Catch Two Cats Too

Catch Two Cats Too Socks by Arella Seaton Design

What is Being Made

Catch Two Cats Too is a downloadable knitting pattern for socks featuring a cat-themed mosaic colourwork design. The pattern is specifically created for cat lovers and offers a fun, visually striking way to incorporate feline imagery into everyday wearable accessories. The socks are available in three different sizes to accommodate various foot circumferences, making this design accessible to a wide range of knitters.

Mosaic Knitting Technique

This pattern utilizes mosaic knitting, a two-colour colourwork technique that creates the appearance of complex patterning while remaining surprisingly simple to execute. The beauty of mosaic knitting lies in its efficiency: only one yarn colour is actively worked at any given time, while the second colour rests at the beginning of the round. This eliminates the need for carrying yarn across the back of the work, a common challenge in traditional stranded colourwork.

The fundamental principle of mosaic knitting involves working each pattern row twice using the same colour yarn, then slipping the stitches designated for the alternate colour. All slipped stitches are worked as if to purl, maintaining consistent tension and creating clean, defined colour blocks that form the cat design.

Sock Construction and Shaping

The socks follow a classic cuff-down construction method, beginning at the leg and progressing toward the foot. The pattern includes the following structural elements:

• A small gusset for improved fit and comfort around the leg-to-foot transition
• Short row heels with optional reinforcement, allowing knitters to customize durability based on personal preference
• A round toe for a comfortable, seamless finish at the sock's end

The pattern provides separate instructions for working both the top and front of the leg as well as the sole and back of the foot, ensuring proper shaping throughout the entire sock.

Stitches Used

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern description, mosaic knitting primarily employs fundamental knitting stitches including knit stitches and purl stitches, combined with strategic yarn overs and decreases for shaping. The slipped stitches create the distinctive mosaic colourwork effect without requiring advanced techniques such as stranding or intarsia.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, also known as fingering weight, which is the standard choice for sock knitting due to its durability and ideal drape. The sample socks were knitted using two contrasting yarns:

• Drops Fabel in the colourway Light Pearl Grey
• Cascade Heritage in the colourway Fuschia

These yarn choices create a striking visual contrast that makes the cat mosaic design pop. The sample was worked using the pattern chart designated for size L. Knitters can substitute other 4-ply weight yarns in their preferred colour combinations while maintaining the same gauge and finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond absolute beginners. While mosaic knitting itself is straightforward, the intermediate classification likely reflects the combination of techniques required, including working in the round, managing colour changes, executing short row shaping, and following a stitch chart. Knitters comfortable with basic sock construction and simple colourwork will find this project manageable and rewarding.