When a good friend of ours brought to our attention that May 1-10 is International Cri du Chat Awareness Week, we were as in the dark as you probably are, but when she explained that one way to shed light on the subject involves socks, we could see where she was headed!

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Because our friend’s good friend has a child with Cri du Chat Syndrome, they were able to explain to us that it is a rare genetic disorder associated with a wide range of intellectual and developmental abilities. Cri du chat is French for “cat’s cry” and refers to the particular cry that a newborn with the syndrome might make. The disorder is also known as 5p- (minus) because it is caused by a deletion on the short (“p”) arm of chromosome number five… Which leads us back to socks!

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

An Awareness Week call to action among the Cri du Chat community and those who care is to wear one striped sock long and one striped sock short, representing one whole and one deleted chromosome. They don’t have to be hand-knit socks, but since our friend is also one heck of a sock knitter, these are!

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

The serious point of silly socks is to champion the struggles of the people and families with Cri du Chat. A number of therapies have been found useful, but early intervention is critical and so is supporting those who face these challenges. Please consider donating directly to the 5p- Society!

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

In the middle of Awareness Week is Cri du Chat Awareness Day: today, May 5th. We are happy to do our part by sharing our friends’ stripey versions of our Easy Heel Colorblock Socks Pattern. You can’t knit them in time for today’s action, but you can knit them for everyday wear, and then please remember to slouch one down next May 5th!

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Please learn more about Cri du Chat Syndrome at fivepminus.org.

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoStripeySocks, and #PurlSohoPosy. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

2-4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is 159 yards/ 50 grams. (NOTE: We no longer offer Posy, but choose from one of our other fingering weight yarns.)

  • Color A: Cuff, Toe + Heel
    • 1 (1, 2) skeins of Posy; approximately 105-135 (130-158, 205-235) yards required
  • Colors B and C: Stripes for 4 x 4 and 2 x 2 Stripe Pattern
    • Color B: 1 skein of Posy; approximately 60-79 (120-140, 140-158) yards required
    • Color C: 1 skein of Posy; approximately 60-79 (120-140, 140-158) yards required
  • Colors B and C: Stripes for 4 x 2 Stripe Pattern
    • Color B: 1 (2, 2) skeins of Posy; approximately 85-105 (165-185, 185-205) yards required
    • Color C: 1 (1, 1) skein of Posy; approximately 50-70 (60-79, 70-79) yards required

You will also need…

We knit up our sock samples in the following color palettes and sizes…

4 x 4 Stripe, Size 6

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Marigold Orange; Color B: Heirloom White; Color C: Azalea Glow

4 x 4 Stripe, Size 8

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Pink Papaya; Color B: Pink Nectar; Color C: Sour Gooseberry

4 x 4 Stripe, Size 10

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Teal Twilight; Color B: Beetle Blue; Color C: Fern Green

4 x 2 Stripe, Size 6

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Winter Heath; Color B: Lilac Mist; Color C: Sour Gooseberry

4 x 2 Stripe, Size 8

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Sour Gooseberry; Color B: Azalea Glow; Color C: Heirloom White

4 x 2 Stripe, Size 10

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Fern Green; Color B: Winter Heath; Color C: Teal Twilight

2 x 2 Stripe, Size 6

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Pink Papaya; Color B: Pink Nectar; Color C: Marigold Orange

2 x 2 Stripe, Size 6

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Color A: Sour Gooseberry; Color B: Mourning Dove; Color C: Pink Papaya

Gauge

34 stitches and 50 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

6 (7, 8, 9, 10) inches, to fit Kids to Adults

  • Foot Circumference: 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) inches, comfortably stretching 1-2 inches
  • Foot Length: Adjustable

Note

Stripes In The Round: Jogless Stripes

To knit these striped socks without a visible jog line at the end of round, follow our Stripes in the Round: Jogless Stripes Tutorial.

Pattern

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho

Our Easy Heel Colorblock Socks Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download only.

To make the striped version of this pattern, follow the pattern as written using Color A for the Cuff, Heel and Toe, and using Color B and Color C with your chosen stripe pattern as the Main Colors.

Stripe Patterns

4 x 4

For a 4 x 4 Stripe Pattern, starting with Color B, knit 4 rounds. Then, with Color C, knit 4 rounds. Repeat these 8 rounds.

4 x 2

For a 4 x 2 Stripe Pattern, starting with Color B, knit 4 rounds. Then, with Color C, knit 2 rounds. Repeat these 6 rounds.

2 x 2

For a 2 x 2 Stripe Pattern, starting with Color B, knit 2 rounds. Then, with Color C, knit 2 rounds. Repeat these 4 rounds.

Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness | Purl Soho