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Cosplay Knitting: Demon Slayer Knee Socks

While more of an 'at-home' casual cosplay, knee socks can resemble the kyahan and tabi socks of the characters. I'm only making this post because I spent time making color charts while doing the leg warmers! Socks are typically an intermediate level project and color change socks increases that difficulty. I link to many tutorials to help but there will still be some research necessary for your particular project. 

Basic Design 

The concept of the knee sock versions is to knit a basic top-down knee sock pattern but include color charts and designs inspired by the characters for the leg portion. The foot portion is up to you. I think it would be fun to make the foot part the same color as the tabi, maybe include the sandal straps via fair-isle or duplicate stitch. The toes can be typical sock toes or you could make them split toe/tabi socks as well. I think it's just kind of a fun idea. 

Techniques to Know:

Supplies

Knee socks are often knit with a worsted weight yarn for some very warm socks. I would suggest a DK or light worsted weight since most of these socks will include color changes. Things look nicer with smaller stitches.  Remember that for socks a natural fiber is preferred. Wool or Wool-Nylon blends are standard for warm socks. Cotton is a great alternative to those who are wool averse.  Learn more about picking yarn for socks. 

Needle size will depend on the weight of the yarn. Most socks are knit in the round using circular or double pointed needle sets (DPN). 

To speed up your knitting process, you can knit both socks at the same time with circular needles!

You should have a tapestry needle for Duplicate stitches, Mattress stitch, or Kitchener stitch.

Character Suggestions

I've created some color charts and technique suggestions for the following characters. 

  • Nezuko
  • Tanjiro
  • Kyojuro
  • Shinobu
  • Zenitsu
The color charts were made from a knee sock leg template meant to fit a 34 - 37 cm (13 - 14.5 in) calf circumference. They are just images to download. These are untested and so the charts are not to be taken as gospel. Use as a basic reference and adjust according to your sock pattern.

Free Patterns

  • Shaping Knee Sock Pattern - More of a recipe than a strict pattern. You may need to adjust the color charts to fit your final sock pattern. 
  • Legwarmer Socks - Both a leg warmer AND a sock. If you use this option, you'll want to use the color charts in the Kyahan post.

Copyright Note: These color charts I made are free for personal use only! Please do not redistribute as your own or sell the color charts. You are free to edit them as you see fit and offer your edited version.
I do not own the patterns themselves, so please check the license for the pattern you wish to use before trying to sell anything you make with the pattern.

Nezuko

Pattern Suggestion: Legwarmer Socks or your preferred knee sock pattern. 

Color Change Suggestions: Jogless Stripe to suggest the leg ties. Otherwise, color change may not be necessary. 

Notes: 
  • I did not make a chart for Nezuko. Sorry. But it is just stripes. 
  • I think the toe-less version of the legwarmer socks is perfect for Nezuko. 
  • To make the sock thicker, either use a heavier weight yarn or knit with a double-stockinette stitch. 

Tanjiro

Tanjiro Color Chart

Color Change
Jogless stripe for the major wrap points. Duplicate Stitch for the random stretch/fold lines.

Notes: 

Kyojuro

Kyojuro Color Chart for Standard Knee Socks

Color Change

Because the best method to make this sock is Intarsia, you'll want to knit the leg portion flat instead of in the round but then switch back to in the round for the heel turn. (Or knit the entire sock flat). After you finish the whole sock you will have to seam them. The Mattress Stitch works well for this. 

If you want to continue to knit in the round, you can attempt in the round Intarsia with invisible join or Intarsia in the round Wrap & Turn.

If Intarsia is not your thing, knit in the round with red yarn until the yellow/gold yarn part way down by the ankle (around row 55 on the chart), then adding the flames with duplicate stitching. 
 
Notes: 
  • This is a rough approximation of the pattern and I will likely adjust the color chart later. (I think I made the sock length too short and the ankle part too wide.) 
  • Rengoku has a left and right leg wrap/kyahan, so mirror the color chart appropriately. 
  • Double knitting is another method you can use but it will use much more yarn and make for a thicker sock. But the color change is nicer, a lot easier, and makes it reversible!

Shinobu

Shinobu Color Chart for  Knee Sock


Color Change
Knit the chart using fading stripes or marling for the gradient portions. The veins add in with duplicate stitch later. 

Notes: 
  • To get the colors needed to make a striping gradient, consider getting undyed yarn and dyeing with the gradient colors you need. This will save you from needing to buy a whole ball of yarn to do 2 rows of stripes for the whole project. 
  • Making the color transition a soft transition is optional, you can make them solid strips if you wish. 

Zenitsu

Zenitsu Color chart for Knee Sock


Color Changes

The gradient can be achieved by marling or adding striping in gradual changes. 
The dark ellipses/diamonds could be done with  duplicate stitch or ignored all together. 
I also suggest duplicate stitch for the triangles. You can use fair isle but you'll want to make sure you're catching your floats along the way. 

Notes: 
  • While not included on the chart, you can duplicate knit in the bowties. 
  • Alternatively you can either make your own ribbon bow embellishment or purchase them to sew onto the sock when it is finished. 

Final Thoughts

Remember these are not meant to perfectly replicate what these look like in the anime/manga. These are supposed to just be the color charts of those designs applied to knee socks. It just so happens that the Legwarmer sock does look very dope and it could look fairly accurate for Nezuko. While writing this I have to keep reminding myself that I'm trying to replicate the color designs not the shape. If you want something to knit that IS closer to the anime/manga, use the charts and suggestions in my legwarmer/kyahan post. 
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