Whiskers & Pawprints
Sometimes it just takes me a little while to get things finished. I've been working on a new sock design. It's a sock design meant to honor my aunt, who has spent an awful lot of time loving cats and involved in rescue projects and working to help whatever Humane Society she is living near. She's also the person who helped make sure that my Beezle found his forever home with us (my brother and his wife have a brother and sister to the Beeze). We were skeptical at first, but he worked perfectly and doesn't have too many bad habits.
I spent some time looking through my books for feline themed stitch patterns. I wanted to create a sock that was evocative of cats without being too over the top. I love our fur people, but it's easy to go over the top into crazy cat lady with cat themed clothing, and I didn't want to do that. When I first posted about this pattern, I was pleased that a number of people saw butterflies. While the main working title for these socks is "Whiskers and Pawprints", I subtitled them "Butterflies and Flowers" since I think the patterning can make you think of either, depending on the yarn you choose.
In this case, the yarn is medium weight Socks That Rock in the colorway "Amber". I picked it because it made me think of big orange tabby cats and it was very close to a semi-solid. I wanted a semi-solid, because I figured it would be easy for both the textured stitch and the lace element to get lost in the color. As it turns out, it's also a very appropriate color for Halloween, I think. So today I present an amber-colored gallery of sock images.
This is one of those socks that looks like it takes more time to knit than it really does. It has a perky little picot edging (it made me think of pointy cat ears) the leg of the sock carries the main design down to a shortrow heel (with a little decoration because my aunt likes a sock she can wear with Birkenstock type shoes) and then carries on down the top of the instep (the bottom is straight stockinette). The toe design is my attempt to create the suggestion of a cat paw.
I'm going to cast on for the second sock soon, and start working on writing up the pattern. As always with these sorts of posts, I'm open to hearing any opinions and suggestions that you might be willing to share.
That sock SO looks like a kitty sock. Can't wait for the pattern!
Oh my paws and whiskers! They are divine! I'm just wondering how it would look with a twisted rib. I do love the picot edging on the top though!
Those socks are lovely! What a great idea. I love them, and my cat loving daughter would do anything to have them.
A very cute pattern. The toe is especially adorable. Nice job!
I see what you mean about the two interpretations of the stitch pattern!
You've just shown me the ideal pattern for some socks for my Mother-in-Law. Put my name down for a copy of the pattern, please.
Now to go hunt up some suitable yarn!
What a beautiful tribute and an AWESOME pattern.
I LOVE IT!! I have an orange tabby and am so wanting to make some of them in his honour! Beautiful work
Ooooh, so darn cute! I also have an orange stripey kitty . . . these socks remind me so much of her markings!
Adorable! Are you going to give the socks to your Aunt as a surprise?
You are just too much! Now I thought the dragon socks were great, but since I don't own a dragon and do own 3 cats, this one really speaks to me. I love the paw!
They are perfect and I'm sure your aunt will be thrilled.
Wow - that's a great stitch pattern. I like the yarn color too.
I'm really impressed about your dad knitting. I'm all for men knitting. What is it that makes knitting such a feminine activity? My husband and brother can knit (my brother taught me how) and my dad is a master at the sewing machine. Men like building stuff - knitting and sewing can be very appealing to the mechanically-inclined.
I love this stitch pattern..It IS perfect in the orange, too. Fantastic!
Pretty sock! Love it in that colorway!
I'll be waiting impatiently for that pattern!
From top to toes, this sock is really pretty special. Do the whiskers eat up much yarn or did you find the usual yardage rules apply?
Love it. Except that I would have to chage the colors to match that of a meezer. But there is the Lucy colorway of STR.....
And do you design this sock as a toe up or a top down? I will be curious to see the finished pattern.
Love the kitty "toes".
Those are really cute. I really dig the toe - subtle, but it's there. Your aunt will love them.
I live in florida and on first glance I saw dragon flies but I do see the catness of them. Either way I think its a great pattern and a great sock!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Makes me want to knit socks. And the color is perfect, too.
That is a really beautiful pattern. Love it.
What a GREAT idea for the socks, they are so clever! And I don't even care much for cats, but I can think of a few people that I could make these for. And the color is perfect for the pattern and the season.
Quick question-on the dragon socks, do you mean all of the Ms to be left leaning? Or does it really matter?
Beautiful socks! Fabulous!
Ooh, lovely sock! Like several commenters I have an orange tabby and perhaps he'll have to be honored with some orange socks...
Question for you - is the sock stretchy? It seems (although I've never knit that kind of stitch, so I'm asking out of total ignorance) that the whiskers might interfere with stretchiness.
love that pattern.
I think I must have it!
Absolutely love that sock! And, even though I'm not a huge sock person myself, I would totally work up a pair of these! Can't wait to see the pattern! Good luck!
Totally cool sock!
I MUST HAVE THAT PATTERN! It is awesome! I love it as does my grandmother who looked over my should and said, "Please make me those." LOL
Has someone suggested that you use this stitch pattern for your red scarf yet? I think it would be a very intriguing, textured scarf to have!