This isn't really a sock pattern so much as a way to pattern a sock. It was inspired by Sally Melville's Gander Blips pattern in her great book, _Styles_.
This version is adapted for circular knitting, and avoids long floats on the inside. It is great for using novelty yarns, or those beautiful leftovers not enough to do much with; it also has the advantage of adding color without affecting the stretch of the sock. Last but not least, 6 of 8 rounds are all in one color; 4 of 8 rounds are simple knitting!
Pattern repeat of 8 stitches.
Cut a length of the contrast yarn (CC) three times as long as the sock top will be high. Cut similar lengths until you have one for each of the 8-stitch sections.
If starting from the top, knit the rib in the main color (MC), then knit 3 plain rounds. If starting from the toe, knit 3 plain rounds after finishing the heel shaping. When finishing this 3rd plain round, weave in the start of the first contrast yarn bit on the wrong side. Bring the bit to the front of the work. You will do this for each length as you go around the sock.
Round 1: Purl 2 CC, leave CC on outside of work, Knit 1 MC, stranding
CC across the front of the last stitch, Purl 2 CC, leave CC hanging on
outside, knit 3 MC (weaving in next bit of CC
yarn for next repeat); repeat for each 8-stitch section. The
CC will remain on the outside of the work until the very end.
Round 2: (all in MC) Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 3.
Round 3 and 4: Knit 8 in MC.
Round 5: Knit 5 in MC; Purl 3 in CC (bring CC across outside
from its last use).
Round 6: (All in MC) Knit 5; Purl 3.
Round 7 & 8: Knit 8 in MC.
Repeat these 8 rounds for the pattern, keeping the contrast yarn moving
around the sock in a spiral; so the length used for the first 8-stitch
section will be used on the second section on the
next repeat.
Finish after round 4 or round 8, bringing the CC yarn to the inside of the sock after its last use and weaving it in.