In my first apartment in Allston/Brighton, my 6 roommates and I used to bring the trash to the curb together, not because it was a task requiring 7 people, but because we were afraid of the rats that would come streaming out of the bins when we went to move them. Now I find the rats of the aptly nicknamed “Rat City” a comforting part of the neighborhood that’s become my home.

The Rat City socks are knit cuff down with 2-color stranded colorwork around the cuff. There are two chart versions, one with specks between the rats to keep the floats more manageable and one clean version with lines indicating ladderback jacquard ladder placement.

They feature a contrasting heel and toe and use a heel flap and gusset construction with a dutch (square) heel turn.

Sizes
Size given is final colorwork circumference - aim for close to zero ease, or a very small amount of negative ease, when choosing a size
XS, S (M1, M2) L, XL for 6, 7 (8, 8) (9, 10)”

Materials
US 1 (2.25 mm) needles (set of DPNs, 32” circulars for magic loop, 9” circulars, or needles for your preferred small circumference method)
Tapestry Needle
2 Stitch Markers

Fingering weight yarn in the following amounts:
estimates given with sufficient overage to cover both chart versions
MC 175, 194 (212, 234) (246, 270) yards or 40, 44 (48, 53) (55, 61) grams
CC 65, 71 (78, 86) (90, 99) yards or 14, 16 (17, 19) (20, 22) grams