I will always maintain that knitted socks are required to give you a boost of serotonin whenever you see them. Otherwise, what are we even doing here? This design fits the bill. You can add the color work details with duplicate stitch or Intarsia in the round if preferred. I like doing mine with duplicate stitch because it’s simpler during the knitting and I enjoy an evening of duplicate stitch. The ears are added with some simple short row shaping while you work the ribbing. The face can be put on the front, back, or sides. I have sized this design for infants – big adults.

Sizes: Infant (Baby, 2-3 years, 4-5 years) (Child, X Small, Small) (Medium, Large, X large) to fit an actual arch circumference of roughly
3.25” (3.5”, 4”, 5”) (6”, 7”, 8”) (9”, 10”, 11”)/8.5 (9, 10, 12.5) (15, 18, 20.5) (23, 25.5, 28) cm
The finished sock circumference at arch will measure roughly
3” (3.25”, 3.5”, 4.5”) (5”, 6”, 7”) (8”, 9”, 10”)/7.5 (8.5, 9, 11.5) (12.5, 15.5, 18) (20.5, 23, 25.5) cm

Yarn: 50 – 450 yards/45 – 415 meters of sock weight yarn. I recommend a machine washable yarn with roughly 25% nylon content.

Needles: Size US 2/2.75 mm and US 1.5/2.5 mm circular needles with an appropriate size cable for your preferred method of working in the round, or size needed to obtain gauge and one size smaller. You may substitute double-point needles if preferred to work in the round.

Gauge: Roughly 28 stitches and 36 rows in Stockinette stitch on larger needles, worked in the round. Please note, the gauge swatch should be washed and dried however you are planning to wash the finished socks. If you plan to machine wash, please do so before measuring gauge. What a pain, I know, but socks are too much work to have not fit you after one wash!

Notions: 2 regular stitch markers, 2 locking stitch markers (optional, if making paw on sole with duplicate stitch), tapestry needle, and sock blockers (optional).

Techniques: Knitting in the round, Judy’s Magic Cast On (can sub other toe-up cast on if preferred), short rows, basic increases and decreases, Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (can substitute another stretchy bind off if preferred), and duplicate stitch (can substitute Intarsia in the round if preferred).

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