The possibilities afforded by slip-stitch cables worked over helical stripes are fascinating. The contrast between the two yarns means that even gorgeous hand-painted yarns can be used to show off cables, with argyle-like lines of both colors intertwining down the front of the leg.

The Helix Diamonds socks are knit top-down in the round, with helical stripes in two colors on leg and foot, and a solid-color short row heel and standard toe. The cables on the front of the socks are worked with slipped stitches, so you’re only handling one color at a time, and there are no jogs at the end of stripes. The cable pattern is both fully written out and fully charted.