Color Loops are a way to knit with stranded yarn vertically. In this book, I describe how I got the idea to use Color Loops to knit with color and texture. In the How-To section, there are instructions on how to set up the Color Loops and I knit a swatch sock tutorial that combines four of the basic designs. This is followed by 23 designs using Color Loops on socks. The best thing about Color Loops is that it is surprisingly easy! Other positive benefits of Color Loops include how the knitting remains stretchy, has no heavy or extra thick yarn floats, and has an attractive back side, too. Each design has a swatch sock photographed on a foot model, and another photo where the knitting is shown wrong side out. Many of the designs do not require any chart to follow, but if it helps to visually represent the design, there are charts to show the pattern. There are other vertically stranded knitting techniques out there, some of them with a long history, but this new technique gives a solution to the challenge of juggling different colors of yarn, and without the problem of having to weave in lots of yarns ends at the end of your project! This new way of knitting with color and texture is perfect for knitters of all experience levels. Although it can’t replace the ways we already knit in traditional methods, there are lots of possibilities to explore with the new world of Color Loops!

What is my obsession with V-neck circular yokes? I love the shaping possibilities. Here I am publishing my third design--and I think there will be more!

This yoke design may be scaled to any size because it uses a half circle for the back and single increases on each row to form triangles for a front v-neck. The yoke is knit back and forth in garter stitch following an easy formula.

My sister Esther Archer Lakhani has written a wonderful YA fantasy book called The Safekeeper. In honor of the series first installment, I designed these socks to have a straight colorful border containing some twists and turns that just might be intergalactic… You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens. If you want to find out what ...

This is a top-down v-neck circular yoke sweater constructed using short rows until reaching the V, then worked seamlessly in the round.

After publishing Knitloops Socks in the Spring + Summer 2021 issue of Knitty, I kept playing with 1-ft/30cm length Color Loops. I would like to share those ideas and encourage others to post projects of their self-striped socks using Color Loops.

Difficulty level: Super easy, but adventurous

This design can be knit with the all-over lace design as shown, or it can be simplified to have vertical lace panels alternated with stockinette. Color Loops is an easy way to strand the contrast color vertically so the lace pattern is framed--2-color lace! The pattern also includes directions for knitting 2-color twisted stitches, allowing the...

Inspired by the iconic elegance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I have designed and knit some judicial robes with a lace collar for our feet. The 1x1 ribbing echoes the pleating of her robes and the lace collar feature uses Color Loops to make lace webbing on reverse stockinette. However, you might choose to fold the cuff down so the stockinette side s...

Using two new techniques to make a classic knit, this sweater has both adventure and comfort built into the process and the result. The two-color yoke is knit with Color Loops, which are simply vertical strands in the form of a loop. The loop is easy to knit with and ends itself when it runs out so that there are no ends to weave in. The vertic...

This Color Loops sock design is reversible. The combination of lace and Color Loops looks good on either side. This sock also has a reversible heel flap.

This sock design is Harry Potter-themed, inspired by the feeling of magic when Color Loops are finished, with no ends to weave in!

Arendelle is a soft pullover with a Color Loops yoke. If you like every detail spelled out, this pattern is for you! If you are at all experienced using Color Loops, this sweater will be very easy, but explaining the technique of Color Loops to a first-timer isn’t easy so the pattern is long!