Cat Bordhi Zebra Socks Knitting Pattern

Zebra Socks by Cat Bordhi

What is Being Made

Zebra Socks are wildlife-themed socks designed by Cat Bordhi, featuring a distinctive two-tone colorway that mimics zebra stripes. These socks are sized for babies through adults, making them a versatile project for knitters of various skill levels. The pattern offers multiple size options including baby, child's small and large, woman's small/medium/large, and man's medium/large. The finished circumference ranges from 5 inches for babies to 10 inches for men's large sizes. Optional knee-sock variations are also available for those preferring extended leg length.

Techniques Used

Zebra Socks are worked using several key knitting techniques that create a seamless, professional finish:

• Bottom-up construction: The socks are knitted from the cuff down to the toe, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and a traditional sock-building approach
• Seamless, worked in the round: Using circular needles or double-pointed needles, the entire sock is constructed in continuous rounds, eliminating the need for seaming
• Striping: The pattern features alternating black and white stripes throughout, creating the zebra effect. Notably, each toe starts with a different color—one begins with black while the other starts with white, ensuring no two pairs are identical
• Sweet Tomato Heel: Cat Bordhi's signature heel technique is featured in this pattern. This innovative short-row heel closes gaps without holes, wraps, or complex acrobatics, creating a smooth, nearly perfect finish. Once understood, the Sweet Tomato Heel requires no written instructions, making it intuitive for experienced knitters
• Optional mane detail: Bouncy tendrils that form an optional mane are worked in place as you knit, adding a playful three-dimensional element to the design

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches worked in the round. The construction uses stockinette stitch as the primary fabric, created through knit rounds. The cuff features a purl round followed by eight rounds of knitting in the same color before the hem is folded to the inside and sewn down. The heel utilizes Cat Bordhi's proprietary short-row technique, which involves rhythmic, intuitive movements rather than complex stitch manipulations. The pattern accommodates various gauges and needle sizes, allowing knitters to customize their tension and needle choice while maintaining proper fit.

Materials

Zebra Socks call for Frog Tree Pediboo yarn, a blend of 80% merino and 20% bamboo, offering both warmth and breathability. Each color requires one 100-gram skein with 255 yards of yardage. The pattern specifies one skein of white and one skein of black for a single adult pair; children's sizes require less yardage, allowing for two pairs from the same skeins. Adults making a second pair will need an additional skein of each color.

Needles should be US size 1 (2.5 mm) or any size that produces a gauge of 32 stitches over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in the round. Knitters may choose between one long circular needle, two circular needles, or double-pointed needles, with the option to use a circular needle for trying on during the heel. Four distinct stitch markers labeled A, B, C, and D are required to track pattern repeats and construction points throughout the sock.

Additional Notes

The finished measurements are designed approximately 15% smaller than the actual circumference just above the ball of the foot to allow for comfortable stretch and fit. This pattern is part of Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel Socks collection, and the full eBook containing additional patterns in this series is available for purchase separately.