Lady’s Stocking
To knit a stocking, attention must be given to the size of the knitting needles, which ought to correspond with the number of the material with which the stocking is to be knitted. It would be difficult to give the exact number of stitches necessary for any given size of stocking, as there is always a difference between the knitting of different persons, since some knit loosely, others very closely. It must be left to the judgment of the knitter to determine the exact number of stitches required for the stocking to be knitted.
The following is the method of knitting a lady’s stocking with No. 300 knitting silk (or any other material of same size), with needles to correspond.
This stocking is knitted, with a double border, as follows:
Cast on 152 stitches on 3 needles. After having cast on the last stitch, close the round by knitting the first stitch cast on.
Knit 16 rounds plain.
17th Round.—* Slip 1, knit 1, draw the slip stitch over the knitted stitch, make 1; repeat from * to end of round.
18th to 34th Rounds, inclusive.—Knit plain.
Then fold in half the piece knitted, so that the 17th round will form the edge of the border.
Pick up on other knitting needles the stitches of the 1st round, i. e., the stitches cast on, and knit each of them with each stitch of the 34th round. This finishes the border. Thus, the lower edge of the border forms a fancy design of small scallops. Purl 3 rounds, knit plain 3 rounds, purl 3 rounds.
Then knit plain until the leg of the stocking is twelve inches long. In the first round of this plain knitting begin the seam stitch, which ought to correspond with the last and first stitches cast on. This seam stitch is repeated in every third round.
After the twelve inches have been knitted, narrow in the following round 1 stitch on each side of the seam. Knit 8 rounds. Narrow 1 stitch on each side of seam. Knit 7 rounds. Narrow, in manner already described. Knit 6 rounds. Narrow. Knit 5 rounds. * Narrow. Knit 4 rounds. Repeat 20 times from * until 110 stitches and the 2 seam stitches are left on the needles. This done, knit plain 30 rounds. The knitting of the heel now begins. Divide the stitches by putting on 1 needle the 2 seam stitches and 28 stitches on each side of them. Thus, there will be upon this needle 58 stitches. Knit this needle, backward and forward, in rows, making the seam stitches as usual.
When knitting backward, purl all these stitches. When knitting forward, knit plain all the stitches with exception of the seam stitch, which must be purled. Always slip the first knitted stitch. Continue knitting until the flap is 44 rows long, counting each time across as 1 row.
1st Row.—Now purl from the left hand side the 28 stitches and the 2 seam stitches. Purl 2, knit 2 together, purl 1. Turn.
2d Row.—Slip 1, 3 plain, 2 purl (seam stitches), 2 plain, knit 2 together, 1 plain. Turn.
3d Row.—Slip 1, purl 8 (including seam stitches), purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn.
4th Row.—Slip 1, 4 plain, 2 purl (seam stitches), 3 plain, knit 2 together, 1 plain. Turn.
5th Row.—Slip 1, purl 10 (seam stitch included), purl 2 together, purl 1. Turn.
Continue to knit in this wise until the remaining stitches are gradually worked off. Then pick up the side stitches of this flap, which amount to 36 on each side, and the heel is formed.
Knit the side stitches of the flap, “making 1” now and then, so as to make the number of stitches on each side of the heel amount to 40.
Knit again in rounds. After every 2 rounds purl the first 2 stitches together, then the last 2 stitches together, of the heel stitches. Narrow in this manner 12 times. This done, the number of stitches in the whole round is reduced to 110, i. e., to the original number before the beginning of the heel. Knit plain 50 rounds. Commence narrowing of toe as follows: * knit 2 together, knit 8 plain. Repeat from * to end of round. Knit 8 rounds plain. * Knit 2 together, knit 7 plain. Repeat from * to end of round. Knit 7 rounds plain. Knit 2 together, knit 6 plain, knit 2 together, 6 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 6 rounds plain; knit 2 together, 5 plain, 2 together, 5 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 5 rounds plain; knit 2 together, 4 plain, 2 together, 4 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 4 rounds plain; knit 2 together, 3 plain, 2 together, 3 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 3 rounds plain; knit 2 together, 2 plain, 2 together, 2 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 2 rounds plain; knit 2 together, 1 plain, 2 together, 1 plain, etc., to end of round.
Knit 1 round plain.
11 stitches now remain. By means of a darning needle, slip these stitches upon the silk thread with which the knitting is done. Pass this silk once more through the stitches, then draw all the stitches together, by pulling the silk thread. Fasten the thread on the wrong side of the stocking.