Socks the Cat is aptly named because:

1. He is knitted from sock yarn.
2. Parts of his construction are very similar to knitting a sock.
3. He has socks!

Materials:

• About 100 yards of fingering weight yarn for body.
• Small amount of white yarn for sock, tip of tail, and muzzle.
• Small amount of yarn for collar
• Small amount of yarn for fish
• Button (for collar)
• Plastic pellets
• Embroidery floss (black, white, and nose color if you will be stitching on nose.
• Plastic safety nose (9.5mm) (optional)
• Stuffing
• Straight pins (to help with eye, ear, and muzzle placement)
• Locking stitch marker
• #1 (2.25mm) double pointed needles (some extras help)
• Embroidery needle

Gauge:
This is not crucial, but you want to knit socks with small enough needles that you can’t see through the fabric you are creating.

Socks and Shellie are also available for sale as a kits with “orange tabby” or “tortoiseshell cat” yarn that is hand painted specifically for this project. Socks and Shellie also look adorable knitted from any sock yarn, particularly self striping sock yarn!

Because the yarn is hand painted, no two “Socks” or Shellies will be exactly alike!

Pattern is a 47 page pattern with many, many photos to help you along the way.

Socks the Cat kit

Shellie the Tortie kit

Basic Summary of pattern:

Socks and Shellie are knit from the top of the head down seamlessly except for the ears and muzzle. First the head is knit, then the neck. Next come the shoulders and mid-section increases. After your increases you will separate the arms from the body putting the arms on waste yarn while you continue with the body. After the trunk is knit you will shape the rear end. The instructions for this part are very similar to knitting a heel flap, turning a heel, and picking up stitches for a rapidly decreased gusset. This makes the cat sit purrfectly unassisted! Next, the stitches are separated into left and right and legs are knitted one at a time. Stitches are cast on at the crotch during this process. Now you stuff the head and up to the arms, finish the arms, knit the tail, and knit the ears, muzzle and accessories, and add details such as eyes, claws, mouth and nose.

Finished size is about 10” tall / long.