Gardiner Yarn Works Lobster Pot Socks Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Lobster Pot Socks

What Is Being Made

The Gardiner Yarn Works Lobster Pot Socks are a pair of women's medium fingering-weight socks designed by Chrissy Gardiner. These socks feature a distinctive cable pattern that visually resembles lobster claws, creating an eye-catching decorative element that adorns the leg and instep of the finished garment. The socks are sized to fit a foot circumference of 8 inches and represent an intermediate-level knitting project.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that make it an engaging intermediate project:

• Seamless, top-down construction: The socks are worked from the cuff downward in a continuous manner, eliminating the need for seaming
• Worked in the round: The entire sock is knitted circularly using either double-pointed needles or circular needles, maintaining consistent stitch tension throughout
• Cable patterns: A twisty, turny cable stitch pattern forms the signature lobster claw motif that distinguishes these socks
• Heel options: The pattern includes instructions for two different heel construction methods—a short row heel and a traditional heel flap—allowing knitters to choose their preferred technique

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable work. Core stitches include knit stitches, purl stitches, knit two together decreases, purl two together decreases, slip stitches, and slip slip knit decreases. The signature element is the Lobster Claw Cable Pattern, which is worked over 24 rounds and repeated to create the distinctive textured design on the instep and leg portions of the sock.

Materials and Tools

Completing the Gardiner Yarn Works Lobster Pot Socks requires approximately 400 yards of fingering-weight yarn. The sample shown uses Cascade Heritage in color #5618. Knitters will need size 1 (2.5mm) needles to achieve the required gauge of 32 stitches and 40 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Needles may be either a set of five size 1 double-pointed needles or a pair of 32-inch size 1 circular needles, depending on the knitter's preference for the seamless in-the-round construction method. Additional tools include a cable needle for executing the cable pattern and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.