn and does not really make stripes as you have those p bumps to break up the solid lines. AND you do not have to think about jogs or carrying 2 colors. I did 2 1/2" of alternating purple and black and then changed to red and black for almost 2" then back to purple and black. It would be great to use this pattern with a variegated yarn. Also a great pattern for kids socks.