Knitted Stockings

Create a keepsake stocking for someone you love. Start with an easy solid-colour stocking, then tackle a striped one. Or, for more of a challenge, make the homey Fair Isle version. And -- to help out Santa -- backstitch or duplicate-stitch a name across each. (Click here for stitch diagrams.)

General notes
• Standard abbreviations are used.
• With tapestry needle, weave in yarn ends on wrong side of finished pieces.
• To make hanging loop for each stocking: With yarn to match cuff, cast on 20 sts. Cast off. Fold over and sew ends to folded top edge at centre-back seam.

See enlarged image of stockings here.

Solid or Striped stocking
Supplies
Patons Classic Merino Wool pure wool yarn (100 g balls) as follows:
For Solid Stocking:
Main Colour (MC) Burgundy, 1 ball
Contrast Colour (CC) Aran, 1 ball
For Striped Stocking:
Main Colour (MC) Burgundy, 1 ball
Contrast A (A) Taupe, 1 ball
Contrast B (B) Natural Mix, 1 ball
Contrast C (C) Sage, 1 ball
Contrast D (D) Peacock, 1 ball

For both:
One pair of 4.5 mm needles OR whichever needles you require to produce the tension given below

Tapestry needle

Tension
20 sts and 26 rows = 10 cm (4 ins) in stocking st. Work to exact tension with specified yarn to obtain satisfactory results. TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK TENSION.

To make:
Solid Stocking

FRONT
Heel
With CC, cast on 25 sts.
*Row 1 (right side): Knit.
Row 2 and alt rows: Purl.
Row 3: K11, sl1, k2tog, psso, k11.
Row 5: K10, sl1, k2tog, psso, k10.
Row 7: K9, sl1, k2tog, psso, k9.
Row 9: K8, sl1, k2tog, psso, k8.
Row 10: Purl.
Cont in same manner, dec 2 sts on next and every foll alt row, until 5 sts rem on needle, thus ending with right side facing for next row.
Next row: Sl2, k3tog, p2sso. Fasten off.*

Foot
Join MC.
With right side facing, pick up and knit 15 sts along side edge of heel. Cast on 15 sts. 30 sts now on needle.
Next row: Purl.
*Work even in St st until work from pickup row measures 10 cm (4 ins), ending with right side facing for next row.* Break MC.

Toe
Join CC.
*Row 1: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2 and alt rows: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows until 14 sts rem on needle, ending with right side facing for next row. Cast off.*

Leg
With right side facing and MC, pick up and knit 15 sts along cast-on edge of foot and 15 sts along top edge of heel. 30 sts now on needle.
Next row: Purl.
Work even in St st for 60 rows, ending with right side facing for next row. Break MC.

Cuff
Join CC.
*Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: P2, [k2,p2] to end of row.
Row 3: K2, [p2,k2] to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until cuff measures 15 cm (6 ins). Cast off in ribbing.*

BACK
Work as given for Front, reversing position of foot.

To finish:
With right sides together and matching yarn, backstitch Front to Back, leaving top edge open and reversing seam midway down cuff for fold over. Turn right side out. Fold top edge to right side. Make loop.

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