Stripey Socks For Cri Du Chat Awareness
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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
2-4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is 159 yards/ 50 grams.
- 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…
- A set of US 0 (2 mm) double pointed needles
- A few yards of fingering weight scrap yarn
- An Easy Heel Colorblock Socks Pattern
We knit up our sock samples in the following color palettes and sizes…
4 x 4 Stripe, Size 6
Color A: Marigold Orange; Color B: Heirloom White; Color C: Azalea Glow
4 x 4 Stripe, Size 8
Color A: Pink Papaya; Color B: Pink Nectar; Color C: Sour Gooseberry
4 x 4 Stripe, Size 10
Color A: Teal Twilight; Color B: Beetle Blue; Color C: Fern Green
4 x 2 Stripe, Size 6
Color A: Winter Heath; Color B: Lilac Mist; Color C: Sour Gooseberry
4 x 2 Stripe, Size 8
Color A: Sour Gooseberry; Color B: Azalea Glow; Color C: Heirloom White
4 x 2 Stripe, Size 10
Color A: Fern Green; Color B: Winter Heath; Color C: Teal Twilight
2 x 2 Stripe, Size 6
Color A: Pink Papaya; Color B: Pink Nectar; Color C: Marigold Orange
2 x 2 Stripe, Size 6
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
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.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I love this strategy as a way to bring awareness to this rare genetic disorder. Snaps to you and your marketing peeps! Also, thanks for the pattern to your lovely socks. Happily, I have some of required yarn and I’ll be casting on immediately so I am ready to wear them next year at this time. Before then, I can wear them to bed.
A confession: the socks I am wearing now are also two different lengths (and widths). They were knit when I was a newbie and didn’t know that needles of different material (metal vs. bamboo) give different gauges. Oops! It is a shame they aren’t stripey like yours… I can’t wait to make these ON PURPOSE!
Love your store and website!
Hello from Montreal/Quebec Canada
Thank you for the pattern!
Love the yarn!! I have a question, though, about the Easy Heel Colorblock Sock pattern and sizing. My foot circumference is 9.5″. I was knitting along for 9″ circumference with the Pocket Posy yarn and am wondering if I should be knitting for 1-2 inches smaller. It seems that the pattern already considers the 1-2″ ease, but I am concerned that it will not be snug. (I have tried on the 3″ I have, and I am knitting to gauge, and it seems that it will be big.) To allow for the 1-2″ ease expected, should I be dropping down to a size 7 or 8???
Hello Ellen,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a great question, this topic is always confusing. the foot circumference comfortably stretch 1-2 inches so I think knitting the 8″ would be best for you!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Dear Purl Soho team. First of all a big thank you for all your beautiful patterns that you do share with us. I have a new addiction: knitting socks. I just finished a pair of socklets and loved how easy I could follow your pattern. I purchased the easy heel pattern and have a question on measuring the foot: by ‘foot circumference’ do you mean measuring the widest part of the foot?
Thanks in advance for your help and stay safe!
Oya
Hi Oya,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! I am so pleased to hear that you are enjoying our patterns! Yes, when we say foot circumference we mean the widest part of your foot.
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi there!
how could I do this with gentle giant yarn? And how would that yarn change my cast on etc…
Hi Tali,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, I would not recommend Gentle Giant for this pattern, the gauge of Gentle Giant is much too different you would essentially need an entirely new pattern in order to accommodate such a thick yarn. I would recommend checking out Ravelry, and seeing if there are any sock patterns for super bulky weight yarns available there!
Warmly,
Gianna