Lady's Silk Stocking
Lady's Silk Stocking
Weldon's Practical Stocking Knitter, 1886
This stocking is ribbed in stripes of colour, and for an evening stocking is particularly bright and effective; fewer colours may be employed if preferred, as black and crimson alternately, or black and gold, or it may be worked entirely with one colour.
Required, 5 oz. of black Imperial Knitting Silk, 3 oz. of deep bright blue, and 2 oz. each of crimson, pink, and old gold. Four steel knitting needles, No. 17 for a gentleman's size, No. 18 for a lady.
With black silk cast 44 stitches on the first needle, and 38 stitches on each of two other needles, making a total of 120 stitches. Knit round and round in ribbing, 3 stitches plain and 1 stitch purl, for 50 rounds. After the 50th round is complete rib 23 stitches along the first needle, this brings you to a purl stitch which if to be the seam stitch of the stocking, and here all rounds are to begin, and when changing colours purl the seam stitch with both colours taken together, not breaking off the colour last used, but leaving it at the back till wanted again. Now from this seam stitch work, still in ribbing, 2 rounds with crimson, 2 rounds with pink, 2 rounds with gold, 6 rounds with blue, 2 rounds with gold, 2 rounds with pink, 2 rounds with crimson, 12 rounds with black, and repeat these colours in due succession for the whole length of the stocking. In the 2nd round of the black stripe, after purling the seam stich, knit 1, increase 1, knit 2, and continue ribbing till within 1 stitch of the seam stitch again, when increase 1, knit 1; increase again the same way in the 11th round of the same black stripe, and in the 2nd round of the next blue stripe. Also increase in the 2nd round and in the 11th round of the next black stripe, and in the 2nd round of the following blue stripe. Now there are 132 stitches in the round, and the plain rib each side the seam stitch consists of 9 stitches instead of 3 stitches. Continue in ribbing on the 132 stitches till you have completed the fourth coloured strip. Then decrease in this manner: In the 2nd round of the fourth black stripe, after purling the seam stitch, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, rib round till within 3 stitches of the seam stitch, knit 2 together, knit 1; decrease again in the 11th round of the same black stripe, and in the 2nd round of the next blue stripe. And continue decreasing in the same manner till reduced 104 stitches. The ribbing now comes in evenly, 3 plain, 1 purl, all round. Knit on in stripes of colour for the ankle till you have done 6 rounds of the 10th black stripe.
Now for the Heel--Having purled the seam stitch, rib 27 stitches beyond; turn the work, slip the first stitch, rib to the seam stitch and rib 27 stitches beyond; this brings 55 stitches on one needle for the heel, and 49 stitches are left standing as they are upon two needles till required for knitting the instep. Rib on the heel needle forwards and backwards, and slipping the first stitch on every row for 40 rows, working one set of stripes and then finishing the heel with black.
To turn the Heel--Slip the first stitch, knit plain 26 stitches, purl the seam stitch, knit 5, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over; turn, slip the first stitch, purl 5, knit the seam stitch, purl 5, purl 2 together; *turn, slip the first stitch, knit 5, purl the seam stitch, knit 5, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over; turn, slip the first stitch, purl 5, knit the seam stitch, purl 5, purl 2 together; and repeat from * till all the side sre knitted in, and 13 stitches remain on the needle for the top the heel. Knit 6, purl the seam stitch, knit 6, and on the same needle pick up and knit 22 stitches along the side of the flap; and knit 6 stitches from the top of the heel. The stitches are now again arranged upon three needles, 106 stitches in the round. On account of the stripes, a seam stitch ( the first stitch on the next needle) is to be continued down the sole, and all rounds are to begin at it, and the colours changed at it as in the leg. Still with the black silk, purl the seam stitch, knit plain the next needle.
For the Gussets--1st round--Purl the seam stitch, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of the needle, knit 2 together, knit 1; rib along the instep needle; on the right-hand foot needle, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit to the end of the needle. 2nd round--Purl the seam stitch, knit plain to the end of the needle; rib along the instep needle; knit plain the next needle. 3rd round--Same as the second round. Repeat these three rounds, keeping the colours in regular order, till reduced to 94 stitches for the round of the foot; and procee on the 94 stitches till the foot is the length required. Slip 1 stitch from each end of the instep needle on to each foot needle, so you get 47 stitches on the instep and 47 stitches divided between the two foot needles.
For the Toe--All black--Knit plain to the end of the needle, discontinuing the seam stitch; * on the instep needle, knit 4, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit plain to within 6 stitches of the end of the needle, knit 2 together, knit 4; on the foot needle knit 4, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit to within 6 stitches of the end of the second foot needle, knit 2 together, knit 4; knit 1 plain round; repeat from * till reduced to 26 stitches. Slip the 13 foot stitches, all on to one needle, hold this parallel with the instep needle, and cast off by knitting a stitch from each needle.
