Cat socks

Cat Socks by Raewyn Read-Eden

What is Being Made

These are women's socks designed to fit a size 8 medium width foot, featuring a charming cat and paw print wall pattern. The socks are knitted from the cuff down and can be customized in length by adjusting how many rows you knit before beginning the heel. The finished socks showcase a decorative brick wall design with cat motifs, making them a playful and personalized accessory.

Primary Construction and Techniques

The Cat Socks utilize several key knitting techniques to achieve their finished design. The main body of the sock is worked in stocking stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for comfortable everyday wear. A short row heel is incorporated to provide a well-fitted heel cup that contours to the foot. The wall pattern itself is created using slip stitch techniques during the knitting process, establishing the base brick wall structure. Once both socks are complete, the cat and paw print details are added using the duplicate stitch method, which allows for precise colorwork without the complexity of stranded knitting.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) for the main sock body
• Slip stitch for creating the wall pattern structure
• Duplicate stitch for adding the cat and paw print embellishments after knitting is complete

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This intermediate-level pattern requires 4-ply fingering weight yarn in four coordinating colors. The designer used RevivedesignsNZ Merino sock yarn for the original sample. Yardage requirements are as follows:

• Main Color (MC): 120 metres / 132 yards for the background
• Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 120 metres / 132 yards for the brickwork
• Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 40 metres / 44 yards for the cement
• Contrast Color 3 (CC3): 5 metres / 6 yards for the cat and paw prints

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for 2.75mm (US 2) circular needles or a set of double-pointed needles, with the specific size dependent on achieving the correct gauge for your yarn. The designer knitted the original sample using 23 cm / 9 inch circular needles. However, the pattern is versatile and can be worked using alternative needle methods: long circular needles with the magic loop technique or a traditional set of double-pointed needles, allowing knitters to choose their preferred sock knitting method.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic sock construction and are comfortable working with multiple colors and techniques. Familiarity with short row heels, slip stitch colorwork, and duplicate stitch embellishment is beneficial for successfully completing this project.